Mr. Swauger (and any other reel-o-philes)

mhardy6647
mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
edited July 2014 in 2 Channel Audio
Now, mind you, we now live pretty seriously in the boondocks. So... imagine my surprise when a fellow New Hampster audiophile brought a CL ad to my attention.

These were listed as freebies and (this is the weird part) were located not twenty minutes away from my door.

How could I pass that opportunity by?

14650185296_5233c20ef0_b.jpgDSC_9662 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

Two of 'em are pretty tired looking -- no idea (yet) of their operability... we'll see.
Post edited by mhardy6647 on
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited July 2014
    I have no idea what those top two are short of some weird WWII Hydra torture tables favored by the Red Skull--no doubt Procrustean!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    edited July 2014
    Oh my those are beautiful. Ive only seen them in old ad's & those look like they are worth the coin to get cleaned up-serviced-up n running. Love the stands. Thats one problem i find having multiple units is placement of them. Very nice find
    ..
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited July 2014
    Looks like military application were used for those machines or studio recording. The bottom right a rack mount can lean either way both studio rack w/ power amp mounted low or I can see it being in some WWII or Korean war HQ. What does the red print say 12o' clock between the reels. Ah, with magnifing glass to me looks like AMPEX 446 or just my eyes want it to say that.
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,414
    edited July 2014
    Holy crap! Very nice .
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited July 2014
    They're three more or less identical Otari 5050 models - two on stands, one rack mount. They are ex-radio station; got 'em from the stations' chief engineer emeritus, who had been tasked with getting rid of them... they are quarter-inch decks; all three appear to have two-track heads... that's as far as I've gotten (we had guests last week, so in the garage they've sat).
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited July 2014
    Very cool, way-to-go! The Otari MX5050 is a true workhorse, used in recording studios as mix-down machines and radio stations for on-air recordings. In fact, Otari still sells a version of this deck. The two with the roll-around carts and meter bridges are the more common, but the rack mount one is probably more practical for "home"use.
    Certainly can't beat the price! Nice find.
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited July 2014
    ^^^ Ditto. One really nice about the Otari MX-5050B series (Yours look like MK II's) is no belts and there built like a tank. IMO sound pretty good to (I use to own a original MX-5050B in the early 80"s, wish I had never sold the thing).

    Even if all three turn out to be doa, The 1/4" Otari NAB Adapters are selling as high as $80 a pair. Nice snag.

    BTW: Otari is the only company that I know of that still makes an open reel decks. http://www.otari.com/product/recorder/mx5050/
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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