Telamon wrote:
..

The cheep inexpensive one I had did have a capstan. I never saw one that
did not have that type of drive.

Because you do not remember does not mean it didn't happen.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/6qj83e

http://tinyurl.com/6qj83e

Telamon wrote:
In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in message
...
In article ,

There were very inexpensive tape players in the 60's. They were just
fine for voice. They were little reel to reel type. The reels were only
a few inches in diameter and the tape was thick. The head was offset so
you could record on the other side by turning the reel over. I had one
as a kid.
The Norelco / Philips was one of those. 3" reels, two track mono.

Other kids in the neighborhood had them. Then the high
performance audiophile units were developed with the big reels. The
main problem with tape was the high end audio was weak and the
amplifiers had to be biased for more gain at the high end.
There were plenty of decks usable for DXers with 7" reels and 3 3/4 ips
speed that could record an hour per track, mono, in two track configuration.
As mentioned, many had lots of RF emissions that interfered with the BCB
(MW) and were not good for DX use, but others could be shielded or used out
of the box and were less than $200.
The problem with these over many years is the tape formulation kept
changing to improve the high end so you needed to have amplifiers with
selection switches depending on the tape formulation. Some even required
different heads (gap) depending on the ferro grain size in the tape.
I never experienced that. By 1960, the format for 2 track mono (forward and
reverse) and, later, for two track stereo were the same in consumer and
boradcast applications. You are likely thinking of the mid to late 50's
stuff, which was not as standardized.

Nope. Before my time.

Consumer decks used 4 tr stereo, 2 tracks in each direction.

"none" ""dave\"@(none)" wrote in message
...
Telamon wrote:
In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:

The problem with these over many years is the tape formulation kept
changing to improve the high end so you needed to have amplifiers with
selection switches depending on the tape formulation. Some even
required
different heads (gap) depending on the ferro grain size in the tape.
I never experienced that. By 1960, the format for 2 track mono (forward
and reverse) and, later, for two track stereo were the same in consumer
and boradcast applications. You are likely thinking of the mid to late
50's stuff, which was not as standardized.

Nope. Before my time.

Consumer decks used 4 tr stereo, 2 tracks in each direction.

Not all of them. The early ones like the Wollensak were mono, one track each
way. And many consumer decks, like the Sony 777 series, came as either two
or 4 track, depending on the consumer need. The break point was around $500
with those below that cost being as you describe, and those above having
options. Even the $2000 Otari of the late 70's and 80's came with either
configuration.

David Eduardo wrote:
"none" ""dave\"@(none)" wrote in message
...
Telamon wrote:
In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:

The problem with these over many years is the tape formulation kept
changing to improve the high end so you needed to have amplifiers with
selection switches depending on the tape formulation. Some even
required
different heads (gap) depending on the ferro grain size in the tape.
I never experienced that. By 1960, the format for 2 track mono (forward
and reverse) and, later, for two track stereo were the same in consumer
and boradcast applications. You are likely thinking of the mid to late
50's stuff, which was not as standardized.
Nope. Before my time.

Consumer decks used 4 tr stereo, 2 tracks in each direction.

Not all of them. The early ones like the Wollensak were mono, one track each
way. And many consumer decks, like the Sony 777 series, came as either two
or 4 track, depending on the consumer need. The break point was around $500
with those below that cost being as you describe, and those above having
options. Even the $2000 Otari of the late 70's and 80's came with either
configuration.




The Wollensak T-1500 series, common as crabgrass, was available mono
record/Stereo reproduce. Ampex 600 series could be had with a stereo
play head, as well. Both half track.

"D Peter Maus" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"none" ""dave\"@(none)" wrote in message
...
Telamon wrote:
In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:

The problem with these over many years is the tape formulation kept
changing to improve the high end so you needed to have amplifiers
with
selection switches depending on the tape formulation. Some even
required
different heads (gap) depending on the ferro grain size in the tape.
I never experienced that. By 1960, the format for 2 track mono
(forward and reverse) and, later, for two track stereo were the same
in consumer and boradcast applications. You are likely thinking of the
mid to late 50's stuff, which was not as standardized.
Nope. Before my time.

Consumer decks used 4 tr stereo, 2 tracks in each direction.

Not all of them. The early ones like the Wollensak were mono, one track
each way. And many consumer decks, like the Sony 777 series, came as
either two or 4 track, depending on the consumer need. The break point
was around $500 with those below that cost being as you describe, and
those above having options. Even the $2000 Otari of the late 70's and
80's came with either configuration.


The Wollensak T-1500 series, common as crabgrass, was available mono
record/Stereo reproduce. Ampex 600 series could be had with a stereo play
head, as well. Both half track.

There were a fair number of those mono record, stereo play. A couple, and I
don't remember which, used a combined record/play head for mono, and had a
separate stereo head. Others did two track mono, in both play directions, or
one direction stereo... in both cases, there were only two tracks.

David Eduardo wrote:
"D Peter Maus" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"none" ""dave\"@(none)" wrote in message
...
Telamon wrote:
In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:
The problem with these over many years is the tape formulation kept
changing to improve the high end so you needed to have amplifiers
with
selection switches depending on the tape formulation. Some even
required
different heads (gap) depending on the ferro grain size in the tape.
I never experienced that. By 1960, the format for 2 track mono
(forward and reverse) and, later, for two track stereo were the same
in consumer and boradcast applications. You are likely thinking of the
mid to late 50's stuff, which was not as standardized.
Nope. Before my time.

Consumer decks used 4 tr stereo, 2 tracks in each direction.
Not all of them. The early ones like the Wollensak were mono, one track
each way. And many consumer decks, like the Sony 777 series, came as
either two or 4 track, depending on the consumer need. The break point
was around $500 with those below that cost being as you describe, and
those above having options. Even the $2000 Otari of the late 70's and
80's came with either configuration.

The Wollensak T-1500 series, common as crabgrass, was available mono
record/Stereo reproduce. Ampex 600 series could be had with a stereo play
head, as well. Both half track.

There were a fair number of those mono record, stereo play. A couple, and I
don't remember which, used a combined record/play head for mono, and had a
separate stereo head. Others did two track mono, in both play directions, or
one direction stereo... in both cases, there were only two tracks.


Yes, I beleive I said that.

D Peter Maus wrote:
David Eduardo wrote:
"none" ""dave\"@(none)" wrote in message
...
Telamon wrote:
In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:

The problem with these over many years is the tape formulation kept
changing to improve the high end so you needed to have amplifiers
with
selection switches depending on the tape formulation. Some even
required
different heads (gap) depending on the ferro grain size in the tape.
I never experienced that. By 1960, the format for 2 track mono
(forward and reverse) and, later, for two track stereo were the
same in consumer and boradcast applications. You are likely
thinking of the mid to late 50's stuff, which was not as standardized.
Nope. Before my time.

Consumer decks used 4 tr stereo, 2 tracks in each direction.

Not all of them. The early ones like the Wollensak were mono, one
track each way. And many consumer decks, like the Sony 777 series,
came as either two or 4 track, depending on the consumer need. The
break point was around $500 with those below that cost being as you
describe, and those above having options. Even the $2000 Otari of the
late 70's and 80's came with either configuration.



The Wollensak T-1500 series, common as crabgrass, was available mono
record/Stereo reproduce. Ampex 600 series could be had with a stereo
play head, as well. Both half track.

I think the MX-505BII came with a 4th head, for quarter track stereo
playback.

dave wrote:
D Peter Maus wrote:
David Eduardo wrote:
"none" ""dave\"@(none)" wrote in message
...
Telamon wrote:
In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:

The problem with these over many years is the tape formulation kept
changing to improve the high end so you needed to have amplifiers
with
selection switches depending on the tape formulation. Some even
required
different heads (gap) depending on the ferro grain size in the tape.
I never experienced that. By 1960, the format for 2 track mono
(forward and reverse) and, later, for two track stereo were the
same in consumer and boradcast applications. You are likely
thinking of the mid to late 50's stuff, which was not as
standardized.
Nope. Before my time.

Consumer decks used 4 tr stereo, 2 tracks in each direction.

Not all of them. The early ones like the Wollensak were mono, one
track each way. And many consumer decks, like the Sony 777 series,
came as either two or 4 track, depending on the consumer need. The
break point was around $500 with those below that cost being as you
describe, and those above having options. Even the $2000 Otari of the
late 70's and 80's came with either configuration.



The Wollensak T-1500 series, common as crabgrass, was available mono
record/Stereo reproduce. Ampex 600 series could be had with a stereo
play head, as well. Both half track.

I think the MX-505BII came with a 4th head, for quarter track stereo
playback.

As did RS-1500. But this is not a discussion about reality...it's an
exercise so David can show off. Please pay attention.

In article ,
none ""dave\"@(none)" wrote:

Telamon wrote:
In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in message
.
..
In article ,

There were very inexpensive tape players in the 60's. They were just
fine for voice. They were little reel to reel type. The reels were only
a few inches in diameter and the tape was thick. The head was offset so
you could record on the other side by turning the reel over. I had one
as a kid.
The Norelco / Philips was one of those. 3" reels, two track mono.

Other kids in the neighborhood had them. Then the high
performance audiophile units were developed with the big reels. The
main problem with tape was the high end audio was weak and the
amplifiers had to be biased for more gain at the high end.
There were plenty of decks usable for DXers with 7" reels and 3 3/4 ips
speed that could record an hour per track, mono, in two track
configuration.
As mentioned, many had lots of RF emissions that interfered with the BCB
(MW) and were not good for DX use, but others could be shielded or used
out
of the box and were less than $200.
The problem with these over many years is the tape formulation kept
changing to improve the high end so you needed to have amplifiers with
selection switches depending on the tape formulation. Some even required
different heads (gap) depending on the ferro grain size in the tape.
I never experienced that. By 1960, the format for 2 track mono (forward
and
reverse) and, later, for two track stereo were the same in consumer and
boradcast applications. You are likely thinking of the mid to late 50's
stuff, which was not as standardized.

Nope. Before my time.

Consumer decks used 4 tr stereo, 2 tracks in each direction.

The inexpensive units that were around for kids or dictation were
monaural. The stereo units were for the audiophiles.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

In article Nb06k.2025$sg6.1773@edtnps91, m II wrote:

Telamon wrote:

Here you go Ed'tardo.



Ever notice that 'Telamon' also spells out 'Not Male'?

What are you hiding?

I can see you have had to many Labatt's.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California