I find myself in possession of a Crown CTR-3000 reel-to-reel recorder (and tapes).

[david@theblower.au]

I find myself in possession of a Crown CTR-3000 reel-to-reel recorder (and tapes).

I look forward to the many challenges this role will bring...

[matthewconroy@mathstodon.xyz]

@david Awesome!

[david@theblower.au]

Adventures in trying to make a 1960's tape recorder to work:

The unit says it'll work on 4x D cell batteries, and as it happens, I have 4x D cell batteries. So I put them in (the right way around), and turned the switch. Nothing happened. Hmmm...
Since I had the unit open anyway (to test the polarity of the barrel jack), I observed what the switch did (it tilts a capstan motor to engage a roller somewhere inside the unit). I rocked the capstan motor a few times and now Play moves the take-up spindle!
Reverse doesn't do much. The Feed spindle is *meant* to move and the Take-up spindle go in to neutral. The latter happens, but the Feed spindle does not move (well ok, it tries, but doesn't get far).

Looks like I may need to pull it apart further and inspect the mechanism more.

Test playing a demo-tape, sound comes out, but because the feed spindle is so sticky, it doesn't play at the correct speed under tension.

[david@theblower.au]

@cefiar I initially thought so, and maybe it will be, but the manual implies there isn't a belt (but doesn't go in to technical specifics).

[david@theblower.au]

@cefiar this is the mechanism with the back cover off.

[david@theblower.au]

@cefiar when in play mode, the fly wheel turns.