At 07:53 AM 2009-03-05, Tom Fine wrote: >I have a Gates model 944-6701-002 cart playback machine, set up for >mono. I don't know if this works, and don't have any documentation >for it. Here's what's present in the electronics cage: My rule of thumb with this: Mono NAB cartridge tapes which are 2 Track Stereo configuration (audio/cue) can be better played on the reel-to-reel of your selection Stereo NAB cartridge tapes which are 3-track configuration (audio/audio/cue) need the special head as, stoopidly the 43-mil centre channel is the right audio while the outside channel is cue. So if you come across a stereo machine and the head is in good condition, save that for future mounting in a good reel-to-reel machine. If you come across Pacific Recorders MaxTrax TomCat cart machines, they are a special head yet again -- save it. Also, the PR TomCats use some nice components -- some may use Jensen 990 op amps and Jensen transformers. Certainly worth having for parts. Otherwise--unless you're looking to make a vintage radio studio, there are (IMHO) better ways of capturing the audio entrusted to these devices. Also, most of the material are either songs for Top-40 (they were made from LPs or 45s at the station) or any announcements/commercials/etc. Cheers, Richard Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask] Aurora, Ontario, Canada (905) 713 6733 1-877-TAPE-FIX Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.