Philips EL3542 Reel to Reel Tape Recorder

A quick tour inside and out of this rather nice Philips machine. A few problems which I hope to sort out soon.

[@jonathanpickering1457]

I have got the same machine I had it since 1977 and it still works fine that machine is so well made

[@miniscus5]

I'm here because I found one in the Skip(Dumpster). Want to fix it now and have it working! Thanks for putting this up!

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

The white button in the middle is 'parallel playback', i.e. both mono tracks simultaneously. The white lever on the right of the pause is to disable erase whilst recording, so you can record extra material (overdub) on a previously recorded track. Richard

[@RecordCouncil]

Brilliant info, thank you Richard. I've just pulled this machine out again recently to recap the amp.

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

I have the full service manual for this product if you have any component value queries. I'll just mention that the side connectors were standard Philips fare at the time, for which they manufactured two & three pin plugs that fit rather than banana plugs that you were thinking. These plugs/leads find their way onto ebay from time to time. Richard

[@DIGOOfficial]

Hi Richard, I just wondered if you service and repair these kind of reel to reel recorders? I'm looking got get hold of one, but think it will need some attention.

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

@@DIGOOfficial Sorry, I don't. They are reliable but it'll have belt snags. Richard, UK

[@DIGOOfficial]

@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 Ahh ok, thanks for the reply. Can you recommend anywhere that does??

[@allenbraithwaite106]

To renew the 3 rubbers,I purchased from Wilkos a Ball valve repair kit ,you get 3 rubber solid seals,1 larger washer ( not needed for the tape recorder) a large split pin,The larger washer could be cutdown and shaped if needed.price 75pence.I shaped all 3 to size,and bonded with an Epoxy resin,£1 shop.For the cork clutch wheel,a cork from a wine/champers bottle cut,sanded and shaped up to size did the trick,And Epoxy resin to fix,job done.For a Temporary job to fix a belt/band,I cleaned both ends of belt for glueing with compact adhesive,dribbled contact adhesive into a1 inch length of hollow Earth wire tubeing,pushed ends in,left to dry a few hours,This is aTemporary fix only,hope this helps someone,Now I’ve got to fix a crackly volume switch on the EL 3542,Also middle range tape button Not depressing,any ideas welcome please.Al.

[@larsbr4519]

Got one today, and your video was very helpful. Thanks for charing.

[@robertnixon8625]

My Father had this exact model, and I used it as a teenager in the 1970s It dates from 1960. I still have the instruction manual for it, and many tapes recorded with it but sadly not the recorder. It was considered a high end machine for the era, with a frequency response of 50-20,000Hz @ 7.5 inch per sec, and 50-15,000Hz @ 3.75 inch per sec

[@aniyanvarghese288]

Pl upload instruction manual.It will be a help to community

[@paulgreen6302]

Amazing how small a tape machine became.

[@jaworskij]

My Dad bought one like this in '62. I don't know the model #, but it was a Philips brand. I saw the marketing pamphlet from that time, and aparently Philips had a reel-to-reel line called "Continental". Yours is probably Continental. My Dad's was a lower model without the extra (black) knobs.

[@allenbraithwaite106]

Just sold this model on eBay,but Always a risky sale! Although it was serviced cleaned etc, And working fine at time of sale,Buyers must realise a 50 year old machine will always need tweaking,too keep it running good ,

[@caladansoniclabs]

Great informative video of a cool unit! Thanks 😊

[@whitelion7976]

I just found a Philips reel to reel in the trash . It has a microphone like yours. I upload a video soon

[@paulgreen6302]

Have a hmv and a ferguson had a Grundig tk 14 .belt snapped.hmv is the main one.lot of money at the time.

[@adrianocipolla7256]

I've got exactly the same machine and it is working almost fine. Could some explain me the use of the white button just above the philips red logo? I tried to find explanations on the manuals found on the internet but did't find any mention to this white button.

[@paulgreen6302]

Of its time.

[@offoflive1190]

Hey i need your help. I am looking sterio out cable of this machine. Can you please help in finding it?

[@allenbraithwaite106]

What height are the rubber or cork inserts in the”cups”I can’t get these correct,either they don’t slip,or grip too tight,any info would be appreciated for this model,so I can rewind spools,thanks

[@user-tc5nk6oq7u]

Good vare good My frand. Hallo Mr chalbi. Araq bagdhad

[@allenbraithwaite106]

I have two of theEl3542 models which I’m servicing,cleaning etc ready to sell one of them soon,those 3 rubbers on the wheel ( clutch) I had worn out cork on mine,and replaced with cork,but I must have the height wrong,because it’s not lifting off,what is the height of these rubbers ( or cork ). In the small pots,thanks.

[@eddiec1945]

Hello , Mine dosent record . It seems to work as a speaker , I can connect it and hear when I press stop while the mechine is idle. But when I I press play and record , nothing seems to happen , the magic eye is not responding either .

[@allenbraithwaite106]

Anyone know main drive belt size ,Also is there an equivalent belt easier to get! Off other machines like a hoover,etc spares hard to get for the EL 3542,thanks.

[@eddiec1945]

Hello , do you know What kind of plug do I need in order to record from another device ( such as mobile phone or pc with a jack ) . I just need to know which is the plug ( since I can’t read the symbols) and what is the plug type that I need . Thank you Regards, Edward

[@user-wm1cx5ez4h]

What is the function of the white button on the reel deck, thx.

[@RecordCouncil]

It switches playback from quarter track to half track.

[@user-wm1cx5ez4h]

@@RecordCouncil thx.

[@joshuafogarty7160]

Hi my grandad just show me this same Philips model EL 3516 G and the sound is slightly distorted. Any clue what this might be from? The reels work fine but is a very bad sound...

[@gianpaolocavallari2918]

joshua fogarty try to clean the heads

[@RecordCouncil]

Possibly worth trying the alignment screws on each side of the playback cluster, usually they are factory adjusted and fixed with thread locker however fine adjustment can dramatically improve playback.

[@jackal58590]

Wasn’t much”servicing” done!

[@user-mw7uj6ch8u]

Почти как наша астра

[@dineshbhatnagar2126]

I am interested to purchase a spool tape recorder. Can you help me