UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players

Notices

Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 15th Jan 2022, 11:03 pm   #1
DMcMahon
Dekatron
 
DMcMahon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 6,587
Default Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

When the Pause key is a pressed down a long metal lever/rod moves to the right and various things are actuated.

The right hand end of the rod is threaded and when Pause is pressed down the threaded section moves further into the right hand side compartment.

Does anybody know the reason why the end of the lever is threaded, should there be something screwed onto it ?

David
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20220115_173014426.jpg
Views:	120
Size:	79.0 KB
ID:	249764  
DMcMahon is offline  
Old 15th Jan 2022, 11:16 pm   #2
vidjoman
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 3,315
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

You could get a cable operated foot-switch that operated the lever for use as a dictation machine whilst typing.
vidjoman is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2022, 9:03 am   #3
Kentode
Octode
 
Kentode's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Yorkshire, England.
Posts: 1,294
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

David, is there a break in the casting that I've highlighted? If so, would the screwed thread push the casting rather than go past it if it was complete?

Picture to follow, broadband problem!
__________________
Regards, Ken.

BVWS member
Kentode is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2022, 9:04 am   #4
Kentode
Octode
 
Kentode's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Yorkshire, England.
Posts: 1,294
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Picture...
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20220116_074635.jpg
Views:	95
Size:	34.4 KB
ID:	249775  
__________________
Regards, Ken.

BVWS member
Kentode is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2022, 9:51 am   #5
vidjoman
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 3,315
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

It's a U shaped part of the die cast chassis casting on which the outer end of the cable rests and the rod is pulled by the inner cable fitting that has a threaded insert.
I think the cable type is called a 'Bowden Cable' and similar to brake cables on a bicycle.
vidjoman is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2022, 10:39 am   #6
Sideband
Dekatron
 
Sideband's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 7,548
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Quote:
Originally Posted by vidjoman View Post
You could get a cable operated foot-switch that operated the lever for use as a dictation machine whilst typing.
Yes that is exactly correct. I only ever saw one of these foot levers when I was at Philips. It was a very long time ago! The machines were nearing the end of their service life when I started in 1973 but the odd one still came in for service. That was the only time I ever saw one with a foot-lever.

Proper dictation machines were available but very much more expensive of course.
__________________
There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....
Sideband is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2022, 10:42 am   #7
Sideband
Dekatron
 
Sideband's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 7,548
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Quote:
Originally Posted by vidjoman View Post
I think the cable type is called a 'Bowden Cable' and similar to brake cables on a bicycle.
That's exactly what it was, just a bowden cable operated by a foot-lever. Purely mechanical. Very crude but it worked.
__________________
There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....
Sideband is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2022, 10:44 am   #8
DMcMahon
Dekatron
 
DMcMahon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 6,587
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Quote:
Originally Posted by vidjoman View Post
You could get a cable operated foot-switch that operated the lever for use as a dictation machine whilst typing.
Thankyou that is interesting and now makes sense.

This very minute I have also read about it in the EL 3541 Operating Instructions manual, which includes a small drawing showing it connected. The foot switch is listed as EL 3984/15.

David
DMcMahon is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2022, 10:46 am   #9
DMcMahon
Dekatron
 
DMcMahon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 6,587
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kentode View Post
David, is there a break in the casting that I've highlighted? If so, would the screwed thread push the casting rather than go past it if it was complete?

Picture to follow, broadband problem!
Ken mine is as per your photo, I am unsure what you mean by "push the casting".

David
DMcMahon is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2022, 12:11 pm   #10
Kentode
Octode
 
Kentode's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Yorkshire, England.
Posts: 1,294
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Quote:
Originally Posted by DMcMahon View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kentode View Post
David, is there a break in the casting that I've highlighted? If so, would the screwed thread push the casting rather than go past it if it was complete?

Picture to follow, broadband problem!
Ken mine is as per your photo, I am unsure what you mean by "push the casting".

David
My mistake David, from the picture l thought perhaps the part I've described as a casting was something like a blind threaded nut which had split. My picture is a closeup of yours.

Hope that makes sense...
__________________
Regards, Ken.

BVWS member
Kentode is offline  
Old 16th Jan 2022, 12:47 pm   #11
Refugee
Dekatron
 
Refugee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,549
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

I have got a 3553 and it also has the pause rod on it.
Getting the cable these days would be so difficult that it might be easier to make up a radio controlled servo to operate it.
There was a lot of goo to clean up on it. Both the clutches and the belts had turned.
Refugee is offline  
Old 17th Jan 2022, 12:11 am   #12
DMcMahon
Dekatron
 
DMcMahon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 6,587
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Think I have been lucky with this one, looks pretty good condition and belts look good, not sure about the clutches, yet to power it up.

David
DMcMahon is offline  
Old 17th Jan 2022, 12:12 am   #13
DMcMahon
Dekatron
 
DMcMahon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 6,587
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kentode View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMcMahon View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kentode View Post
David, is there a break in the casting that I've highlighted? If so, would the screwed thread push the casting rather than go past it if it was complete?

Picture to follow, broadband problem!
Ken mine is as per your photo, I am unsure what you mean by "push the casting".

David
My mistake David, from the picture l thought perhaps the part I've described as a casting was something like a blind threaded nut which had split. My picture is a closeup of yours.

Hope that makes sense...
Yes all clear now Ken.

David
DMcMahon is offline  
Old 23rd Jan 2022, 11:49 pm   #14
ricard
Octode
 
ricard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lund, Sweden
Posts: 1,631
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Several Philips machines of the period had this remote control facility. I've seen it on the 1962 EL3547 as well. It was probably very cheap to implement, as all that was needed was the extension of a rod that was already necessary in the mechanical design.
ricard is offline  
Old 24th Jan 2022, 11:05 am   #15
ben
Dekatron
 
ben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,484
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

If I had a spare solenoid, I'd convert that to an electronic stop! Some Philips units had foil end stop too, does this model? I know they skipped it the N4307/4308 successors.
__________________
Regards,
Ben.
ben is offline  
Old 26th Jan 2022, 12:03 am   #16
DMcMahon
Dekatron
 
DMcMahon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 6,587
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

From a quick look at the schematic and the unit it looks like the EL 3541 does not have end of tape foil detection.

David
DMcMahon is offline  
Old 27th Jan 2022, 12:58 am   #17
ricard
Octode
 
ricard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lund, Sweden
Posts: 1,631
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Yep, it doesn't, although it's larger brother the EL3542 (and related siblings) does.
ricard is offline  
Old 27th Jan 2022, 5:26 am   #18
TonyDuell
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK.
Posts: 5,188
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

In a lot of machines (all of them?), the foil-triggered autostop solenoid simply acts like the stop (not pause) key and releases the other keys. It will not restart the machine when you de-energise it.

The pause control of course lifts the pinch roller and brakes the takeup spool. Releasing it will restart the tape.

Bowden cables are not hard to get, for bicycles if nothing else. I would have thought making the end fitting to go into the tape recorder was a fairly simple turning job. Does anyone have a photo of that end of the thing?
TonyDuell is offline  
Old 27th Jan 2022, 11:36 pm   #19
DMcMahon
Dekatron
 
DMcMahon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 6,587
Default Re: Philips EL 3541 Pause Lever Threaded End Function

Sketch from the EL 3541 Operating instructions.

David
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20220127_0001.jpg
Views:	60
Size:	104.7 KB
ID:	250583  
DMcMahon is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 4:11 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.