Obsolete Audio Recording Phormats, eight tracks, reel to reel, wire, etc.

[Arran]

Yes I know that I mispelled format, but then again phorum is supposed to be spelled with an "F" and not a "ph". In any event is there anyone else here that collects music or other media on old and obsolete audio formats? I have this odd interest in eight track cartridges and reel to reel tapes, unlike some I actually enjoy repairing them. To date I still haven't seen a Philco reel to reel or eight track player, did they ever make any?
Regards
Arran

[Paul Philco322]

(03-24-2012 05:36 AM)Arran Wrote:  Yes I know that I mispelled format, but then again phorum is supposed to be spelled with an "F" and not a "ph". In any event is there anyone else here that collects music or other media on old and obsolete audio formats? I have this odd interest in eight track cartridges and reel to reel tapes, unlike some I actually enjoy repairing them. To date I still haven't seen a Philco reel to reel or eight track player, did they ever make any?
Regards
Arran

Well, I do not personally collect such items. Do cassettes count? I usually let time pass me by and then I have antiques. If you have an interest I have a pal who has several reel to reel machines he is trying to get repaired, he has hundreds of r to r recordings. I also know of someone up in the Boston with a large selection of Radio Transcription records they are trying to sell. Music, shows, local programs. Some of the discs are different colors, blue, red. They have been stored in a studio up here for years. I you ever want to contact these folks just let me know.

Paul

[codefox1]

(03-24-2012 05:36 AM)Arran Wrote:  Yes I know that I mispelled format, but then again phorum is supposed to be spelled with an "F" and not a "ph". In any event is there anyone else here that collects music or other media on old and obsolete audio formats? I have this odd interest in eight track cartridges and reel to reel tapes, unlike some I actually enjoy repairing them. To date I still haven't seen a Philco reel to reel or eight track player, did they ever make any?
Regards
Arran

I do not believe Philco made any tape recorders; many brands, few makers. Difficult and expensive to fix up tape machines.

Also threw out all my old R2R and cassette tapes as most of them were no longer playable. The 8 tracks I threw out decades ago.

Kept the records though.

[Arran]

Part of what got me into eight track cartridges was the fact that I bought a car that came with a player in the dash and a box of cartridges on the seat. So naturally I played them in the player and eventually the splice came off one, a Herb Alpert K-Tel cart, and I decided to try fixing it. So I did a little research into them to find out how to open them and how they work and how to repair them, which I thought was very ingenious. I quickly found out that basically what they are is a reel to reel style 1/4 inch tape mounted in a cartridge, in a continous loop, at 3-3/4 inches per second. So you have most of the fidelity of a reel to reel tape without having to thread tape onto a take up reel, or rewind, or flip over and play in reverse to get another program.
I was told by several people over the years that they either couldn't be repaired or were not worth repairing, something that I have since found was not true any more then it would be with the average old radio. Since then I have gathered at least 100 of the things, some were bought, many were just given to me. It's a very inexpensive way to collect music, some of which can't be found on other formats.
Regards
Arran

[morzh]

Well.....I have vinyl collection and some cassette tapes that I play on my Nakamichi 9ZX.
Wanted Akai 747 but.....

[Arran]

(03-27-2012 04:36 AM)morzh Wrote:  Well.....I have vinyl collection and some cassette tapes that I play on my Nakamichi 9ZX.
Wanted Akai 747 but.....

Strange enough I found out that one of my eight track machines was in fact made by Akai, except that it says "Roberts" on the front and "Rheem" on the back. I found out who made it by accident while clicking on a link on an eight track site to a site for a repair service.
Regards
Arran

[LASJayhawk]

Arran, there is an antique shop here in town I've bought a few things from (a couple of Silvertones, a rough but complete consolette and a bakelite $50 for the pair). He told me he had a wire recorder. If there is a price range you would be interested in it, let me know and I can try to get it for you.

[w4rtc]

HI Arran
I also like reel to reel tape machines. I dont have very many, I had trouble with the tape, for some reason it would coat the heads even just playing one reel. I guess it was just the tape but I put the machines away for a while. I have a RCA 7-HFR-1 console mono from 1958, I have a VM 711, A Sony TC-630. I had a Philco but gave it to my Brother. It was a VM with the Philco name on it. I have a 8 track player/recorder but all the tapes I had for it the foam pressure pads on the carts fell apart and they will not play. See yea
Joe

[Arran]

(03-30-2012 09:10 PM)w4rtc Wrote:  HI Arran
I also like reel to reel tape machines. I dont have very many, I had trouble with the tape, for some reason it would coat the heads even just playing one reel. I guess it was just the tape but I put the machines away for a while. I have a RCA 7-HFR-1 console mono from 1958, I have a VM 711, A Sony TC-630. I had a Philco but gave it to my Brother. It was a VM with the Philco name on it. I have a 8 track player/recorder but all the tapes I had for it the foam pressure pads on the carts fell apart and they will not play. See yea
Joe

I though I saw an ad for a VW tape recorder, it would make sense that they supplied Philco with one as they already had a connection with Philco and record changers. Philco apparently had a plant where they made record changers at one time, Columbia contracted with Philco to manufacture 33-1/3 record players in the late 1940s, not sure why they needed VM later on unless VM was owned by Philco.
The foam pads in eight track players usaully rot and fall apart but that rarely prevents them from playing, however it often results in the foil splice not making contact so the tape will not switch programs. The gunk from the foam pads can also work it way into the tape and gum it up so I always remove the foam before trying a cart, that and replacing the foil splices.
Regards
Arran

[Arran]

(03-30-2012 04:34 PM)LASJayhawk Wrote:  Arran, there is an antique shop here in town I've bought a few things from (a couple of Silvertones, a rough but complete consolette and a bakelite $50 for the pair). He told me he had a wire recorder. If there is a price range you would be interested in it, let me know and I can try to get it for you.

I'm sure that the price wouldn't be too bad but the shipping would be, they turn up on fleabay for what looks like reasonable prices, those that are in a proper auction and not the loony "buy it now" ones, but the shipping is the main issue. It's not something I immediately want or need just something that I would likely pick up when the opportunity arises. I saw a Silivertone one about 15 years ago, it was in a radio/phonograph combo console, part of the phonograph portion. I have no idea whether it is still in the area or available, it was a project unit in any event. I picked up a Meisner record cutter last year so it's only a matter of time until I find a wire recorder.
Regards
Arran

[Bill Cahill]

I have, and, use cylinders, Diamond Discs, 78's, 45's, LP's,
R to R tapes, Cassettes, 8 track, transcription records, recording wire, video tapes, etc...
From Admiral to Zenith, including Philco, RCA, Belmont, Airline, and, my favorite, Edison.
Bill Cahill