The Brenell tape recorder
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Contacts - Links - BOOKS - Sales and Wants

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On going research

I would still welcome contact with former Brenell, Soundcraft Magnetics, Truvox, Thermionic Products and indeed any other British tape-recorder company's staff and those with specialist knowledge of these companies and their products in broadcasting, Ministry of Defence and industry.

I am also keen to learn more of Brenell's early days as general engineers; of their telephone answering machine; of Frank Underhill and his Planet and TRD connection. In addition I am particularly keen to beg/steal/borrow/buy Brenell, Soundcraft Magnetics, Truvox and Thermionic Products' literature and documents to further my research into these companies and their products.


Please contact me on:   bjrustic@aol.com


BOOKS


"Brenell - True to Life Performance"

The history of tape recorder development at home and abroad with an exhaustive history of Brenell and Soundcraft Magnetics and intimate photographs of (almost!) every prototype and production model. A foreword by Alex Nicholas, who bought Brenell and co-founded Soundcraft Magnetics, adds a unique authority to this major work.

150 pages of history and 200+ B&W illustrations. A4 soft-back £ 15.00  +   £3.00 p&p UK (Air mail please ask)


A Guide to British Tape Recorders  (4th edition)

The most comprehensive guide to the British tape recorder industry with an A-Z of over 100 companies and their models.

370+ pages, A4 softback, 300+ B&W illustrations.

£ 30 + £5 p&p UK (Air mail please ask)

A Truvox Product 
(3rd edition)

The history of Truvox, Thermionic Products, Racal Recorders and others in Dan Prenn electronics and communications group.

160 pages, 200+ B&W illustrations, A4 softback

£15.00 + £3.00 p&p UK 


Modern instrumentation tape recording - 3rd edition (1986)

Written by a Thorn-EMI senior engineer, this engineering handbook covers non-audio instrumentation and data recorders with a bias to EMI-SE Labs models. Highly recommended. NEW (but old stock). £ 5 + £1.50 p&p)



Brenell specifications, circuit diagrams and service notes (2011)
This is about as complete a set of data on Brenell recorders that I personally have, covering all models for the Sound Master to the Mk.6 and Type 19 in detail, plus the pre-amps. The IC-2000, Mk.7 etc never had a full set issued, while the Mini-8 is 99% complete - as some are too large to scan.
These are mainly scanned from Brenell documents - I have used the 'best available copy'; the factory service notes were typed and duplicated. These have been retyped to be made legible.
NOTE!  I am not an audio engineer so these are 'offered in good faith at your risk'. If in doubt, ask a qualified service engineer.
90 pages A4 £15.00 + £2.00 p&p UK - overseas, please ask.


Payment details


Postal order or cheque in Pounds Sterling made payable to   Barry M Jones

Barry M Jones, Unit 2, Rustic Crafts Workshop, Bixley Lane, Beckley, RYE, East Sussex, TN31 6TH


SALES & WANTS


This is a free service for private sales and wants by tape recorder enthusiasts. I will take no part in the transactions - so buyer beware! I reserve the right to refuse any advertisement and will not accept those from traders.


FOR SALE


BRENELL STB2 - standard 1/2 track - contact Douglas on douglas@mindseye3d.com (posted 29/11/2012)

MSS portable case for MSS PMR/FR tape decks - rare. In need of TLC! Free!!!
BAIRD Soundmaster - early Baird version in gun-metal/bronze (see front page) for spares or repairs (this has not worked since I've had it!). £25
BAIRD Soundmaster De Luxe - late Baird version in cream livery. Excellent cosmetic condition .. was working but recently went 'phutt'. Repairable. £30. e-mail me for photo.
These three are strictly BUYER COLLECTS - I need the space
Contact me direct on
bjrustic@aol.com

WANTED:


MINI-8 - Contact Jason on jaytee1010@hotmail.com   (Nov.2011)


I am after the following:
Circuit diagrams for IC-2000, Mk. 7S
Brenell Mini-8 remote control unit

Planet U1 tape recorder

Epsylon tape deck

Truvox R7

Details and information on the Brenell based 'Cadey' tape decks

I am always interested in interesting Brenells and the special application Mk.5 and Type 19 models. 

Wood and alloy cover for an Armstrong 127 tuner amp and an Armstrong M5 Stereo decoder for same.

"Studio Sound" magazines 1970s-1980s for ongoing research.

"Wireless World" magazines - certain issues 1950s/60s - please ask!

Please contact me on  bjrustic@aol.com


Magnetic tape


As you all probably know, Quantegy analogue magnetic tape has been discontinued; the last production run was by Quantegy (former Ampex/3M) in the USA in the spring of 2007. It is unlikely production will resume unless there is a proven demand by us all buying new tape - so get buying!  US dealers Reel Deal Pro Audio have bought the remaining stock, but good stocks are still available in the UK from StudioSpares, Canford, Stanley Productions and SVS Media.


RMGI
, the former Philips plant has now begun production of the former EMTEC (BASF-Agfa) LPR35, SM and PER tapes from www.protape.co.uk.

Zonal Media in Surrey have a wide range of Zonal stock and leader tape via their www.Tapeshack.co.uk website or through Canford.

For master recording, you should still use virgin standard play tape of under 5 years of age. Please note that for older tape decks with tape head pressure pads you use must use glossy backed tape - NOT matt back-coated tapes! For run of the mill recording BASF LP35LH is still to my mind the best alrounder and good old stock is still to be found on e-Bay.

LINKS

I can recommend the following links:


The "Get Reel" site is a cornucopia of tape recorder makes and models. I must also point out that the "Audiotools" site is a cornucopia of vintage hi-fi manufacturers with links to specialist sites.


Colin Braddock has an incredible knowledge of, and experience in, the service and repairs of all good tape recorders, at his workshop in Blackpool.


Terry Martini's superb history of  Wright & Weaire and Ferrograph, Built like a battleship is now available from his website. Please note George West's site has now closed.


For those who share a passion for Armstrong tuner/amplifiers, there is a superb site on Armstrong Audio at audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html 

Get Reel - The tape recorder encyclopedia

Audiotools - The vintage audio page

Revox service and repairs - Nigel Hunt

Revox service - Reelaudio

Paul Schimmel's virtual audio museum

Colin Braddock for vintage tape service, spares and repairs

Service Sound Hi-Fi service and repairs

For Ferrograph, Vortexion and Clarke and Smith history see Terry Martini's site.

A nostalgic look at old technology for us Luddites

Studio Spares for all your tape/audio requirements

Quantegy tape in the USA and abroad

Phantom Production's American tape recorder website

Unitrack multi-track

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Also by the author:

"The Village Bus Remembered"
-  John Dengate & Son Ltd., Beckley
- The full history of a local family business, from its early days as millers and bakers, through a local taxi service and from 1918, as a village bus service. They became the largest independent bus operator in East Sussex in the 1960s but eventually came under the Maidstone & District in the National Bus days.
- Has photographs of every bus which entered service, with full details of tickets and timetables together with a potted history of Beckley. A most nostalgic and comprehensive account.  £15.00 + £3 p&p  - from this site -  bjrustic@aol.com (Payment details as above)

"The Story of Panther Motorcycles"
- (1983 Out of print)
"Books written from sheer enthusiasm are mostly good ones; this certainly is" Brooklands Society

and available from Panther Publishing Ltd:

"The Panther Story"
 
- The most complete and authoritative history of Panther motorcycles. "One of the best (motorcycle marque) histories I've ever seen" (CBG)£24.00

Biographer to the late Theresa Wallach's "The Rugged Road"
-The amazing autobiographical account of the first crossing of the Sahara desert, en route to Cape Town, in 1935 by two ladies on a Panther motorcycle and sidecar. Compete with video of the original cine film. Published posthumously with editing and biographies by Barry M Jones. "A treasure - pretty damn close to being perfect" (CGB)
  £16.00 or £28.00 with VHS video

Granville Bradshaw - A flawed genius?
  Bradshaw was a pioneering aviator and motorcylist. This is the long awaited biography of one of Britain's most inventive aeronautical and motor-engineers. He established ABC, which built the Dragonfly radial aero-engine; he designed the famous ABC motorcycle and did much work for Panther motorcycles. He also pioneered a toroidal rotary engine and developed a 3-D television system. A remarkable story.
 "Full of insight and careful research. Highly recommended" (Real Classics)
£19.95

(Prices subject to change)

Panther Publishing