Reel-to-reel tape decks (was Re: ZX81 denigrated!)

[Tony Duell]

> > signal pin. The original plug was unpolarised, but carried a red dot to 
> > indictate the signal pin.
> 
> the problem now is, where can you get the plugs?

The book I mentioned suggests you can use a pair of 4mm banana plugs. 
Have you tried them? The original plug was not screened or anything, so 
the 4mm pluges should be OK.

> 
> > Said machine is Stereo, 4 speed (including 15/16 ips [1]), can copy one 
> > mono track to the other while mixing in the microphone input, and so on. 
> > The speakers are somewhat Heath-Robinson. There's one in the case, used 
> > for mono playback and the left stereo channel. And another in the lid. 
> > For Stereo playback you uncoil a lead from a slot inside the lid and plug 
> > it into the RH extension speaker socket. Then put the lid on the right 
> > side of the machine, about 2m away. Of course you can also connect up a 
> > pair of speakers or a stereo amplifer/speaker system...
> 
> Sounds like a nice machine. Vacuum-tube or transistorised?

Alas fully transistorised. The previous model (essentially a stereo 
EL3542) had valves in the output stages. I would like to find that one, 
I'd also like to find both of the 'Upright' models -- the EL3538 
transistorised portable (2 track, mono, 1+7/8 ips) and the EL3514 (4 
track, mono, 3+3/4 ips, mostly valved). 

These are not particularly good quality machines -- my old Brennel 
2-track mono machine will beat the Philips hands-down. But they're fun...

-tony