This unit is looking for someone who knows a little more than I do, to finish the last little bit and make it fully operational!
I bought this with the intent of refurbishing it but it quickly got over my head, electromechanically.
The video will give you the best idea of what to expect in terms of function.
Note that the video was taken BEFORE DeOxit was used and belts replaced - it currently functions a little better than when the video was taken - the below descriptions are accurate.
It turns on. All lamps appear to work
It plays - and the sound sounds good - but the supply pully, I can't get it to turn on its own, so the tape when played builds up inside the unit and is not recaptured on the take up reel. Same with FF - doesn't engage all wheels as it should, so doesn't FF.
Reverse works, but is weakly powered and doesn't run more than a few seconds.
The capstan spins continuously (as it should).
The needles move.
All of the belts I could find, look intact and were pretty taught. I replaced the 2 belts between the take up reel and the tape counter.
I know it's a 2-motor (disregard when I said 3 in the video), not sure if all the belts are accounted for. The belts I did see look pretty generic/simple.
There is a solenoid that triggers a few seconds after hitting play, FF or RW, that (usually) shuts of what it's attempting to do. This is the part that is over my head - what is triggering that?
It is set to 120v, however, the fuse is 250v.
It originally had a high-pitched sound coming from the out, when pressed play, but I was able to almost or fully eliminate this using DeOxit in the play/rec switches, it sounds better now.
And again, it does play what's on a tape, but doesn't take up the tape after passing over the play head.
I haven't tested recording function.
Cosmetically, the unit itself (all the metal parts) are beautiful, very minty, on the outside, and pretty darn clean on the inside. The physical structure of the wood case is intact and I would say very good condition, save a small dent or two on the front top (see pic) and the veneer/laminate, which does need to be stripped and redone - peeling pretty badly.
I hope someone can take this and turn it into something great! Sold As-Is.
This is a very heavy unit and will I have packed it in a good sized box, but shipping is expensive. I will make sure to pack it very safely, and I've never had any complaint about packaging or damage in transit.