My Other Nagra Mono Deck

[bulgin]

Hello

A couple of years ago, I posted something about my Nagra 4.2 recorder. This one was one of 5 Nagra recorders I bought about 12 years ago when the national broadcaster sold off or dumped their analogue equipment.

Shortly after I bought the 5, I sold 3 to a UK collector and kept the 4.2 and this model E. Restoration on the 4.2 is ongoing and it is working now but there's still a few cosmetic things needed to be done.

A few days ago, I again got "the urge" to look at the model E which reposed in its leather bag since I bought it.

One thing led to another and I couldn't resist a bit of tittivatin', lubrication and so on so here's my E (for economy!) mono beauty.

I also needed to make up some leads (one din to rca's and a second with 4mm bananas and rca's to connect to one system needing a tape deck.

It has limitations such as the small reels (33mins) but I'm looking for bigger ones now.

Regards

bulgin

 

[trondkj]

Nice to see that deck of yours come back to life again, bulgin. I guess I'll have to find some space for my 4.2 an connect it to my equipment. My 4.2 differs a bit from your 4.2 in that it has a fourth head between the record an playback head: the pilot head. It records two narrow tracks with a 50Hz pilot tone in opposite phase, so it does not affect the audio track.
The pilot track was a necessity back in the 16mm and 35mm film recording days, to keep sync with the picture.
I don't think Nagra ever made a pilot version of the Nagra E, it was widely used in radios all over the world, though.

 

[bulgin]

Hi Trondkj

Yes, the E now at least looks presentable and everything works correctly.

Not so with my 4.2. The poor thing still looks as if it spent it's life among warf rats. Mine looks as it has a pilot tone but no 4th head.

It is going to be a formidable job to get the 4.2 near the restoration of the E's condition as there is battery corrosion, a scratched and slightly dented side legend plate and worst of all - I bought it with a broken modulometer glass. Years ago, I bought some lexan? I think to make a replacement glass and I have stared until I was crosseyed to discover how to remove the modulometer's bezel or how to remove the densly populated boards behind the meter to get access. I also tried unscrewing the bezel incase that's how it works but was unsuccessful

Regards

bulgin

 

[kevinkr]

Hello

<snip>

A few days ago, I again got "the urge" to look at the model E which reposed in its leather bag since I bought it.

One thing led to another and I couldn't resist a bit of tittivatin', lubrication and so on so here's my E (for economy!) mono beauty.

I also needed to make up some leads (one din to rca's and a second with 4mm bananas and rca's to connect to one system needing a tape deck.

It has limitations such as the small reels (33mins) but I'm looking for bigger ones now.

Regards

bulgin

Very nicely put together.. Makes my ReVox G36 look almost amateurish by comparison..

 

[bulgin]

Thanks Kevin

I don't think so That deck of yours is a gem. The Nagras play music well enough but their small size reels are a bit of a pain and there's no dolby. And it's mono.

There must be lots of inspiration flying about here and over at err...another forum. The 12-year-old job which never got done as I didn't know how to, is 'mission accomplished'. The modulometer's replacement glass on the 4.2 just got done

No glue was used. It is a kind of interference fit. I scribed a slightly oversize 50mm circle on the lexan and first removed some excess material with an electric file.

Nothing sucks like a dustbug sucker and this is what I used to chuck the disc in my lathe, make it perfectly round and removed small amounts of material until the new glass snapped firmly into the bezel, resting on its original o-ring.

On the negative side, there was rather more D-cell corrosion once I removed some of the boards. Two tracks were almost completely destroyed but I can bridge them. It also took several hours to remove and neutralise places inside the cabinet contaminated with leaking battery chemical.

Once the Nagra is more presentable, I will post a pic or two.

bulgin

 

[trondkj]

At least you can use 7" reels on the Nagras with the lid open or off. Or you may get hold of a 12" reel adapter - at least for the 4.2.

If you miss the stereo, there are always a few Nagra IV-S's around. Quite a few, I am sure of, that are just filling space in some shelves at some film production companies.

 

[bulgin]

Hi trondkj

Stereo or no stereo is not an issue. I think I'll keep an eye out for bigger reels. Since it was raining here, I spent the day doing the rest of the work on the 4.2, including almost 6 hours cleaning and re-polising the lid which was in very poor condition. What kind of external power supply are you using and would the same type of e/ps be suitable for both the E and 4.2?

Regards

bulgin

 

[trondkj]

The power I am using is the Nagra ATN2, it gives 21,5V 0,8A , + at pin 2 and - at pin 5. You can use anything between 12 and 30 V.

I am not sure that you can use the same power for Nagra E, but I would not be surprised if you can. My ATN2 is marked "for Nagra IV and 4.2 only NOT NAGRA III", but that was before Nagra E was born.

Here a few pictures of my Nagra 4.2:
On the headbridge you see the pilot head with the two narrow tracks. Same signal, opposite phase, nothing out on the audio head.

 

[bulgin]

Hi Trondkj

Sorry I missed your pics. Very nice machine you have. In the meantime, I found a stash of 7" reels, with useable tape. About to start making a simple powersupply.

Regards

tripod