Ex National (Panasonic/Matsushita) domestic tape machine
I am very much "into" sustainability, a complete tape machine represents a LOT of embedded energy and to waste that embedded energy is a very bad thing, even worse is to bury it in landfill and subsequently poison our environment!
What is embedded energy?
Embedded energy is a measurement of the total energy that was used to create a component, a module or a complete piece of equipment originally.
So why has this National RS-760S become an "organ donor"?
Keep in mind this was a machine intended for the domestic market, the price conscious consumer. A fun machine to play around with (NOT for the professionals) but the Japanese decided to use sprocket reel tables which are partially made of plastic! Over the years, the plastic becomes brittle and breaks off. No longer will the reel be held in place and the machine becomes a noisy (as the reel tries to grip the reel table) heap of junk.
The machine actually was fully functional in all ways but this reel table problem made it pretty unsatisfactory to use and replacement reel tables are like "hens teeth" - it just wasn't worth the effort (for me anyway) to try and source a reel table.
But that said, they are a fun machine to record and playback those mysterious 1/4" tapes that might be lurking in the back cupboard or simply restore a machine for your "technology museum"
Brief background to National, Panasonic and Matsushita
Matsushita was begun by the Japanese industrialist Konosuke Matsushita. The Matsushita company initally used the branding NATIONAL for their premium products then in the 1980's moved to the branding NATIONAL PANASONIC and then further progressed to just PANASONIC.
To a certain extent, the branding on any Matsushita product gives an indication of its age - a "true original" Matsushita product from the 1960's or even 1970's should be branded NATIONAL
National Tape Recorder/Player SPARE PART
Part # WY 4001Z 9930
Read Write Head with all mounting hardware
Mounted on the metal bracket, supplied with alignment adjustment screws and the spring foot underneath.
Suits the Model: RS-760S (they may possibly suit other National/Panasonic machines)
Made in Japan
Late 1960's - one of the early semiconductor based machines
CONDITION:
Cosmetically in very good condition, clean
Light wear to the face.
Gap patterns are even (no sign of uneven wear due to poor tape transport alignment)
Gaps show very little wear
Face is clean.
TESTING:
This read/write head was in-situ when I tested the machine prior to dismantling, functioning fine - frequency response was as expected, good lows and highs, not an exceptional machine by any means but sufficient for its target audience (consumer).
The DC resistance of each coil is 930 Ohm
I have not measured the inductance
I would expect the new owner has their own alignment test equipment because this head assembly must be physically set for optimum performance (azimuth etc)
This read/write head assembly and the associated hardware are now stored (and will be supplied) in sealed plastic
