Nakamichi represents the best in cassette machine design, the "Rolls Royce" of cassette tape recorders.
The Japanese word is 優秀 meaning excellence.
I had a number of Nakamichi's, this 480 was one of my frequently used machines until it just had too many problems to put up with any longer - 40+ years is a long time and eventually parts begin to fail.
Prior to carefully taking this machine apart, it was FULLY FUNCTIONING but the power ON/OFF switch finger had broken and all the rubber in the transport needs replacing and a complete clean - I have other machines to play with so hopefully others can make use of these Nakamichi parts/sub sections.
Nakamichi Cassette Recorder Model 480 SPARE PART
Twin VU Meters
Assembly is side lit with 2x incandescent lamps - BOTH LAMPS WORK
Light created is green - so there must be some sort of filter because I have only seen yellow/white backlights on other machines
Both meters work fine
Lamps (working) have 5V (AC) across them when operating
This module just clips into place on the front panel, no screws are used.
The two plastic clips are fine
HOWEVER
Next to those clips are two plastic "fingers" which keep the module placed behind the front panel. One set of fingers is fine but the other, one finger just fell off and the other is very loose. This is not a major problem but some ingenuity might be needed when fitting this panel into another 480 otherwise it may be a little "sloppy"
These meters probably are not suitable for other equipment because of the panel construction, the panel is actually part of the meter (back scale) and if the meter was removed (which it can be) then you end up with a meter movement and a long pointer but no back scale.
