Replacement platter for reel-to-reel recorder?

jacques54 · 6th January 2008, 05:22 PM

All,

The middle shaft of one of the platters on a faithfull 10.5" tape recorder has broken off. It is a Belgian-made Carad R73, manufactured about 1971-1973, I think no more than 1000 to 1500 units were ever made. Manufacturer disappeared in 1975, no spare parts to be found. On the average, two units are for sale per year, most of them suffer from the same problem or are ridiculously expensive for just a replacement part.

Any ideas on replacement tellers, repairs, using platters from other manufacturers, etc. are welcome.

Jacques

jacques54 · 6th January 2008, 07:09 PM

All,

Maybe I should have mentioned that the max. diameter is 90mm/3.5", max.depth is ca. 9.5mm/0.375"

Jacques

Willi Studer · 9th January 2008, 10:38 AM

Carad was not a big company, so many existing parts were actually bought from other manfacturers. I would try looking at nearest neighbours - Tandberg (B&O r2r were built around them) - or Philips which was also produced in Belgium. I believe with these two you have big chances to find the original part. Later today, I can measure the diameter and height of Revox platter and send you the info - if it fits, you can buy it cheaply on the Internet.
One question: how is the platter fixed to the reel motor?

jacques54 · 13th January 2008, 07:33 PM

All,

The platters and the brake wheel all are in one piece. Maybe I could use the axe from a Revox A77 or B77 reel platter? -- the center is hollow and has already a 4mm metric thread in it.

The platter is just fixed on the axe of the Pabst reel motor.

I still would prefer someone tells me that these platters look exactly like the ones from make X or brand Y :-)

Cheers,

Jacques

jacques54 · 13th January 2008, 07:34 PM

The two reel platters side by side.

stellavox · 13th January 2008, 10:42 PM

The broke post looks like it's made of plastic - can't you carefully reglue it using epoxy???

Charles

Conrad Hoffman · 13th January 2008, 11:05 PM

This looks like a candidate for silicone mold casting. See
here.

Willi Studer · 14th January 2008, 07:44 AM

They look very unfamiliar to me, so it is possible they were indeed only made by Carad. A Revox platter would fit in dimensions you mentioned, but then it would require extra metal work and centering to mount on brake wheel by means of three crews. I believe epoxy glueing would solve the problem better.

jacques54 · 14th January 2008, 10:50 AM

The issue is also that the existing centerpiece has been glued too many times. The previous owner had applied abrasive paper to straighten it, making it now very troublesome to glue it (up)right 8-|

Worse, I have another machine of this type with both centerpieces missing. I always considered that one as a source for spares, but it would not be bad if I'd return it into an operational state, as the (Bogen) heads and (Pabst) motors are still pretty much OK, those reel platters are the only issue.

Seems worth a try to make a replica. A few other collectors may even be interested -- I know of two of them in France with a similar problem. This platter is the weak spot of this model.

Thank you all,

AuroraB · 14th January 2008, 11:29 AM

the Revox A77 top platter is bolted wih 3 screws to the sub platter. Having a machinist drill the 3 holes must be easier than making a new assembly, - or maybe the whole Revox assy can be easier adapted. You can find the Revox manual by searching.
Mine are both tucked away at a remote storage, and I just cannot recall by memory exactly how it looked....
top platter and brake drum looks very similar.....

http://www.analogstereo.com/pdf/revo...ice_manual.pdf

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6th January 2008, 07:09 PM	#2
jacques54 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	All, Maybe I should have mentioned that the max. diameter is 90mm/3.5", max.depth is ca. 9.5mm/0.375" Jacques

9th January 2008, 10:38 AM	#3
Willi Studer diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	Carad was not a big company, so many existing parts were actually bought from other manfacturers. I would try looking at nearest neighbours - Tandberg (B&O r2r were built around them) - or Philips which was also produced in Belgium. I believe with these two you have big chances to find the original part. Later today, I can measure the diameter and height of Revox platter and send you the info - if it fits, you can buy it cheaply on the Internet. One question: how is the platter fixed to the reel motor?

13th January 2008, 10:42 PM	#6
stellavox diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oneonta, NY; USA	The broke post looks like it's made of plastic - can't you carefully reglue it using epoxy??? Charles

13th January 2008, 11:05 PM	#7
Conrad Hoffman diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canandaigua, NY USA	This looks like a candidate for silicone mold casting. See here.

14th January 2008, 07:44 AM	#8
Willi Studer diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	They look very unfamiliar to me, so it is possible they were indeed only made by Carad. A Revox platter would fit in dimensions you mentioned, but then it would require extra metal work and centering to mount on brake wheel by means of three crews. I believe epoxy glueing would solve the problem better.

14th January 2008, 10:50 AM	#9
jacques54 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	The issue is also that the existing centerpiece has been glued too many times. The previous owner had applied abrasive paper to straighten it, making it now very troublesome to glue it (up)right 8-\| Worse, I have another machine of this type with both centerpieces missing. I always considered that one as a source for spares, but it would not be bad if I'd return it into an operational state, as the (Bogen) heads and (Pabst) motors are still pretty much OK, those reel platters are the only issue. Seems worth a try to make a replica. A few other collectors may even be interested -- I know of two of them in France with a similar problem. This platter is the weak spot of this model. Thank you all,

14th January 2008, 11:29 AM	#10
AuroraB diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Norway, -north of the moral circle..	the Revox A77 top platter is bolted wih 3 screws to the sub platter. Having a machinist drill the 3 holes must be easier than making a new assembly, - or maybe the whole Revox assy can be easier adapted. You can find the Revox manual by searching. Mine are both tucked away at a remote storage, and I just cannot recall by memory exactly how it looked.... top platter and brake drum looks very similar..... http://www.analogstereo.com/pdf/revo...ice_manual.pdf

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