Reel Vintage
April 9th, 2010
| Account limit of 2000 requests per hour exceeded. |
Vintage Reel to Reel Recorder Doesn't Work?
I would like to keep and use it if the repair isn't too costly or extensive. Any ideas what is likely wrong with it? Machine is just totally unresponsive. Yes, it is plugged in. It is from the 50's.
Lynn's answer above is pretty good; except you said it is "unresponsive", so I'm guessing even the power light isn't going on. That would eliminate most of Lynn's analysis.
Like Lynn, I cut my teeth on these Reel-to-Reel machines, too. So I'm guessing either of us can give you good advice.
If there's no power light, you need to determine if it's just a bad power cord or a dead power supply. You need to know just a little about electricity to troubleshoot this. You DON'T want to go messing around inside if you don't know what you're doing.
But if you know someone with a multimeter, have them set it to RESISTANCE and connect the two probes to the power plug (NOT plugged into an outlet), then turn the machine ON. Of course, it will not turn on; but if the power transformer is any good, the multimeter should show a very low resistance between the two power plug spades when the machine is switched on. That, at least lets you know the power switch is good.
If you get NO change in resistance (VERY high resistance), then either the power switch is no good or the power transformer is burned out. There is a slight chance there is a fuse in series with the incoming power line, and that might be blown.
Let both Lynn and I know what's going on; together we may be able to get your recorder up and running again.
BTW.. I have two old Reel -to-Reel recorders. My SONY has been around since the 60's, and all I've had to do to keep it running is replace the recording head (worn down from years of use). I was lucky enough to find an identical machine, deck only (only pre-amps) at a yard sale. They practically gave it to me just to get it out of their garage. The head was in great shape. Took me all of 15 minutes to make the swap of heads.
 |
 VINTAGE PENN INTERNATIONAL 80 W VERY NICE CONDITION $359.00 Time Remaining: 34m |
 Vintage Penn 309 Fishing Reel Big Game Deep Sea TROLLING CASTING $75.00 Time Remaining: 1h 19m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 |
 NEW VINTAGE MITCHELL BAIL FOR 320 REEL PN81227NOS $9.99 Time Remaining: 1h 28m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 VINTAGE GARCIA MITCHELL 306 SALT FRESH WATER INTERMEDIATE REEL $19.90 Time Remaining: 1h 45m Buy It Now for only: $29.00 |
 Vintage Penn 160 salt water reel in good shape Great for a reel collector $10.00 Time Remaining: 7h 22m |
 VINTAGE PENN PEERLESS 9 RARE TEAL GREEN REEL IN BOX EXCELLENT $135.00 (20 Bids) Time Remaining: 12h 57m |
 Used Penn Surfmaster 150 Vintage Reel $32.00 Time Remaining: 13h 25m Buy It Now for only: $36.00 |
 Vintage Penn reel parts $25.86 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 14h 25m |
 VINTAGE GARCIA MITCHELL 410 SPINNING REEL GOOD CONDITION $10.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 14h 27m |
 VINTAGE GARCIA MITCHELL 306 SPINNING REEL d $9.99 Time Remaining: 15h 6m |
 VINTAGE MITCHELL 300A SPINNING REEL d $9.99 Time Remaining: 15h 8m |
 Vintage Penn 155 Fishing Reel with new line $27.00 Time Remaining: 15h 40m Buy It Now for only: $35.00 |
 PENN SENATOR 4 0 CONVENTIONAL REEL VINTAGE $2.58 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 16h 19m |
 Garcia Kingfisher GK 72 GK 72 Conventional Fishing Reel Vintage $42.50 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 16h 26m |
 VINTAGE ABU AMBASSADEUR 7000C CHROME HANDLE NUTPLATE SCREW ETC REEL SPARES $4.66 Time Remaining: 17h 17m |
 VINTAGE PENN 9 LEVEL WIND FISHING REEL VERY GOOD CONDITION NICE DADS DAY GIFT $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 17h 33m |
 VINTAGE PFLUEGER SKILKAST NO 1953 BAITCASTING REEL MADE IN USA $4.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 17h 40m |
 Vintage Saltwater Reel Tiderunner Vintage Rod $29.95 Time Remaining: 18h 11m |
 vintage nice Jaleour bait caster reel good condition $20.00 Time Remaining: 18h 29m |
 two vintage rare garcia mitchell 300 302 reels worth a good look $7.06 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 18h 47m |
 PENN 259 with Powerhouse Reel Transmission RARE VINTAGE REEL $175.00 Time Remaining: 19h 38m Buy It Now for only: $259.00 |
 Vintage Fishing Reel Penn Squidder 140 M Open Face Saltwater Box USA Bakelite $49.99 Time Remaining: 19h 42m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 Fishing Reel Penn Surfmaster Surf Master Vintage 250 Made in USA Bakelite Knob $49.99 Time Remaining: 19h 42m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 VINTAGE Penn Reel Part 29L 210 Aluminum Spool NEW NOS $28.99 Time Remaining: 20h 24m Buy It Now for only: $28.99 |
 Vintage Penn 450ss skirted spinning reel Made in USA 4500 450ssg used $44.53 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 20h 48m |
 Vintage OCEAN CITY 935 Fishing Reel Made In PHILADELPHIA USA Works Great $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 21h |
 Vintage Penn No 155conventional fishing reel $14.99 Time Remaining: 21h |
 Vintage PENN 500 JIGMASTER Big Game Saltwater FISHING REEL Works GREAT $15.60 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 8m |
 Vintage OCTAGON 71 TRULINE Saltwater Spinning Rod with Vermac Reel Seat $285.00 Time Remaining: 21h 10m Buy It Now for only: $285.00 |
 Vintage Penn 550ss skirted spinning reel Made in USA 5500 550ssg used $19.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 21h 14m |
 VINTAGE PENN INTERNATIONAL 30 GOOD WORKING CONDITION $159.00 Time Remaining: 21h 15m |
 VINTAGE ALL METAL SMALL FISHING REEL UNBRANDED $4.99 Time Remaining: 21h 26m |
 Vintage Penn 3 85 Bridge With Sleeve $0.99 Time Remaining: 21h 27m |
 QTY 2 NO 85 QTY 1 NO 180 VINTAGE PENN SALTWATER REELS $14.99 Time Remaining: 21h 31m |
 Vintage Penn 65 Long Beach Conventional Salt Water Fishing Reel Works Well $20.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 37m |
 OLD VINTAGE PENN 149 IN NEAR MINT CONDITION $62.99 Time Remaining: 21h 40m Buy It Now for only: $62.99 |
 Vtg 1990 Peetz 65th Anniversary 5 Wood Wooden Brass Salmon Fishing Reel No Res $24.99 Time Remaining: 22h 10m |
 Vintage Penn Senator 4 0 $6.01 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 25m |
 Vintage Immec Level Wind Reel Model 22P $0.99 Time Remaining: 22h 25m |
 VINTAGE OCEAN CITY MODEL 125 SALTWATER FISHING REEL $8.99 Time Remaining: 22h 31m |
 VINTAGE PENN INTERNATIONAL 20 LEVERDRAG LIGHT BIG GAME SALTWATER FISHING REEL $119.99 Time Remaining: 22h 38m Buy It Now for only: $139.99 |
 VINTAGE PENN 309 BIG GAME SALT WATER OR FRESH LURE BAIT CASTING TROLLING REEL EX $50.00 (17 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 41m |
 Vintage PENN Long Beach 60 Fishing Reel Saltwater Conventional $20.99 Time Remaining: 22h 47m Buy It Now for only: $30.88 |
 VINTAGE PENN PEER 109 CONVENTIONAL SPINNING REEL FRESHWATER SALTWATER FISHING $21.50 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 50m |
 Vintage Penn LEVELINE 350 with yellow BAKELITE Handle BOX GOOD CONDITION $29.00 Time Remaining: 22h 56m |
 Vintage Penn 140 Squidder LOOK $26.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 23h 12m |
 Vintage Penn Squidder 145 Fishing Reel Fish Pier Boat Surf Great Condition $59.99 Time Remaining: 23h 12m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 |
 Vintage Penn Senator 115 9 0 Saltwater Fishing Reel w Rod Mount + Original Box $202.50 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 23h 25m |
 2 Vintage Fishing Heddon Baby Torpedo lures Fishing Tackle $7.50 Time Remaining: 23h 29m |
 VINTAGE GARCIA MITCHEL 408 SPINNING REEL EXCELLENT CONDITION $26.54 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 23h 31m |
 Extra Wide Penn 3 0 112h Reel with Newell Bluefin Kit Rare Vintage NO RESERVE $91.00 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 23h 41m |
 Wide Penn Jigmaster Reel with Newell Yellowfin Kit Rare Vintage $69.00 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 12m |
 Vintage Penn Jigmaster with wide Newell Yellowfin Kit and 300C Sideplates Rare $89.00 (19 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 35m |
 VINTAGE PENN PEER N0 209 BAIT CASTING SALTWATER LEVELWIND FISHING REEL 1960S $29.99 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 1m |
 VINTAGE PENN DEL MAR RED HANDLE FISHING SALT WATER OCEAN REEL $9.98 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 12m Buy It Now for only: $18.00 |
 Vintage Penn 501 Narrow Spool NEW LOOK $9.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 1h 22m |
 Vintage Pflueger TEMCO 2075 Fishing Reel 1956 57 used $19.95 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 31m |
 Nice Vintage JC Higgins Trolling Downrigger Reel Saltwater Penn 180 $19.99 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 37m Buy It Now for only: $22.99 |
 2 Vintage Fishing Reels $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 29m |
 Fishing Reels Lot Of 5 Vintage $16.49 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 36m |
 Vintage Fishing Reel $0.99 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 42m |
 Vintage Fishing Reels X4 $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 48m |
 VINTAGE NEWELL 4 SCREW ALUMINUM BASE FOR A PENN 113H REELHIGHLY COLLECTIBLE $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 3h 6m |
 OLD VINTAGE PENN GREEN 26 IN GOOD CONDITION ONE SMALL CHIP ON SIDE PLATE $95.00 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 24m Buy It Now for only: $95.00 |
 Vintage Penn Squidder 140 Fishing Reel Fish Pier Boat Surf Great Condition $59.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 11m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 |
 Vintage PENN Jigmaster 500 Convention Saltwater Fishing $20.99 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 9m |
 VINTAGE PENN 60 LONG BEACH 2 REEL SERVICED VERY SMOOTH RED HANDLE $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 16m |
 VINTAGE PENN DELMAR 285 REEL SERVICED VERY SMOOTH WORKS GREAT $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 17m Buy It Now for only: $15.99 |
 VINTAGE PENN NO 85 VERY EARLY MODEL 250 YARDS ON FOOT $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 43m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 |
 VINTAGE WOLVERINE MODEL D AUTO FLY FISHING REEL NO1695 NICE $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 3m |
 VINTAGE PENN 250 SURFMASTER TAKE APART MODEL WITH ROD CLAMP GREAT CONDITION $14.99 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 31m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 VINTAGE PENN 180 WORKS GREAT LOADED WITH BRAID $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 32m Buy It Now for only: $15.99 |
 VINTAGE PENN 9 LEVELWIND VERY NICE CONDITION POWER HANDLE NEW CAJUN LINE $19.99 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 33m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 |
 Penn Peer Vtg Reel 209 Granger Heavy Duty 85 Rod Eagle Claw Wright McGill $24.99 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 53m |
 Penn Peer Reel 209 Granger Heavy Duty 85 Rod Eagle Claw Wright McGill Vtg $24.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 13h 54m |
 VINTAGE PENN NO 49 SUPER MARINER UGLY BUT WORKS GREAT LUBED WITH ROD CLAMP $14.99 Time Remaining: 1d 14h 27m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 PENN LONG BEACH 68 WORKS GREAT VINTAGE USA MADE REEL $19.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 14h 29m |
 PENN LONG BEACH 67 UGLY BUT WORKS GREAT VINTAGE USA MADE REEL $14.99 Time Remaining: 1d 14h 31m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |