Toshiba R2R Time Capsule

BlueMDPicker
BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
edited December 2005 in 2 Channel Audio
I picked this up on eBay for $99. It was advertised as "excellent, new condition" and I thought "yeah, right... a 31 year old piece of gear.. pfft!" But, for $99, I figured I'd give her a try (it also came with 6 NIB, BASF LP35 tapes.)

It arrived Friday, NIB with original packing, manual, and accessories (takeup reel, a pair of RCA patch cords, head cleaning fluid and swabs, and tiny screwdriver for head bias adjustment.) Although in shock from the condition, I was still very dubious about it and figured it had to be a dud. I disassembled it entirely and hit all electrical contact points with Caig then examined all the circuitry for anything obvious before even attempting to power it up.

She works flawlessly! The SQ is absolutely stunning on material that I've recorded myself.

Toshiba PT-866 - 3 speed, 3 head, 2 or 4 channel, sound on sound, echo (LOL! Rember the day?), VU meters for all channels. Big fun! Now, the media hunt begins.
Post edited by BlueMDPicker on
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,551
    edited December 2005
    Nice pick up, can't wait to hear it.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2005
    Cool find!
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited December 2005
    Thanks, Jesse and Chuck. The door's always open over here. Ala SRV "if the house is a rockin', don't bother knockin', just come on in!"

    I only have one commercial recording so far (Johnny Rivers - Realization), but it sounds pretty damn decent. There's a dynamic in bass extension with analog that's hard (but not impossible) to achieve with digital media. I picked up a few other tapes in good condition off eBay, should have them next week.

    There's an excellent cover of "Hey Joe" on this one:
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2005
    WAY cool!

    I can't wait to hear that myself.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2005
    Never knew Tosh ever made a reel to reel. Awesome Mike.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited December 2005
    Steve,

    Apparently, they didn't make too many. This was a crap shoot. I could find only four references to it (all in Eastern Europe) on the web, and Orion doesn't list it. Only year of manufacture appears to have been 1974. I seem to end up with a lot of obscure gear. :)

    The thing is built like a tank (weighs 45 lbs.) I ran it for well over a half hour between rewind and FF the other day, then sat down and did some critical listening for any wow, flutter, jitter, etc. on a tape I made. Solid.

    It has two PCBs with discrete components and the power supply is very straightforward, so I figure I can service it if necessary. The only belt onboard drives the counter. VU meters have bayonet socketed bulbs. It even has a C7 removable cord. The mechanical linkage rivals many automotive parts of today.

    When I get a chance, I'm going to do a SQ shootout between it and my Boss BR-1180 on mic'ed recording.

    Mike
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2005
    So it appears to have never been used?
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited December 2005
    Steve,

    If it was used, it was so slight that neither the pinch roller or capstan had any residue on them, there is no residue anywhere in the drive/head assembly, and there's not even a trace of tape wear on the heads.

    There's probably an interesting history to it that I'll never know. The seller, who has a decidedly Russian sounding name and resides in the Philadelphia area, seems to deal mainly in vintage audio gear. He indicates that it came from an estate. I suspect that one of the few (if not the only) times it was out of the box was to take the listing photos. The accessories bag had been opened and then everything placed back in it and stapled.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2005
    That's incredible--great find man. Even 1 tape will leave some pinch roller residue.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2005
    Sweet...

    As with Steve, I never knew Tosh made R2R's... or any any audio gear for that matter.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2005
    Too bad you can't carry that thing into Rams Head Tavern...
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited December 2005
    Steve and Bruce,

    Here's a shot with the drive/head cover back down.

    Chuck,

    Yeah, I'd love to have board mixes for a lot of the shows I've been to there.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2005
    Yeah, you can tell just by the meter faces, switches, and lettering that pup is new. AWESOME.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited December 2005
    Wow, what a find. I don't think i could be in any better shape. I've never had a r2r, but i've been thinking...
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  • ESavinon
    ESavinon Posts: 3,066
    edited December 2005
    I have a couple of r2rs and i love them.
    Great buy.
    SRT For Life; SDA Forever!

    The SRT SEISMIC System:
    Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2005
    BlueMDPicker wrote:
    Here's a shot with the drive/head cover back down.
    WTF is 4 ch Stereo? Is that Toshiba-speak for Quad?
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited December 2005
    I've got plenty, if anyone wants one. Got a STELLAR tape guy here too, to go through / service em'.

    Bruce, it's not quad broham, it's a 4ch deck.

    Cheers,
    Rooster
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2005
    Put me down for one.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited December 2005
    Yeah, me too...
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