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Ancient cassette decks - got any pre 75's?
- Thread starter Okke 70s
- Start date
intro6
Well-Known Member
Interesting how those early cassette decks seemed to be top panel designs rather than the much more familiar front panel designs which seemed to take over in the middle of the 1970s. Although these top panel decks certainly do look cool, I can see why they got replaced by the front panel ones which are much more practical in a vertical stack stereo system rather than occupying additional valuable table or shelf surface space.
My guess would be that the available transports size at that time required a flat placement in the deck cabinet. Further development of tape transports as time passed resulted in the smaller transports, allowing designers to move the tape loading from the top of the deck to the front panel.
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Okke 70s
Super Member
More good stuff! I'm going to have to disqualify the Yamaha however, build '75 to '78. 
It's an iconic design though, and from what I hear a well build machine. And that Teac, yeah don't remind me.. I nearly had one on the cheap and near home. But then somebody offered like 4 euro's more, and it was gone! I looks like such a loveable odd-ball..
It's an iconic design though, and from what I hear a well build machine. And that Teac, yeah don't remind me.. I nearly had one on the cheap and near home. But then somebody offered like 4 euro's more, and it was gone! I looks like such a loveable odd-ball..It's an interesting theory. But maybe it was just a lack of fantasy? The first cassette players where small flat portables after all, like that Ampex. Maybe nobody had come up with the idea yet? What is actually the first front loading deck? Oh, and then there where those decks in between that you would slide the tape in to near-horizontally, and then down. Hmm, that might actually be an argument for your theory.
Pioneered
Well-Known Member
So far nothing you all have posted is anything like what I have, makes me feel like this is not
what the OP is looking for but, as far as I know both my units are pre-75 just not portable.
In fact the CT-F 2121 is from 1973 and the CT-F 7171 is 1974 and all my components are pre-1975.
what the OP is looking for but, as far as I know both my units are pre-75 just not portable.
In fact the CT-F 2121 is from 1973 and the CT-F 7171 is 1974 and all my components are pre-1975.
Okke 70s
Super Member
Yep, those are the semi-front loader type as mentioned above. According to hifi engine the CT-F 2121 was build '75 -'77 however. I have one of those two, but with permanently busted rotation sensor.
The CT-F 7171 is from '74 and for that reason a perfectly valid addition to the list. You got them both without auto-stop issues? That and the slipping rollers for the tape spindles are real weak spots.
The CT-F 7171 is from '74 and for that reason a perfectly valid addition to the list. You got them both without auto-stop issues? That and the slipping rollers for the tape spindles are real weak spots.
Pioneered
Well-Known Member
Never had a problem with the 2121 and rebuilt the 7171 about 8 or more years ago, new belts, rollers, etc.
And I questioned myself when I was typing the date of the 2121 because the cabinet design screamed later model, I reckon I was right to question my data I had wrote down 10 or more years ago, thank you sir.
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My first cassette deck was a Sankyo ST-1410 (?) Toploader bought in '72...long, long gone. But, I still have tapes made on it and they still sound pretty good. I have another toploader somewhere...maybe a Sony? Hefty thing.
BrianR
Randomly Variable Anomaly
Totally fairMore good stuff! I'm going to have to disqualify the Yamaha however, build '75 to '78.
Telecolor 3007
I love old stuff
"Sansui" SC-737. It haves 3 microphone inputs, which is very rare. The keyes are inteligently put.