Tandberg Model 74b Reel To Reel maintenence

An old vintage Stereo Tandberg Reel to Reel gets serviced.

[@stream_tv1]

These machines were in every classroom in Sweden during the 70's and 80's. But in mono version.

[@soepil]

And in every school in Denmark, too ... :)

[@greengrayradio1394]

Hi from Norway, the land of Tandberg!.. Interesting to watch your vids, I do it a lot. The 60Hz models had an alternate motor pulley to get the speeds right (brass instead of aluminum ?) The pinch roller and idler can be redone, there are persons in Norway who do this with as-new result. I have many Tandbergs, the mechanics is virtually identical om most models of the ones with one motor. There will mostly be paper capacitors in the amp which should be changed, the square Rifa "Miniprint" caps often crack and leak, sometimes the filter cap in the psu is bad also. The felt ring inside the flywheel is to dampen vibrations and stop the wheel from sounding like a bell.. We take pride in keeping the Tandberg products in good order over here, this factory went under in the late seventies, alas..

[@TheReal1953]

I have three Tandbergs and some donor machines to keep them running. Tandbergs aren't very robust machines....more Norwegian voodoo than anything else. When they do decide to run 100%, their sound is glorious. My favorite machine is the 10XD, but the Hall effect motor they use to turn the capstan flywheel is a cassette sized motor and it has almost a 100% failure rate. Nobody tech savvy here in the States has taken the time to retrofit a better Hall effect motor in there. Soundsmith designed a PCB and a AC motor to replace it. Their kit is now priced @$699. Putting that kind of money into a old 10XD is absolutely insane....it's just not that superior of a prosumer deck.

[@tostumpen]

Hello from another former electronic technician from Norway. First of all, let me say that I follow all of this channel with outmost interest! And I was very happy to see that this tape recorder found it's way to Your workshop! Tandberg Radiofabrikk was one of the biggest corporations in Norway back in those days, and they shipped to all over the world (wich makes the 50/60 Hz issue quite a blunder), but as stated in the posts, the easiest way is to record a new recording and the playback will have the right speed. The end of Tandberg Radiofabrikk, is a long and tragic history. They fusioned with Radionette in the early 70's, and both companies had very different employment policy that mismatched for one (Vebjorn Tandberg himself made it so that every employer owned a bit of the factory and all of the capital was put in a special fond to sustain the further development and competiton). Another factor, was since the development and new inventions was really picking up the speed, as well as the competition from the east, the buisness started to go bad. The end of the story is that Vebjorn Tandberg, who founded and administered it all, was sacked from the leaderboard. He was so depressed over the loss of his family (factory and employers) and his lifework that he went home and comitted suicide. Only a couple of months later, Tandberg Radiofabrikk filed for bankrupcy. But the legacy lives on even to day in a tiny scale as tapestreamers for server backups. For us consumers, there are lots of the old machines for sale, and many are still renewing the old gems. I myself did this to a Tape Racorder Model 2 (from the early 60's) 5 months ago, and it was an honour and joy for me as I have never got my hands on one of theese machines. At last;thank You so much for this video! I'll keep following You!

[@daviddrake6875]

Yes alas.

[@daviddrake6875]

@@TheReal1953 That is why I have TD 20A SE the best of all worlds totally dependable in operation.

[@TheReal1953]

@@daviddrake6875 That's the only unit that is currently working. Damn shame to have three decks with just one working. The TD-20A is as close as they ever had to a modern, solid state workhorse.

[@mattdiaz9360]

Thanks man. Excellent video! I just inherited my Dad's model 64. This will come in very handy!

[@catswhisker3843]

Dave, how cool you are to repair a Tandberg product. I myself have a tuner amplifier from Tandberg on the bench. This tuner is also well and solidly built using beautiful materials. A feast for the eyes and a great sound. What you say is pure craftsmanship!

[@12voltvids]

cat's whisker I will be working with the owner to find a 50hz inverter so this runs the correct speed.

[@THOMMGB]

Maybe you can go through greengrayradio (has posted two comments) in Norway to find you the correct pulley. He seems to be pretty knowledgeable about these machines. Regards, Tom

[@ivanigorpollick6690]

what a beautifull old machine,amazing -i have never seen...

[@12voltvids]

It is very cool alright. Again the owner can just use it to make his own tapes. Really doesn't matter if the tapes are being played back on the same machine.

[@zxryder9744]

This has a speed selector, it's the switch between the reels on top. Looks like this was set to 7.5 ips and playing a 3.75 ips tape. I got a Tanberg model 12 today, similar design. Voltage on that one is changed by internal soldered jumpers on the transformer, instructions state it goes to 110 Volt 60 Cycles.

[@okaoka248]

Yes he did not notice it. Obviously there were no problems except the the repairer.

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

8:33 "ah damn! that is a switch here" Haha I was waiting for the moment you'd say this as I have the nearest cousin of this unit (i.e. sans amp and speakers) and I was baffled too that the motor would not come on until I found the tape presence switch. It's great to hear you approve of this unit as I was wondering about how good mine was. I haven't done a lot of searching about it and haven't found much online. In any case, it's good to hear the appraisal coming from a pro. I'm still surprised to see it operating after 50 or more years, considering the age of the electrolytics, pio's, valves and all. Obviously I have issues with the belts (slipping), possibly the idlers too, dry bearings and so on but all moving parts are in surprisingly good condition. 16:10 "what &*^ is the good of making a unit that is multiple voltages if it's 50 cycles" You know, I was really hoping you had the answer to that as I also have often wondered about it. I guess manufacturers expect listeners to compensate for the higher frequency by adjusting their tone hearing by 12% - opens up a whole new world of appreciation possibilities for all classic pieces of music. 22:45 Another potential avenue to get this working would be to procure a very low wattage on-line UPS for 50Hz. Not sure how easy it is to find one of these second hand in North America but they sure ain't cheap to buy new. The good thing about this solution is you can also power your 50Hz turntable or even, perhaps, your cheapo cassette deck with it. 25:00 Does anyone else think this looks like Homer Simpson?

[@Taketimeout3]

Gosh, I haven't seen you for so long. Good to see you are doing well. 😊

[@12voltvids]

Welcome back!

[@johnbellas490]

Tandberg made some really nice machines, this one even has a decently nice wood case !! Reminds me of working at a local FM radio station many decades ago , they used 10 Tandberg reel to reel units with 10.5 inch reel capacity, these units were used in conjunction with 3 carousel units that held a total of 72 cart units and about 8 separate cart units that held time announcements and news announcements. This was an early automation unit and was run by I think a PDP computer with a CORE memory system that had problems with nearby lightning strike's that would jumble the program sequence and the unit would just reset to a MUSIC only sequence from in the middle of a news announcement !!!!!

[@jazzlover10000]

These were expensive expensive.

[@HenrySaam]

Thank you for the great video! I have a very similar model which is winding/rewinding slow and in process of lubricating the necessary bearings. Wondering how should lube the motor bearing, is the hole on the motor pulley for lubrication? Curious why the motor was not lubed in the video...

[@teacfan1080]

Still a great find by that owner, a classic. Love the tuning eye VU meters and the joystick style transport control. When you first showed the model plate, I saw the 50 Hz designation. The recorder can still be used, although it's a "custom" speed. He can record tapes but would have to play them back on the same machine.

[@12voltvids]

TEAC Fan Yes fully aware of that. Custom speed machine. But with a 50hz inverter it would run correct speed.

[@themayor8440]

@@12voltvids thee is a speed changer between the reels

[@Felix2417425]

My favorite magic eye is type EMM801 which is dual beam so it's perfect for stereo application. I had Revox F36 tube tape recorder which has this tube as record level indicator.

[@thefleshexperience]

I was just given a proper 60 hertz one of these...it’s my first R2R and this video was incredibly great helping me take it apart. Unfortunately when I trigger the switch as if a tape was in place, it didn’t solve the problem. The tubes turn on and look beautiful. But nothing turns. Found the belts are broken. No biggie but not even the capstan turns. Think it’s the motor then? I’m a newb. lol. Thanks!

[@infinitecanadian]

This may very well be one of the most interesting electronics we have ever seen you work on. Variable voltage, Magic Eye VU meters, multiple functions, internal speakers, _solid copper flywheel,_ this thing has everything. Must have cost a bloody fortune when it was being sold in the mass market. The Achilles' Heel of this is the lack of support for 60 cycle power and it could use a swappable cord. Don't they have some sort of frequency converter available? They actually have a difference of frequency between Western Japan and Eastern Japan; so surely they must have thought of a solution by now in case someone is moving from one part of Japan to the other.

[@ronshaw80]

My first reel to reel was a Tandberg. I dont remember the model number now (around '70 or so). It sounded good when it was working, but it was pretty troublesome right off the bat, so I returned it for a Teac 2300. Never regretted it.

[@andershammer9307]

Tandberg's are better than TEAC when working. I own 23 reel to reel tape decks.

[@mjg263]

My first “good” reel to reel deck was a Tandberg model 64. When it worked it made great recordings but it was quite a handful to keep running properly. Finally replaced it with an Akai 2000ds which also made excellent tapes and was 100% reliable.

[@pbrynild]

I am sitting with the exact same model in front of me now. My father’s old Tandberg. Hope to be able to fix it!

[@SDsailor7]

Were you able to fix it?

[@jazzlover10000]

Tandberg made variants of this model until ~1990. It was a great design. Tube units had a tendency to overheat the plastic transport system on hot days in Los Angeles, for example, and warp said reels, resulting in a very expensive repair. Best to operate these in winter! These were @#$#!#@# high-end. One ad in an magazine I saw said they were selling scratched cabinet models, no doubt scratched by the handlers diamond rings! I think they were like $500 in 1962 or so. It was a snob reel-to-reel. But very nice for what it does. Just take care of it, keep the transport clean and don't overheat it and it should last forever.

[@Wenlocktvdx]

Looks similar to the one my school in London had. That one had DIN sockets and I'm sure it was transistorised. It had a magic eye but the window was narrower. They also had a 1950s Grundig which was being used with an old tape that was missing most of the oxide along the edges and sported a label warning not to use tracks 1 and 4. Even then the audio dropouts didn't always line up with the gaps in the oxide. I found out they should have got a new reel every year. So who was getting a five finger discount I wonder?

[@jazzlover10000]

Tandberg made a model based on this platform until at least 1988.

[@dvddale111]

I love to play my old 60's and 70's 7 inch tapes on my old recorders in my big shed in the summertime, I started off with a big old Grundig tk30 with a magic eye for recording and have another in the loft with same facility that I forget the name of, in the shed I have two akai later types and a tandberg with a wooden case. Must have the alphabet twice in 7 inch reels and some pre-recorded 5 inch ones too, Julie Felix etc are my favourites. I recently bought a couple of dozen of pre-recorded tapes from our local recycle centre, there are 3 and 4 and 5 inchers amongst them, I'd like to know what's on them, as they came from our local hospitals radio station, jingles and stuff, I imagine, perhaps the odd interview too, perhaps.

[@TheEPROM9]

The mecanical design is the same as mine. Mine is a Tandberg Series 15, entierly transistor, got it over a decade ago at school & lived in my gararge for probaly about a decade untill I moved recently & I have dug it out to restore it, all the mecanics seem to be good. The electrnics will probaly need some work. I cannot get any life out the AMP.

[@Mots-mot]

How to change pinch roller which feeds the tape from capston ? Any video or diagram will be a great help

[@perithous1090]

Tandberg made this model for the US marked, 115 V, 60 C/S, 85 W.

[@Carlos_Barrera]

Hej !! Jag har en Tandberd 74b (741 b) liknande den i den här videon, med ett mycket bra estetiskt utseende, men motorn fungerar inte, rullarna roterar inte, jag skulle vilja sälja den eller kanske försöka reparera den ; Jag bor i Stockholm, kan ni rekommendera någon teknisk service? Tack så mycket

[@relvintageelectro2425]

Questions where is the power located? Thank you

[@j58688grgrs]

How do you lubricate the motors on one of these things?

[@relvintageelectro2425]

For the 64x model that is true that a tube type?

[@ScrotumPole]

i found one of these in the attic of my rental years ago, cant remember what i did with it.

[@jonathanpickering1457]

The reason why it is 50hz because every town in England before the 1960s had different voltages some towns or cities at different voltages that is why they did that I think it was just for the European market

[@dhpbear2]

That long tape slot is worthy of a 6-head machine. Alas, this one only has two :( Oh, it's sped up 20%.

[@Synthematix]

can you put a variable power resistor on the motor to slow it down?

[@jazzlover10000]

Sheesh... he could go to his local library and 3D print a test part, then let the owner send out for one in PETG. This is 2020, after all. Everything else works and the transport mechanism is not warped from heat. It's an excellent deck.

[@jazzlover10000]

You can definitely try a homemade 3d printed regulator spindle too. It gets hot in there so try printing with a really tough PLA. I wouldn't use ABS coz it might offgas when it gets hot.

[@12voltvids]

Not my unit and I don't 3d print anything

[@jazzlover10000]

@@12voltvids C'mon even your public library can probably print out a temporary test for you. Customer could then order one in PETG from a professional printer if he likes. Easy-peasy.

[@12voltvids]

@@jazzlover10000 Not here they don't. The owner got it for free and paid me 30 bucks to check it out. He got a bunch of reel to reel tapes with it, about 50 and guess what, they were all recorded on this machine at the wrong speed. So changing the drive pulley might make the machine run at the correct speed and the. Guess what his tapes will sound like. Yip you guess it slow, like u.

[@jazzlover10000]

@@12voltvids How rude... was trying to help out. What a world.

[@zx8401ztv]

Dam shame, but one day he may come across a ups that can be switched to provide 50hz, but they are a bit crude :-(. There are many ways to fix the problem, it just depends on how determined the owner is to have it running. It has some nice features i like, the magic eye is really nice, also a lit tape counter is novel. i do like the T type mechanical function control, an idea i've seen on very few machines.

[@ladymunch0]

a bit off-topic I know, but can you tell me what the song was that you tested that machine with please? I tried to shazam it but failed miserably. Thanks

[@12voltvids]

The vocal track is Cadence burns track is called "Smile" She is Canadian, from Edmonton I believe. Here is the link to the track on youtube. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYfPq6mFl6iYmKs The second track was "Bump" by the Music bakery.

[@jazzlover10000]

The flywheel was touted as a way to provide the most stable, smallest WOW and flutter in a portable unit. Mmmm... it wasn't perfect... I tended to use my Akai Reel to Reel to record my tapes. Then I would play the tapes back on the Tandberg, which had those incredibly sweet sounding small speakers. Stan Kenton in Hifi was one album I loved playing on my 74b

[@stphinkle]

Some of those international voltage adapter things might work too if it does frequency conversion.

[@12voltvids]

Yes if it has a frequency converter in it.

[@kgsalvage6306]

Yes, I have an autotranformer that goes from 120v 60hz to 220v 50hz.

[@kgsalvage6306]

12voltvids Off topic, what happened to your deoxit video?

[@greengrayradio1394]

Take it to a machine shop and turn down the pulley's 3 diameters for the speeds down 10 %. Easy to find parts' machines here in Norway if he needs another 50Hz pulley :)

[@rawr51919]

greengrayradio He basically IS a one-man shop anyway. He could do this.

[@greengrayradio1394]

IF he has a lathe :) Not every electronics shop has a machine shop as well :)

[@okaoka248]

There is speed button. Maybe change speed - not 50hz problem.

[@timbeck7436]

Ok, I’m going to ask a dumb question? Is it possible to get, ot build a 50 htz power supply? That sou

[@timbeck7436]

That sounds easier than having a pulley made.

[@12voltvids]

Yes a simple power inverter like you would use in your car to convert 12vDC to 120VAC would do it, but one for 50hz would be needed. Most of these generate a square wave though, not the most efficient for a motor.A true sign wave unit would be required. The probem is a big 120 to 12v power supply would be required. There are motor generator units available that use a 60Hz motor and a generator, typically connected by a belt to the generator spins slower. Motor spinning at 3600 RPM, generator spinning at 3000. This is an expensive way to enjoy an old tape recorder.

[@12voltvids]

Tim Beck Small gas generator and then turn the rpm down from 3600 to 3000! Problem with that is annoy the neighbors when using tape deck.

[@timbeck7436]

12voltvids ha! Thanks for taking the time to answer. I did light bench work back in the early 80’s,and changed what seems like a million crts. Keep the videos coming enjoy all your videos!

[@12voltvids]

Oh yes the dreaded CRT replace, especially on the 3 tube projectors.

[@m80116]

This machine just needs an inverter to run. Setup should be like this: DC PSU > 12-24 VDC to 230VAC 50Hz pure sine wave inverter. I reckon between the DC PSU and the 230VAC it could be around 200 bucks maximum. You don't need a powerful inverter to run it. Just a reminder for those in the same boat.

[@12voltvids]

Yes i know i actually sold the owner of it one of the power stations I reviewed that could operate 50hz and a transformer to step up to 220

[@m80116]

@@12voltvids can it also swtich 50/60 Hz? Interesting.

[@okaoka248]

Why he cannot change speed selector?

[@MarcosAlmeidaNet]

Here in Brazil we have 110V at 60Hz.

[@shaun9107]

Fresh recordings on the same deck will deal with that speed .

[@mikegross6107]

Play at 3 3/4 speed? Just a thought.

[@scaleop4]

so i suppose changing the tape speed switch on the top wont make much difference due to it being 60hz. you can get converters that you can buy to run this stuff like this at 50HZ or 60HZ at 120 of 240. buy anyways nice vid.

[@eddys.3524]

Can't the pulley be reversed? It seems to have two diameters...

[@SDsailor7]

Thar is a weird drive belt configuration. Do they still sell belts for this machine? Anyone know? Thank you

[@byteme9718]

Yes, I just bought a set for a 74b.

[@RuneTheFirst]

European tape recorders of the day were more likely to have "Magic Eye" level indicators than meters. Even some of the battery portables had them, using elaborate circuits to get enough voltage! It's been a while since I worked on one though I did consider getting a Tandberg like this a few times recently (Love them!) - but the deal killer was the sellers had removed all the tubes! They figured they could make more selling them separately. After the 4th such time this happened I gave up. Anyone shopping for one must be sure to ask if the tubes are present. Yes, it's that common with U.S. sellers online. Might that be the reason the owner of this one got a European one?

[@12voltvids]

Yes I am aware of ebay scammers pulling tubes and selling them separately.

[@andershammer9307]

@@12voltvids Yes and selling them for $200 ! I have a Tandberg 6 and a Tandberg 64 and I fixed them up and they both work great. With original Telefunken tubes. I have yet to see a bad Telefunken 12AX7.

[@daviddrake6875]

I will buy it. How much?

[@stephenp2542]

The old Tandberg I have a 60hz pulley and i need a 50 hz pulley. If your client is willing to swap. How do i get in touch

[@12voltvids]

I will ask next time i talk to him. I don't know if he still has it as he buys and sells old gear so it is entirely possible he has sold it. I have a few regular clients that bring me stuff to check over and get running well enough to sell. I can't be bothered for the most part selling on sites like eBay because I have been burned a few times and the scars from burns never go away.

[@lecatv9999]

How can we use the Tandberg 50 hz in the US with 60 hz?

[@12voltvids]

Get a pulley machined or use a 50hz sine wave inverter and power it that way off batteries. A battery charger to keep the battery charged.

[@lecatv9999]

@@12voltvids In the US, do you know where we can buy a converter from 60 hz to 50 hz?

[@RuneTheFirst]

100-120V / 50 hz areas are very rare now but were more common 60 years ago. Mostly Japan, some colonial counties, and a few in South America and the Caribbean. A shame.

[@12voltvids]

Yes but Japan is 100 volts, both 50 and 60 hz.

[@RuneTheFirst]

Which is why I said 100-120V. The voltage in some countries is 127v. Wonder who Tandberg was thinking of when they designed that machine...

[@HamtaroEL]

@@12voltvids West Japan 60Hz Osaka/Nagoya East Japan 50Hz Tokyo/Sapporo

[@jazzlover10000]

Contact Tandberg to see if they still have the regulator spindles lying around. These machines were made until around at least 1990.

[@12voltvids]

That was 31 years ago. Good luck.

[@jazzlover10000]

@@12voltvids I just mention it coz Tandberg really did stock things for a long time. Similar to Thorens, whose TD-124 parts supply seems to finally have one way or another gravitated out to sellers on eBay.

[@janinsweden8559]

The company has not been around for decades...

[@gailbrisley9194]

Hi. I enjoyed this video and your others. I have a 60 hz pulley if you’re still looking. I’m in Toronto. It’s from a 64.

[@12voltvids]

I will let the guy that owns it know.

[@davidlee2895]

@@12voltvids He just needs to pay postage, due to all the help you have given on youtube.

[@SDsailor7]

At 125VAC wouldn't that be over voltage? for the USA?

[@12voltvids]

120 is normal voltage in NA

[@SDsailor7]

@@12voltvids Yes same in the US.

[@SDsailor7]

@@12voltvids How dependable are these model Tandbergs?

[@SDsailor7]

Can these be used in vertical mode? Or is it better in horizontal mode? Anyone know?

[@destrytripp159]

Anyone work on these still

[@jazzlover10000]

OK so the thing this deck has going for it is that the transport mechanism seems to be perfect. i.e. it was never run on hot days and so none of the "plastic" transport parts overheated and warped. This is a nice unit. Please finish up this video and fab or locate a regulator spindle.

[@12voltvids]

It's not my unit and I don't have it.

[@Mots-mot]

What’s the song name Tik Tok you have played ?

[@12voltvids]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYfPq6mFl6iYmKs

[@okaoka248]

Belt is wrong also it should be upper when comin from left.

[@SDsailor7]

That machine looks like it would be hard to work on it, so much stuff and no room.

[@eggshellskullrule7971]

I'd like to take this 50hz player if u will let me. Or, I can exchange WTH you a 60hz pulley for yours.

[@HamtaroEL]

West Japan 60hz East Japan 50hz

[@tekoppentekoppen761]

What happened to the cat?

[@12voltvids]

What 🐈 cat?

[@tekoppentekoppen761]

@@12voltvids In the intro.

[@12voltvids]

@@tekoppentekoppen761 just haven't used that intro for a few videos. Can will return.

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

My Sanyo VTC 9350 Betamax also has an AC synchronous motor and it's multi voltage, but only 50Hz. I see no point in operating this machine in North America. It's only PAL and SECAM anyway...

[@HamtaroEL]

110Volts, can be for Japan.

[@12voltvids]

Japan 100 volts. Used to be 110 here in north america and then they cranked it to 120.

[@HamtaroEL]

At least this player will be more gentle in Japan than in US. 100V to 110V versus 120V to 125V.

[@jazzlover10000]

@@12voltvids In the old days, 110V was always guaranteed. Voltage could be as high as 120 as I recall.

[@catswhisker3843]

Too bad the device turned too fast!

[@jazzlover10000]

sucker? c'mon you can fix this no problem. It is a great deck - you just got to print a part or contact Tandberg. Sheesh.

[@12voltvids]

Owner bought it for 30.00 and to him that is what it is worth.

[@jazzlover10000]

@@12voltvids They are a work of art and should be worth hundreds. We'll see... if anyone figures out what they are... whoosh! Was lucky to get a Fisher 50R before all the nice units completely disappeared into serious hifi collectors hands. This is one of those.