Vintage Audio Activities...

[bobins]

Back in the day, our main transmitting station had a rubidium frequency standard to which all our transmitter drive units worldwide were locked.

Happy days

They had a small 'museum' at Rugby with a wall of photos of transmitter halls from sites all over the world. I took photos of a lot of them but they're not very good, unfortunately. Maybe some of yours were featured.... or possibly not

[CitroJim]

or possibly not

Unlikely to be ours but would love to see them

This one was one though..

Racal TA1800 10Kw transmitters next to their smaller siblings - The 1Kw TA1816...

And a corner of the aerial field showing one of our rotatable HF log periodics

[NewcastleFalcon]

The Trivia Investigation thread has had a fair delve into Tootles The Taxi one of the Falcon Favourites, but the immense subject matter and interest of those Ladybird books are just a joy, and superbly illustrated all of them.

There was even this for the Radio buffs! 10 points for identifying the blokes on the cover!

e-bay sale item

Neil

[CitroJim]

I remember that book Neil!

[bobins]

I remember that book Neil!

Was it on the shelf in the reference library at work ?

[NewcastleFalcon]

I remember that book Neil!

Was it on the shelf in the reference library at work ?

Now that is quite prophetic Bobins.... see here...freshly posted by yours truly in a similar vein...

viewtopic.php?p=809080#p809080

Neil

[Peter.N.]

I think it's a bit like the legend of what will happen if the ravens leave The Tower, or the apes leave Gibraltar - if the Time Signal ceases, then so will CitroJim

The way I'm feeling right now, it might be a good idea to check the time signal - it may already have ceased!

[CitroJim]

I remember that book Neil!

Was it on the shelf in the reference library at work ?

Our bible

[bobins]

Mainly for Jim - the 'museum' photos from Rugby. As stated though - not brilliant photos. These would have been taken on my first digital camera, an Olympus C2500L with a 2.5 pixel sensor Getting on for 25 years ago now
You get points for naming each bit of kit and what part of the world it's in

Rugby photos 1 - own work

Rugby photos 2 - own work

Rugby photos 3 - own work

Rugby photos 4 - own work

Rugby photos 5 - own work

Rugby photos 6 - own work

[CitroJim]

Wow! That's magic Bobins

That's going to keep me amused for hours!

I immediately recognise the Eddystone receiver just getting in on the act in Photo 2 and the banks of CR100 receivers in photo 6

I'll try to ID the model of Eddystone when I can. The S-Meter is quite distinctive...

[CitroJim]

Does anyone still use cassettes on a reasonable quality audio system?

I do. Recently I unwrapped a pack of five NOS cassettes from their shrink-wrap and set about recording some of my most played vinyl albums onto them.

The results were incredibly disappointing. The audio was distinctly muffled and lacking in any significant high-frequency detail. I thought I had a problem with my Yamaha tape deck.

I can't recall where the tapes came from but I assumed they were of good quality, being from a well-known manufacturer.

Today I tested them against a (possibly NOS) Samsung tape and the difference is night and day. The Samsung sounds as good, almost, as the vinyl source.

Question is, can anyone recommend a source of known good-quality new production tapes? I know there's current production as cassettes are back on trend and albums are once again being released on them. I'm very wary of spending money on some eBay or Amazon 'Made in China' tapes unless I know they're good.

[mickthemaverick]

I ordered 6 blank BASF tapes for Ken last Christmas and he said they were fine. I got them from here: Maybe get one and ensure it is what you want, they had a large range last year.
https://www.retrostylemedia.co.uk/shop/audio-cassettes

[myglaren]

My preferred tapes were That's Ferrochrome tapes. Also used That's CD-R's.

This lot may have them.
https://www.retrostylemedia.co.uk/produ ... ette-tapes

[bobins]

Not to answer your specific tape related enquiry, but to go off on a mild tangent..... Rega do a very good little phono amp that offers a digital output via usb so you can analogue ->digital convert at very good quality.

[CitroJim]

Thanks Mick and Steve I shall investigate... BASF tapes I've always found good, right back to the early 70s. Also TDK.

Not to answer your specific tape related enquiry, but to go off on a mild tangent..... Rega do a very good little phono amp that offers a digital output via usb so you can analogue ->digital convert at very good quality.

That's well worth a look Robin, not very vintage but then, neither is the Bluetooth module on the AUX2 input to my amp for streaming stuff from Amazon Music... One may well ask why I even still use cassettes when everything is available via Amazon Music - to which I have a subscription...

To be absolutely honest, I find digital all a bit of a ball-ache really. I have a lot of my vinyl on Minidisc but even that is more faffing than just dropping a cassette in the deck and pushing play... Cassettes are the ultimate quick and easy way to listen to music for me. And I like their slightly 'rounded' sound... Digital, including CDs, I find all a bit hard and harsh. Vinyl too has that slightly softer sound... My ears maybe but they're all I have to listen to music with

Streaming from a phone is OK but again, even more faff than the Minidisc player once you've opened the app., selected the music and then connected to the Bluetooth module. Second best minimum faff for me is playing the original vinyl. I try not to as I have (to me) some precious stuff I don't want to wear out.

If I wear out a tape I can make a new one