FarewellOldFriends's video: Ferrograph Logic 7 Open Reel Tape Recorder - Overview

Old friend No. 12 - Ferrograph Logic 7 tape recorder has left home. This recorder was the last-ditch attempt by NEAL-Ferrograph to compete with modern electronically-controlled tape decks made in Europe and Japan. It came too late to make any impression on the market, but remains an interesting museum piece. The Ferrograph transport mechanical arrangement was virtually the same as its predecessors, using a synchronous mains motor for the capstan drive, and large DC motors for reel drive, transmitted via rubber-tyred idler wheels. Whether due to a poor choice of rubber by the Ferrograph engineers, or a failure in quality control during production, the rubber either perished and embrittled, or de-natured to a goo like black treacle. The result is that perfectly serviceable machines - like this one - would be put out of action. There are odd folks in Internet-land who claim to be able to reapply new rubber tyre material to the old aluminium idler hubs, and to produce replacement pinch rollers. I enquired a while ago and concluded that the cost would be prohibitive compared to the gain. But some enthusiasts may consider the price worth paying to rejuvenate a classic piece of '70s audio gear. The logic controls on this machine have been designed with such conservative timing - in the interests of safe tape handling - that all operations seem to involve an unreasonable period of 'contemplation' before commencing! And this is a really heavy piece of kit - over 28kg. Not something to be carried very far by hand. Why did all location recording jobs seem to involve climbing spiral staircases?