Help requested for ID of Mini-Cassette Data recorder

P

Peter A Forbes

Guest
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:

http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Misc/DSC01465.jpg

through

http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Misc/DSC01469.jpg

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
 
a Newing-Hall NC engraver. I have just acquired the engraver but one drive is
mechanically damaged, so I am trying to replace it.
Click to expand...
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?
 
On 19 Nov 2004 04:35:22 -0800, larwe@larwe.com (Lewin A.R.W. Edwards) wrote:

a Newing-Hall NC engraver. I have just acquired the engraver but one drive is
mechanically damaged, so I am trying to replace it.

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?
Click to expand...
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 Ł195
plus Ł16 carriage. The repair I could maybe live with, but Ł16 for what is a Ł3
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
 
The tape drives were apparently sourced in the USA I found out today. The
control system manufacturer offered a repair using secondhand parts for Ł195
Click to expand...
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).
 
On Sat, 20 Nov 2004 22:21:41 GMT, "Lewin A.R.W. Edwards" <larwe@larwe.com>
wrote:

The tape drives were apparently sourced in the USA I found out today. The
control system manufacturer offered a repair using secondhand parts for Ł195

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).
Click to expand...
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:

http://home.comcast.net/~trafficgard/Micro-mini-cassette.htm

Peter
 
"Lewin A.R.W. Edwards" <larwe@larwe.com> wrote in message
news:VrPnd.7209$pK6.3270@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
The tape drives were apparently sourced in the USA I found out
today. The
control system manufacturer offered a repair using secondhand parts
for Ł195

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).
Click to expand...

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.
 
On Sat, 20 Nov 2004 22:57:04 -0800, Peter A Forbes wrote
(in article <fre0q055au846emkhg5prbqbg5fovk5phh@4ax.com>):

On Sat, 20 Nov 2004 22:21:41 GMT, "Lewin A.R.W. Edwards" <larwe@larwe.com
wrote:

The tape drives were apparently sourced in the USA I found out today. The
control system manufacturer offered a repair using secondhand parts for
Ł195

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).


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:

http://home.comcast.net/~trafficgard/Micro-mini-cassette.htm

Peter
Click to expand...
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
www.mainelectronics.com 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 :-#)#
 
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