Tape Recorders

Repairs

I collect and repair, mostly, Sony tape recorders from the 1960s and 1970s, although I do have other brands. These include: Akai, National Panasonic, Sanyo, Toho, Teac/Tascam. However, by far the best are my Revox units.

Most tape recorders are mechanically complicated with a lot of messy wiring, therefore they take a very long time to get right. So if you need one repaired, I charge quite a lot of money. Furthermore, as they weigh a LOT and are very large, frieght or postage is out of the question. So Melbourne or Ballarat, or at a pinch Geelong and Bendigo, only.

General Background

I bought my first reel to reel machine about 1977-1978. It was a valve (tube) Akai 1700 from 1965. Whilst it wasn't a great machine by even the standards of 1965, it was what I could afford. It eventually became so troublesome that I gave up on it, especially when it started putting random electrical noises on the left channel.

Through the 1980s to the early 1990s I used cassettes and reel to reel machines were not of the radar because of constant travel, study, and small houses.

My parents moved from a large house with tons of space underneath to a smaller house. It was a great place to store things under the house, cool and very dry, but I had to clear it because of the move. By this stage I was in a bigger house of my own and I had plenty of space for my Hi-Fi so I went out and bought the first of two Revox B77 machines.

After another few years working overseas, I was recalled to the Museum, but contract became shorter and shorter then non existant. Looking for something long term and stable, I started teaching.

I took my old Akai into the classroom to demonstrate "old tec" and soon I was being offered tapes and machines from peoples garages. As at 2026 I have 40 machines! Plus scrap machines.

I love working on  these pieces of history. No manufacturer is going to be making this type of consumer machine again. They are a fascinating combination of mechanical wheels, gears, and levers, together with clever electronics. Nonetheless, you can buy a new machine from Ballfinger and  Metaxas, but who wants to mortgage their hous to pay for one! I'll stick to consumer grade machines.

My favourite brand is Sony who were the pinacle of consumer reel to reel technology. Sony were the first Japanese manufacturer in 1950.

I also have machines from Akai, National Panasonic / Technics, Pioneer, Teac/Tascam. European machines are from Grundig, Philips, Ferguson (with BSR transport), Tanberg, and Uher.

And yes storing them is a problem!

I am currently building the pages for each machine, so check back!