Sony TC-50
This is the Sony TC-50 cassette recorder. This unit came out in 1968, and was the smallest cassette machine produced at the time.
This model is famous as it was the model chosen by NASA to be taken aboard the command module of the Apollo moon missions.
There is a strong possibility this unit has actually been used by NASA, but not apparent in the pictures. The units used by the Apollo program (there was more than one) had a metal sticker on the front with operating instructions, as well as a special serial number stamped. The jacks were taped to make then unuseable. Velcro was affixed to the rear of the unit to facilitate the machine being stuck to the wall in the microgravity environment.
I have acquired two TC-50's. One was found at an estate sale back in 2007 or so. It was in very good cosmetic condition, but the motor had a problem that I made worse when trying to fix (it was my first attempt at a TC-50 repair). Later in 2013, I went to a now out-of-business place called "The Black Hole" in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Ricky's Web Pages
"Once you label me, you negate me." --Søren Kierkegaard
Voice of Music 760 a.k.a. "Charger"
This unit is the Voice of Music model 760, a very nice recorder. This rare American-made (you don't see many American-made portable reel-to-reel tape recorders) is from 1965, made in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
The unit originally came with an installed rechargeable battery, but it was missing (and probably no good anyway) when I got the recorder (a gift from my friend John). I got it in very good cosmetic shape (I don't think it was even used much at all) and the head had no wear whatsoever! With a set of eight NiMH cells installed, and a new belt (the original one deteriorated) the unit is running again. Sound quality is very good, even at the slower speed of 1 7/8 IPS (this is a two-speed unit, and it does not change equalization, unfortunately). AC bias, of course. Not sure if AC or DC erase, however. Also, I had to replace the VU meter, which amazingly, I had a same-sized replacement from a hamfest, but the movement's full-scale rating is a little different than the original.
On the eight NiMH cells installed, battery life on this is atrocious, thanks to self-discharge (perhaps the charging circuit is also to blame, it's just a transformer, rectifier, and dropping resistor). I plan on upgrading this unit to use (preferably just one) 18650 Li-Ion cell, with a DC-DC converter to boost the 3.7V to 12VDC for the recorder, as well as change the charging circuit to a constant-current, constant-voltage charger for the cell. If successful, that should be a good improvement for this little recorder.
Also keep in mind, this recorder is very solid. The chassis is all metal, and so is the top lid and bottom. The only large plastic component is the cover above the transport mechanics/heads.
Once more is done on this unit as far as upgrades are concerned, I will add pictures and an update video on my YouTube channel.
