On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 06:31:24 GMT, D Peter Maus
wrote:

wrote:
I think the least you would have were 3 speeds. Some really cheap
recorders required you to place a larger capstan over the stock one to
change the speed. The pro-gear used 15 ips, though that found it's way
into consumer gear eventually.



Not to nitpick, but it was usually the stock capstan sleeve had to be
removed to change speeds. AKAI/Roberts was famous for this. Simplified
the mechanicals. Less wear on the belts and drive wheels.

And not all Pro gear used 15 ips. Ampex, for instance offered two
speeds on their machines for years. 7 1/2 and 3 3/4 was the more common
standard option. But you could order the machine in 15 and 7 1/2. It
wasn't until three speed models started to hit the market that 15 ips
was commonplace on Pro gear.

Although I did have a pair of Maggies that would run at 15 ips.
Somewhat less fun than a drunken frat party was when the reel brakes
would hang. Or the back tension would come out of calibration and tape
would pool on the floor in knots on a mid reel rewind.

Great days, they were.

And I'd miss them, if I could still get 456 without selling a kidney.

I wound off my last pancake onto 7in reels for my 601 last year.


I can take 300, 350, 351, 440, 600, 601, 602 machines apart and put
them back together in my sleep. 7.5 and 15 were the standard speeds.