Cool! I definitely prefer reel-to-reel over this one. This was one of the earliest of the wire recorders ever existed before magnetic tape was introduced in the 1950's to compete with Webster Chicago. Mine is the Concord 220 which is a 2-track R2R tape recorder from about 1964 and 1965. Wire recorders are very expensive to collect.
MTN Productions Yes, I agree with you that they're expensive to collect and they are definitely not for everybody being that you have to almost baby sit them all the time when you're rewinding a spool of wire or even if you're playing one, and the wire hasn't been wound on tightly enough because it can unravel and snarl up in the machine. But still for some reason there is an allure to them that really just makes me want to enjoy them. I've even mastered tying that stupid square knot in the wire when it breaks and has to be repaired. Lol.
Your machine is an 80-1, which has several production changes over the very first ones. That big leaf switch manipulated by the control lever that in this machine does only permit the bias signal to reach the head in the RUN position, was the motor switch in the first production of the 80. In those earliest machines the motor only was in operation if the machine was in run or rewind, and the manual stating what it does regarding the necessity of switching back to LISTEN before rewinding is correct with regard to those first machines. Those first 80s also don't have a recording level indicator(!) though they sold an outboard one for a time that could be connected ahead of the input jack. I have an 80-1 just like this one....my dad got it in very late 1948. I still have some early recordings on it with him playing in a club. Unfortunately the machine had some mechanical issues so the recording speed is all over the place throughout the music. And like yours, it has some difficulties with regard to the head moving up and down, and also the motor being loaded too much in rewind. Unfortunately I can't get at the pair of springs that control how much force is applied in whichever direction to tilt the motor for run or rewind functions.
Believe me sometimes I think there is a science to really adjusting everything on these wire recorders from the tension of the drive wheel against the supply and take up spool hubs and the braking system. They are a little bit difficult to fiddle with but once you get them working properly they run pretty well.
Hello my friend I want to wish you a very happy and healthy new year and all the best and may all your wishes and dreams come true always be well and have a safe and relaxing evening and rest of your week . and keep warm as possible and as always another great job done
The next time you have to soften one of those rubber drive wheels, try wintergreen oil mixed with rubbing alcohol. It is much better than brake fluid. I've never done it with an idler wheel, but I have done it with other rubber parts and it works great and doesn't ever sweat it back out, which is a problem I've had using the brake fluid.
Happy New year 2018! Great way to start the new year with a wonderful restoration by Amberola1B! Excellent job all round. Remarkably good sound too! I love how you so clearly point out and explain complex and un-intuitive items - like the baler! Always wondered how they worked! You patience is inspiring! And it paid off -- you have a nice sounding and functioning wire recorder. I have been curious about these early magnetic machines. Now I know! It is, however, a wonder how the head holds up to the constant friction of the speeding wire. Great job, big THUMBS UP! Thanks for posting this,
clydesight Happy New Year to you too Tim. Thanks for the kind words. But hey, you're no slouch in the restoration dept. either. You know I love watching your video too, old as well as new. You have a great choice of tape recorders that you purchase to restore, and some of them seem to be ones that you remember from your youth. I'm going to try for one more W.C. wire recorder on eBay to restore and if it needs another video to make on RUclips, i might make it. I think Ricky Kline has gotten the wire recorder bug also . His videos are also very good. Take care of yourself Tim, keep those videos coming. I hope our friend Buzz is ok, he's been on a REAL long vacation.
Great video - nice and clearly explained! Fascinating piece of equipment - I love it! The eccentric wheel that drives the baler/head assembly up and down would probably be called a "cam" (kind of heart-shaped) - nice restoration job!
Has anyone ever tried adding a bias oscillator for recording? That was apparently the key development in magnetic recording the alliies discovered during the occupation of Germany at the end of WW2.
I just acquired a Webster-Chicago 288-1 and although your's featured here is a different model, this video is extremely useful! I want to get mine up and running again, and I was wondering, where did you source the power cable? I was considering installing a new jack for an IEC cable, but it would be nice to keep the unit as is.
Sounds good. Did you do anything with the can capacitors ? I cut and mounted new electrolytics under them in the units I rebuilt. I wish I could record on mine. My mics are bad. Will try and rebuild them with new crystal or ceramic mic’s sometime.
Nice job! I have an 80-1 and a 180-1, both of which need to be recapped. Do you have any advice on how to do that or are you willing and available to recap either or both of them? Thank you.
Cool! I definitely prefer reel-to-reel over this one. This was one of the earliest of the wire recorders ever existed before magnetic tape was introduced in the 1950's to compete with Webster Chicago. Mine is the Concord 220 which is a 2-track R2R tape recorder from about 1964 and 1965. Wire recorders are very expensive to collect.
MTN Productions Yes, I agree with you that they're expensive to collect and they are definitely not for everybody being that you have to almost baby sit them all the time when you're rewinding a spool of wire or even if you're playing one, and the wire hasn't been wound on tightly enough because it can unravel and snarl up in the machine. But still for some reason there is an allure to them that really just makes me want to enjoy them. I've even mastered tying that stupid square knot in the wire when it breaks and has to be repaired. Lol.
Your machine is an 80-1, which has several production changes over the very first ones. That big leaf switch manipulated by the control lever that in this machine does only permit the bias signal to reach the head in the RUN position, was the motor switch in the first production of the 80. In those earliest machines the motor only was in operation if the machine was in run or rewind, and the manual stating what it does regarding the necessity of switching back to LISTEN before rewinding is correct with regard to those first machines.
Those first 80s also don't have a recording level indicator(!) though they sold an outboard one for a time that could be connected ahead of the input jack.
I have an 80-1 just like this one....my dad got it in very late 1948. I still have some early recordings on it with him playing in a club. Unfortunately the machine had some mechanical issues so the recording speed is all over the place throughout the music. And like yours, it has some difficulties with regard to the head moving up and down, and also the motor being loaded too much in rewind. Unfortunately I can't get at the pair of springs that control how much force is applied in whichever direction to tilt the motor for run or rewind functions.
Believe me sometimes I think there is a science to really adjusting everything on these wire recorders from the tension of the drive wheel against the supply and take up spool hubs and the braking system. They are a little bit difficult to fiddle with but once you get them working properly they run pretty well.
Hello my friend I want to wish you a very happy and healthy new year and all the best and may all your wishes and dreams come true always be well and have a safe and relaxing evening and rest of your week . and keep warm as possible and as always another great job done
The next time you have to soften one of those rubber drive wheels, try wintergreen oil mixed with rubbing alcohol. It is much better than brake fluid. I've never done it with an idler wheel, but I have done it with other rubber parts and it works great and doesn't ever sweat it back out, which is a problem I've had using the brake fluid.
Thanks, I'll try it. Thanks for the tip
Check out this video:
ruclips.net/video/EnGsllKvheQ/видео.html
Happy New year 2018! Great way to start the new year with a wonderful restoration by Amberola1B! Excellent job all round. Remarkably good sound too! I love how you so clearly point out and explain complex and un-intuitive items - like the baler! Always wondered how they worked! You patience is inspiring! And it paid off -- you have a nice sounding and functioning wire recorder. I have been curious about these early magnetic machines. Now I know! It is, however, a wonder how the head holds up to the constant friction of the speeding wire.
Great job, big THUMBS UP! Thanks for posting this,
clydesight Happy New Year to you too Tim. Thanks for the kind words. But hey, you're no slouch in the restoration dept. either. You know I love watching your video too, old as well as new. You have a great choice of tape recorders that you purchase to restore, and some of them seem to be ones that you remember from your youth. I'm going to try for one more W.C. wire recorder on eBay to restore and if it needs another video to make on RUclips, i might make it. I think Ricky Kline has gotten the wire recorder bug also . His videos are also very good. Take care of yourself Tim, keep those videos coming. I hope our friend Buzz is ok, he's been on a REAL long vacation.
Great video - nice and clearly explained! Fascinating piece of equipment - I love it! The eccentric wheel that drives the baler/head assembly up and down would probably be called a "cam" (kind of heart-shaped) - nice restoration job!
Randy Mony thanks. Couldn't think of the word cam . Now I'll use it in the future. 😉
Has anyone ever tried adding a bias oscillator for recording? That was apparently the key development in magnetic recording the alliies discovered during the occupation of Germany at the end of WW2.
I just acquired a Webster-Chicago 288-1 and although your's featured here is a different model, this video is extremely useful! I want to get mine up and running again, and I was wondering, where did you source the power cable? I was considering installing a new jack for an IEC cable, but it would be nice to keep the unit as is.
What a wonderful work! You are good repairer!!!
Sounds good. Did you do anything with the can capacitors ? I cut and mounted new electrolytics under them in the units I rebuilt. I wish I could record on mine. My mics are bad. Will try and rebuild them with new crystal or ceramic mic’s sometime.
That mike may be on its way out ( dead ) , the crystal element in those drys out over the years, my friend has a webcor open reel w/ the same problem.
Nice job! I have an 80-1 and a 180-1, both of which need to be recapped. Do you have any advice on how to do that or are you willing and available to recap either or both of them? Thank you.
Love this!!!