CassetteMaster | Rim-Drive and AC Bias The Standard Unicorder 89 @CassetteMaster | Uploaded 4 years ago | Updated 3 minutes ago
This is the Unicorder 89 from Standard Radio Corp. of Japan, this unit is from 1962, as I found an old ad for it from 1962.
This reel-to-reel tape recorder is rim-drive, not capstan drive, jet is AC bias and (I believe) AC erase!! It has automatic level control. Most rim-drive recorders were very cheaply made, with no speed regulation to the motor, and with a rheostat to change speed to tweak for weak batteries. This unit however, uses a governor-controlled motor, and a little belt-driven flywheel to the rim-drive mechanism for greater torque and much more stable speed. It is even stable enough for music, which is commonly too warbly on the cheap rim-drive machines.
This can take up to 3 1/2 inch reels, and runs at a speed of 6.7cm/s, ±30%.
It is close to 4.8cm/s (1 7/8 IPS) at the beginning of a reel, and towards the end of a larger (3 1/2 inch) reel, runs close to 9.5 cm/s (3 3/4 IPS).
A rubber O-ring was used as a replacement belt, as it needs to be a round belt, not a square one. The original metal spring-belt was rusted and breaking into pieces. Also, a new rubber flat O-ring was added to fix the rewind.
The mechanism of this machine is manufactured by COPAL of Japan.
ALL MUSIC NOT BY ME!!! If is played for demonstration of music record quality. Duh.
This is the Unicorder 89 from Standard Radio Corp. of Japan, this unit is from 1962, as I found an old ad for it from 1962.
This reel-to-reel tape recorder is rim-drive, not capstan drive, jet is AC bias and (I believe) AC erase!! It has automatic level control. Most rim-drive recorders were very cheaply made, with no speed regulation to the motor, and with a rheostat to change speed to tweak for weak batteries. This unit however, uses a governor-controlled motor, and a little belt-driven flywheel to the rim-drive mechanism for greater torque and much more stable speed. It is even stable enough for music, which is commonly too warbly on the cheap rim-drive machines.
This can take up to 3 1/2 inch reels, and runs at a speed of 6.7cm/s, ±30%.
It is close to 4.8cm/s (1 7/8 IPS) at the beginning of a reel, and towards the end of a larger (3 1/2 inch) reel, runs close to 9.5 cm/s (3 3/4 IPS).
A rubber O-ring was used as a replacement belt, as it needs to be a round belt, not a square one. The original metal spring-belt was rusted and breaking into pieces. Also, a new rubber flat O-ring was added to fix the rewind.
The mechanism of this machine is manufactured by COPAL of Japan.
ALL MUSIC NOT BY ME!!! If is played for demonstration of music record quality. Duh.
