I'm not sure what is meant by "last word in handling."  I've found it superb
for thin tape, mixed thicknesses, reels that differ in diameter on the feed
and take-up side, etc.  They are quiet, operate with low electronic noise,
and, in general, behave themselves well.

They are workhorses in my studio, along with Otari MTR series, 18 wheelers
of the tape recorder world.

Steve Smolian

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Kane" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 9:41 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Reel-to-reel tape recorder for auditioning archival
tapes.


> The machine that comes to mind is a Technics. Examples are available in
> your
> budget. It'll do everything you need. Any of the RS-1500 (1500,1506,1520
> etc) series should fill the bill as they have switchable two-four track
> playback (separate heads) and are 3.75/7.5/15 IPS. The tape transport
> isn't
> the last word in handling but does a passable job. The machines are
> durable
> and stand up to abuse quite well. I bought my units off Ebay; that's a
> crapshoot. If you can get them elsewhere it's worth the premium to ensure
> condition.  One unit I got was described as excellent condition, yet came
> in
> with surface rust(!) on the heads and light rust elsewhere on the case.
> Not
> what I'd call mint.
>
> Jeff
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of RA Friedman
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 8:07 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: [ARSCLIST] Reel-to-reel tape recorder for
>> auditioning archival tapes.
>>
>> A few hundred dollars has become available to purchase a
>> ree-to-reel tape deck so that we can audition what I believe
>> are mostly 1/2 track and possibly 1/4 track stereo reels playing at
>> 3 3/4 or 7 1/2 ips. It's conceivable there are some 15 ips,
>> but most likely not. I'm assuming we will need two decks, one
>> for each head configuration.
>>
>> Any recommendations as far as units, dealers, re-builds, etc?
>>  We are not planning on using the deck for transfers, but
>> we'd like something that will have a long useful life and
>> won't be a huge maintenance headache.
>>
>> With any luck, transfers will be done by an outside
>> specialist. We need a unit that can give us some indication
>> of what's on the tapes and will have minimal impact. Luckily
>> the tapes have been stored under cool, dry conditions and
>> none appears to have sticky-shed or surface/support breakdown
>> even though some are acetate rather than polyester.
>>
>> RA Friedman
>> Assistant Project Archivist
>> Historical Society of Pennsylvania
>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------
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>>
>
>
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