What to do with an old Wollensak?

[Carey Carlan]

My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his things--one
of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real recorder that
worked wonderfully well in the 70s. Since then it sat in the garage for 30
years and has now come back to light.

I haven't bothered to dig all the dead bugs and spider webs out of it.
Even in its best days it was poor compared to today's devices.

Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the motors and
other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any tubes in it.

Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.

[philicorda[_9_]]

On Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:47:10 +0000, Carey Carlan wrote:

> My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his
> things--one of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real
> recorder that worked wonderfully well in the 70s. Since then it sat in
> the garage for 30 years and has now come back to light.
>
> I haven't bothered to dig all the dead bugs and spider webs out of it.
> Even in its best days it was poor compared to today's devices.
>
> Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the motors
> and other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any tubes in it.
>
> Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.

The mics can be fun. I've been converting my junk mics to be balanced
with XLR outs over the last few months. They make interesting noises on
guitar amps and drums, as close or ambient mics. I build a little box
with a transformer in it to step the impedance down when required, though
it doesn't always make much difference except on the piezo ones.

It's definitely not the same as eq'ing or distorting the sound from
higher quality mics.

[Mike Rivers]

On 3/5/2011 11:47 AM, Carey Carlan wrote:
> My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his things--one
> of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real recorder that
> worked wonderfully well in the 70s. Since then it sat in the garage for 30
> years and has now come back to light.

> Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the motors and
> other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any tubes in it.

You could put it up for sale on eBay as a vintage analog
tape deck, but I'd recommend that instead you buy a small
boat. Tie a rope around the carrying handle of the recorder,
and use it as an anchor. It isn't heavy enough to anchor a
very large boat.

--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff

[Scott Dorsey]

Carey Carlan > wrote:
>
>Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the motors and
>other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any tubes in it.

Put it up on Ebay. There are people who collect that stuff. Not a lot of
people and not very rich people, but people.

>Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.

The microphones may turn out to be fun, though. Give them a try on
a guitar cabinet and see what you get.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Steve King]

"Carey Carlan" > wrote in message
...
> My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his things--one
> of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real recorder that
> worked wonderfully well in the 70s. Since then it sat in the garage for
> 30
> years and has now come back to light.
>
> I haven't bothered to dig all the dead bugs and spider webs out of it.
> Even in its best days it was poor compared to today's devices.
>
> Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the motors
> and
> other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any tubes in it.
>
> Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.

There was a time, when every advertising agency producer in every major ad
agency had a Wollensak on the credenza. That in addition to the thousands
that were sold to companys to run sound for the slide shows and more
thousands sold to schools. It may have been the single most successful r to
r made. I don't have the numbers to back this up, but.... They were pretty
heavy. They wouldn't anchor a destroyer, but ;-)

Steve King

[malachi[_3_]]

"Carey Carlan" > wrote in message
...
> My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his things--one
> of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real recorder that
> worked wonderfully well in the 70s. Since then it sat in the garage for
> 30
> years and has now come back to light.
>
> I haven't bothered to dig all the dead bugs and spider webs out of it.
> Even in its best days it was poor compared to today's devices.
>
> Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the motors
> and
> other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any tubes in it.
>
> Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.
>

I have nostalgic memories of my dad listening to r2r tapes on his of Dr.
Dirty (In China they do it for Chile) the Irish Rover's Unicorn album and
Johnny Cash Live at Folsom.

I used to play with it for hours.

Now I do the same thing with a computer. It's never too late to have a
happy childhood.

m

[[email protected]]

Carey Carlan > wrote:

>My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his things--one
>of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real recorder that
>worked wonderfully well in the 70s. Since then it sat in the garage for 30
>years and has now come back to light.
>
>I haven't bothered to dig all the dead bugs and spider webs out of it.
>Even in its best days it was poor compared to today's devices.
>
>Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the motors and
>other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any tubes in it.
>
>Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.


This is probably (?) a half-track mono machine and valuable to someone
informally wanting to more properly transfer pre-1964 (?) tapes.

If it's working...

[Roy W. Rising[_2_]]

wrote:
> Carey Carlan > wrote:
>
> >My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his
> >things--one of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real
> >recorder that worked wonderfully well in the 70s. Since then it sat in
> >the garage for 30 years and has now come back to light.
> >
> >I haven't bothered to dig all the dead bugs and spider webs out of it.
> >Even in its best days it was poor compared to today's devices.
> >
> >Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the motors
> >and other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any tubes in it.
> >
> >Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.
>
> This is probably (?) a half-track mono machine and valuable to someone
> informally wanting to more properly transfer pre-1964 (?) tapes.
>
> If it's working...

Two mics implies it could be the stereo Model 1580. That one had a head
"elevator" that selected between quarter-track stereo and half-track
centering for playback of earlier taped. It was all tubes ... solid state
was yet to come to home recording.

I had a Wollensak mounted on drawer slides in the dash of my '57 Chevy.
Sometimes I played sound effects through a speaker behind the car's grill.
I might have caused a few fender-benders.

--
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

[Les Cargill[_2_]]

wrote:
> Carey > wrote:
>
>> My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his things--one
>> of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real recorder that
>> worked wonderfully well in the 70s. Since then it sat in the garage for 30
>> years and has now come back to light.
>>
>> I haven't bothered to dig all the dead bugs and spider webs out of it.
>> Even in its best days it was poor compared to today's devices.
>>
>> Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the motors and
>> other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any tubes in it.
>>
>> Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.
>
>
> This is probably (?) a half-track mono machine and valuable to someone
> informally wanting to more properly transfer pre-1964 (?) tapes.
>
> If it's working...

Those things were just awful. The A/V department in college used them,
and they just about hissed with the power off.

--
Les Cargill

[Scott Dorsey]

Les Cargill > wrote:
>
>Those things were just awful. The A/V department in college used them,
>and they just about hissed with the power off.

The original recording of the Locomotion was recorded with two half-track
Wollensaks, ping-ponged between the two. When you drop the needle onto the
disc, there is a HUGE rush of tape hiss that hits you. BUT... it made the
top ten anyway...
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Carey Carlan]

Roy W. Rising > wrote in
:

> wrote:
>> Carey Carlan > wrote:
>>
>> >My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his
>> >things--one of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real
>> >recorder that worked wonderfully well in the 70s. Since then it sat
>> >in the garage for 30 years and has now come back to light.
>> >
>> >I haven't bothered to dig all the dead bugs and spider webs out of
>> >it. Even in its best days it was poor compared to today's devices.
>> >
>> >Where can I send this thing? Would someone like to scavenge the
>> >motors and other electrics out of it? I don't think it has any
>> >tubes in it.
>> >
>> >Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.
>>
>> This is probably (?) a half-track mono machine and valuable to
>> someone informally wanting to more properly transfer pre-1964 (?)
>> tapes.
>>
>> If it's working...
>
> Two mics implies it could be the stereo Model 1580. That one had a
> head "elevator" that selected between quarter-track stereo and
> half-track centering for playback of earlier taped. It was all tubes
> ... solid state was yet to come to home recording.

Give that man a cigar. A 1580 it is (made me look).

The fun part is the level meter--something Scott Dorsey can describe
better than I can. A two-section bulb that lit one side at reasonable
levels and both sides just shy of overloading. It glowed like a
discharge effect (or something like) not incandescent or flourescent as
I'm used to seeing them. Reminds me of the flickering electric candles
of the same generation.

[Roy W. Rising[_2_]]

Carey Carlan > wrote:
> Roy W. Rising > wrote in
> :
>
> [snip]
> >> >
> >> >Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.
> >>
> >> This is probably (?) a half-track mono machine and valuable to
> >> someone informally wanting to more properly transfer pre-1964 (?)
> >> tapes.
> >>
> >> If it's working...
> >
> > Two mics implies it could be the stereo Model 1580. That one had a
> > head "elevator" that selected between quarter-track stereo and
> > half-track centering for playback of earlier taped. It was all tubes
> > ... solid state was yet to come to home recording.
>
> Give that man a cigar. A 1580 it is (made me look).
>
> The fun part is the level meter--something Scott Dorsey can describe
> better than I can. A two-section bulb that lit one side at reasonable
> levels and both sides just shy of overloading. It glowed like a
> discharge effect (or something like) not incandescent or flourescent as
> I'm used to seeing them. Reminds me of the flickering electric candles
> of the same generation.

Thanks for the smoke! The Record Level indicators were NEON bulbs!

--
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

[William Sommerwerck]

> The fun part is the level meter--something Scott Dorsey can describe
> better than I can. A two-section bulb that lit one side at reasonable
> levels and both sides just shy of overloading. It glowed like a
> discharge effect (or something like) not incandescent or flourescent as
> I'm used to seeing them. Reminds me of the flickering electric candles
> of the same generation.

There must be some French expression for this inter-generational
"disparity"...

It's called a neon lamp. They were commonly used on consumer tape decks to
indicate peak level.

[William Sommerwerck]

> Didn't Wollensaks also have a model with the "magic eye"
> level meter? Sort of a green circle with a V-shaped glowing
> graphic that changed angle with the modulation.

Later models might have. But the "big brick" Wollensaks had neon lamps.

There was a later "magic eye" with a bar that opened and closed. My dad had
a Westinghouse recorder that used it. I believe Dyna used it in one of their
tuners, both for tuning and as a stereo-pilot light.

[Scott Dorsey]

William Sommerwerck > wrote:
>> The fun part is the level meter--something Scott Dorsey can describe
>> better than I can. A two-section bulb that lit one side at reasonable
>> levels and both sides just shy of overloading. It glowed like a
>> discharge effect (or something like) not incandescent or flourescent as
>> I'm used to seeing them. Reminds me of the flickering electric candles
>> of the same generation.
>
>There must be some French expression for this inter-generational
>"disparity"...
>
>It's called a neon lamp. They were commonly used on consumer tape decks to
>indicate peak level.

Which is SHAMEFUL. At least hold out for a magic eye tube.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Peter Larsen[_3_]]

Scott Dorsey wrote:

> Which is SHAMEFUL. At least hold out for a magic eye tube.

A lot of modern "few led vu's" stuff would be better off with magic eyes. I
can remember we had an implement with one when I was a small child, possibly
a Beocord wire-recorder.

> --scott

Kind regards

Peter Larsen

[Mike Rivers]

On 3/9/2011 12:55 PM, Peter Larsen wrote:

> A lot of modern "few led vu's" stuff would be better off with magic eyes.

Right - when monitoring analog levels, an analog meter is
always better than a quantized meter.




--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff

[Engineer[_2_]]

On Mar 5, 11:47*am, Carey Carlan > wrote:
> My father passed away in '08 and I'm still sorting through his things--one
> of which is a fairly fancy Wollensak 7-inch real to real recorder that
> worked wonderfully well in the 70s. *Since then it sat in the garage for 30
> years and has now come back to light.
>
> I haven't bothered to dig all the dead bugs and spider webs out of it. *
> Even in its best days it was poor compared to today's devices.
>
> Where can I send this thing? *Would someone like to scavenge the motors and
> other electrics out of it? *I don't think it has any tubes in it.
>
> Comes with a pair of high impedance microphones and a dust cover.

A couple of years ago I parted out one of these, a stereo machine too
damaged to restore (or I would have!) PT kept but never used. The
OPT's were useful (both used in radios.) I still have the tubes in
stock. Pots and a few bits and pieces were kept. The rest went to the
dump.
Cheers,
Roger

[Mark]

On Mar 7, 7:28*pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> Les Cargill > wrote:
>
>
>
> >Those things were just awful. The A/V department in college used them,
> >and they just about hissed with the power off.
>
> The original recording of the Locomotion was recorded with two half-track
> Wollensaks, ping-ponged between the two. *When you drop the needle onto the
> disc, there is a HUGE rush of tape hiss that hits you. * BUT... it made the
> top ten anyway...
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Scott,

that kind of trivia is interesting...how do we find out about more
examples like that...

What about "Angel Baby"?

thanks

Mark

[Scott Dorsey]

Mark > wrote:
>On Mar 7, 7:28=A0pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
>> Les Cargill > wrote:
>>
>> >Those things were just awful. The A/V department in college used them,
>> >and they just about hissed with the power off.
>>
>> The original recording of the Locomotion was recorded with two half-track
>> Wollensaks, ping-ponged between the two. =A0When you drop the needle onto=
> the
>> disc, there is a HUGE rush of tape hiss that hits you. =A0 BUT... it made=
> the
>> top ten anyway...
>
>that kind of trivia is interesting...how do we find out about more
>examples like that...

Mix Magazine often does short "how it was recorded" articles about popular
recordings. The more recent ones aren't so great but if you go back to the
1980s issues of the magazine some of them are just spectacular. I do suggest
taking a lot of things that people say about their own recordings with a grain
of salt, though.

>What about "Angel Baby"?

The Eartha Kitt thing? She was a big star by the time she recorded that...
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Mark]

On Mar 11, 8:57*am, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> Mark > wrote:
> >On Mar 7, 7:28=A0pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> >> Les Cargill > wrote:
>
> >> >Those things were just awful. The A/V department in college used them,
> >> >and they just about hissed with the power off.
>
> >> The original recording of the Locomotion was recorded with two half-track
> >> Wollensaks, ping-ponged between the two. =A0When you drop the needle onto=
> > the
> >> disc, there is a HUGE rush of tape hiss that hits you. =A0 BUT... it made=
> > the
> >> top ten anyway...
>
> >that kind of trivia is interesting...how do we find out about more
> >examples like that...
>
> Mix Magazine often does short "how it was recorded" articles about popular
> recordings. *The more recent ones aren't so great but if you go back to the
> 1980s issues of the magazine some of them are just spectacular. *I do suggest
> taking a lot of things that people say about their own recordings with a grain
> of salt, though.
>
> >What about "Angel Baby"?
>
> The Eartha Kitt thing? *She was a big star by the time she recorded that...
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

no, this one...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Baby_(song)

Rosie and the Originals (1960)

Mark