Name this Reel to Reel - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

DMcMahon · 15th Nov 2020, 1:09 pm

Can anybody identify this very distinctive looking wide deep bodied upright reel to reel. The metal spools are Uher. It was featured in a film I watched a few nights back that had several reel to reel recorders.

I do not recognize it but am sure someone will. Not the best of images captured from the TV screen.

David

Ted Kendall · 15th Nov 2020, 1:32 pm

Nagra, I think. And the right hand spool is Agfa.

ricard · 15th Nov 2020, 2:40 pm

I was going to protest, as I felt it didn't have a Nagra look to it, but I realized I should do better than to argue with Ted, and of course he's right: it's a Nagra TRVR logging recorder from 1979:

https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/trvr/

Interestingly though, the machine in the OP's picture seems to have a logo on the cover over what looks to be the capstan at the top of the tape path, which doesn't seem to be there in the picture in the link.

DMcMahon · 15th Nov 2020, 4:20 pm

A very interesting machine. I think one of the other ones in the film (a little red portable) was also a Nagra.

Radio Wrangler · 15th Nov 2020, 5:46 pm

Must have been a big budget production

David

DMcMahon · 15th Nov 2020, 7:26 pm

I think the film (Atomic Blonde) was quite a big film at the time.

David

DMcMahon · 15th Nov 2020, 10:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricard

Interestingly though, the machine in the OP's picture seems to have a logo on the cover over what looks to be the capstan at the top of the tape path, which doesn't seem to be there in the picture in the link.

The logo possibly looks a bit like a variation on a crown, the machine was being used by MI6 and there are various MI6 logos with crowns.

TIMTAPE · 16th Nov 2020, 12:58 pm

The great TRVR from 1979. A key feature is the DD capstan motor attached to the large 24mm dia capstan shaft. No pinch roller. Just the friction from the tape pressed against the capstan shaft is enough to pull the tape along.

In normal operation there's always controlled tension on the tape from the DC reel motors. Even in fast wind, the capstan shaft controls tape speed. There are mechanical brakes but they are only used to clamp the reels stationary when the machine isnt operating. When going from play or fast wind to stop the capstan motor always controls the decelleration.

Perhaps a weakness of the machine is that there are no tape lifters. Like the old Ferrographs the tape always scrapes against the heads and it has five of those.

ricard · 17th Nov 2020, 7:09 am

Why five heads? Is it some form of autoreverse mechanism?

(A frivoulous guess on my part would be that being a logging recorder, it records and plays back in both directions, but only erases (the whole width of the tape) in one direction, thus two record and two playback heads and a single erase head. But I have no clue, really).

Regarding the lack of tape lifters, most use of this machine in it's intended environment would have been been recording over and over again, with only the occasional playback of material, so perhaps they figured the additional wear on the heads was quite small?

TIMTAPE · 17th Nov 2020, 7:32 am

I guess they only record in the standard direction as there is only the one erase head but they certainly play in reverse even though two track stereo. I think they could be linked to another TRVR for automatic record switchover for longer record times. The five heads are erase, record and play audio, and record and play time code (centre track like other Nagras).

Yes I guess recordings werent necessarily played back unless there was a reason to, but these days with new heads no longer made and good heads with life still in them hard to source and at a premium price, the less head wear the better, or at least that's my motto.

15th Nov 2020, 1:09 pm	#1
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,604	Name this Reel to Reel Can anybody identify this very distinctive looking wide deep bodied upright reel to reel. The metal spools are Uher. It was featured in a film I watched a few nights back that had several reel to reel recorders. I do not recognize it but am sure someone will. Not the best of images captured from the TV screen. David Attached Thumbnails

15th Nov 2020, 1:32 pm	#2
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,675	Re: Name this Reel to Reel Nagra, I think. And the right hand spool is Agfa.

15th Nov 2020, 2:40 pm	#3
ricard Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 1,632	Re: Name this Reel to Reel I was going to protest, as I felt it didn't have a Nagra look to it, but I realized I should do better than to argue with Ted, and of course he's right: it's a Nagra TRVR logging recorder from 1979: https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/trvr/ Interestingly though, the machine in the OP's picture seems to have a logo on the cover over what looks to be the capstan at the top of the tape path, which doesn't seem to be there in the picture in the link.

15th Nov 2020, 4:20 pm	#4
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,604	Re: Name this Reel to Reel A very interesting machine. I think one of the other ones in the film (a little red portable) was also a Nagra.

15th Nov 2020, 5:46 pm	#5
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,901	Re: Name this Reel to Reel Must have been a big budget production David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

15th Nov 2020, 7:26 pm	#6
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,604	Re: Name this Reel to Reel I think the film (Atomic Blonde) was quite a big film at the time. David

16th Nov 2020, 12:58 pm	#8
TIMTAPE Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,970	Re: Name this Reel to Reel The great TRVR from 1979. A key feature is the DD capstan motor attached to the large 24mm dia capstan shaft. No pinch roller. Just the friction from the tape pressed against the capstan shaft is enough to pull the tape along. In normal operation there's always controlled tension on the tape from the DC reel motors. Even in fast wind, the capstan shaft controls tape speed. There are mechanical brakes but they are only used to clamp the reels stationary when the machine isnt operating. When going from play or fast wind to stop the capstan motor always controls the decelleration. Perhaps a weakness of the machine is that there are no tape lifters. Like the old Ferrographs the tape always scrapes against the heads and it has five of those. Last edited by TIMTAPE; 16th Nov 2020 at 1:20 pm.

17th Nov 2020, 7:09 am	#9
ricard Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 1,632	Re: Name this Reel to Reel Why five heads? Is it some form of autoreverse mechanism? (A frivoulous guess on my part would be that being a logging recorder, it records and plays back in both directions, but only erases (the whole width of the tape) in one direction, thus two record and two playback heads and a single erase head. But I have no clue, really). Regarding the lack of tape lifters, most use of this machine in it's intended environment would have been been recording over and over again, with only the occasional playback of material, so perhaps they figured the additional wear on the heads was quite small?

17th Nov 2020, 7:32 am	#10
TIMTAPE Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,970	Re: Name this Reel to Reel I guess they only record in the standard direction as there is only the one erase head but they certainly play in reverse even though two track stereo. I think they could be linked to another TRVR for automatic record switchover for longer record times. The five heads are erase, record and play audio, and record and play time code (centre track like other Nagras). Yes I guess recordings werent necessarily played back unless there was a reason to, but these days with new heads no longer made and good heads with life still in them hard to source and at a premium price, the less head wear the better, or at least that's my motto.