Help requested for ID of Mini-Cassette Data recorder

Cross-posted to sci.electronics.components & sci.electronics.equipment

I am trying to identify a mini-cassette deck that is used as for data storage on a Newing-Hall NC engraver. I have just acquired the engraver but one drive is mechanically damaged, so I am trying to replace it.

There are two such drives on the unit, one in the programming unit and one on the NC control box on the engraver.

The control and programming units were made by North East Electronics in the UK, but they want substantial amounts of folding stuff to even discuss anything on this old unit (1987) Their representative told me today that mini-cassette tapes were no longer available, but I can still get new tapes from various sources on the web and so on.

I have taken some pic's to assist anyone who would like a stab it an ID, the pictures are at:

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through

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These are 3.5mb (uncompressed) jpeg's so if you haven't got DSL, add 'Red' after the image number ( DSC01469Red.jpg for example ) for a reduced size picture. All are available in both full size and reduced.

The drive motor on the one shown is a Canon, the other drive has a different motor make.

Any ideas would be gratefully received... :-))

Thanks, guys!

Peter

Reply to
Peter A Forbes
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Dumb question maybe, but do you really need to use these microcassettes? Would it not be easier and more long-term to splice in a standard audiocassette recorder?

Reply to
Lewin A.R.W. Edwards

Not dumb at all, a good point and worth mentioning :-)

If we can't find the right unit, then it will be down to either making the single remaining unit portable between the programmer and control unit, or do exactly as you (and others off-list) have suggested.

There is RS-232 but for some reason it is restricted in what it will pass between the units. I don't know if this is related in some way to the file format or for some other obscure reason.

The tape drives were apparently sourced in the USA I found out today. The control system manufacturer offered a repair using secondhand parts for £195 plus £16 carriage. The repair I could maybe live with, but £16 for what is a £3 cost at best is just a rip-off IMO, and just makes me more determined to source a unit by hook or by crook...

Peter

Reply to
Peter A Forbes

They actually look very similar to some Olympus drives I had a very long time ago, but my memory is eroded and I certainly don't recall a model number. Do they take standard microcassettes or is it a slightly odd dictaphone type cassette? (the drives I am thinking of were the latter).

Reply to
Lewin A.R.W. Edwards

today. The

for £195

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latter).

A couple months ago I gave a guy an Olympus something or other dictation player, I think it was, with the foot switch so the stenographer can listen and back up a bit and listen, etc. It used those little microcassettes. The guy was supposed to pay for it, but I think he forgot.

Reply to
Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, th

They take the mini-cassette, the type originally patented by Philips, who dropped the patent after the Japanese brought the micro-casette out as an alternative system.

I think Olympus may have been the originator of the microcassette.

See:

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Peter

Reply to
Peter A Forbes

On Sat, 20 Nov 2004 22:57:04 -0800, Peter A Forbes wrote (in article ):

Breamar (Breamer?) in the USA made those tape drives. They were used in the Fluke 9010A test gear (I have a few of those around). And the tapes show up on eBay from time to time, and you can buy the bits to fix the drives (usually the belts give up) from a good TV/VCR wholesale house like

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if you can provide them with the size of the belt in question.

I have some used tapes that seem to read/write ok that I can sell you if you can't find any new ones.

John :-#)#

Reply to
John Robertson

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