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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc. |
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30th May 2018, 11:28 am | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1
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Help on identifying an Elizabethan reel to reel
Hi all.
I have been clearing out my loft and come across an Elziabethan reel to reel tape player. However, I am struggling to identify its model. I have searched google, read through forums and searched via images but still struggling and hoping one of you knowledgeable chaps might be able to offer some help. I have attached a couple of pictures and if you require any further information please just let me know and I will provide all I can. Thanks |
30th May 2018, 7:39 pm | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,482
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Re: Help on identifying an Elizabethan reel to reel
Hello and welcome.
Elizabethan were a decidedly average brand using tape deck mechanisms bought in from the likes of BSR, Collaro and the later incarnation of the latter, Magnavox, whose 363 deck is what's fitted to yours. I've never personally owned a 363 but a friend who had one back in the late '60s seemed pleased with his. However, reading some thread here (search for Magnavox 363) indicate there may be a design fault in that the motor spindle cannot shift its heat quickly enough so nearby rubber parts suffer. Experts please elaborate! If it was mine I'd try half-heartedly to get it going but if it turned out to be a basket-case I'd fit one of my spare Collaro Studio decks. But that's just me... Good luck Graham
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30th May 2018, 7:58 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Help on identifying an Elizabethan reel to reel
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30th May 2018, 8:05 pm | #4 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
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Re: Help on identifying an Elizabethan reel to reel
Elizabethan made lots of cheap'n'cheerful recorders and record players in the 60s, using off the shelf decks and other subassemblies. They weren't awful by any means, and were better than much of the competition. You wouldn't have found them in Abbey Road Studios though.
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30th May 2018, 8:39 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 3,658
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Re: Help on identifying an Elizabethan reel to reel
Agreed. Elizabethan used just about every deck going over fifteen years in the market, even using a very odd one of their own design - briefly! This experience translated into good, solid budget designs, devoid of obvious faults but not quite on the Eltra/Reps level, where the bought-in decks were modified to improve performance or versatility.
The Studio was probably the best of the Collaro decks - the Transcriptor was over-complicated, in hindsight, and the 363 was a direct competitor to the BSR TD10 without the latter's bullet-proof simplicity. Mac Hellyer went into some detail about the weaknesses in the 363 which became apparent when the model was current in his servicing article on the Truvox Series 40, in Tape Recorder sometime in 1968, if memory serves. |
31st May 2018, 1:27 pm | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 1,647
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Re: Help on identifying an Elizabethan reel to reel
The origin of the Collaro/Magnavox remains uncertain; it is believed lncis of Italy may have been involved. Incis was certainly involved in the Truvox 60/Elizabethan LZ27 'own brand' budget decks possibly developed in association with Collaro.
The 363 was a sound design which offered great versatility, but the Truvox 40 was let down by Truvox's poor electronics. Legend has it that when Magnavox ceased production in 1967, Truvox bought the remaining stocks and designs rights, but it was soon superseded by Truvox's new (not overly successful) Model 50. |
31st May 2018, 7:16 pm | #7 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Stevenage, Herts. UK.
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Help on identifying an Elizabethan reel to reel
The Hellyer review can be read here:
http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...nd-1969-05.pdf Page 11 Having owned a 363 the two things I didn't like were the motor rubber idler, which sent it to its grave, and the fact that the capstan wasn't turning all the time. Instead only when you select 'play' is the motor powered up, and only then is it applied to the stationary flywheel leading to a 'mrrrrrrp' as the tape gets up to speed. |