RWels
Member
Posts: 2,910
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Post by RWels on Jun 18, 2021 13:16:26 GMT
Quite possible; it can mess with the speed. If it was longer ago, it may not have been optimal. Perhaps from a fresh start, it would be better. I take it then that you're in North America, despite the Dutch name? Yes, we're in western Canada, ranging up and down into the U.S. sometimes. I do pull for team Oranje in football though as much as for England's side.  If you have the name & date of the Dutch program, I can take a look if it exists in higher quality today. |
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Post by rebeccajansen on Jun 18, 2021 18:55:07 GMT
Yes, we're in western Canada, ranging up and down into the U.S. sometimes. I do pull for team Oranje in football though as much as for England's side. If you have the name & date of the Dutch program, I can take a look if it exists in higher quality today. Unfortunately I really don't, and it wasn't a music show with decent production values, it was just seen as part of a community news report (Gelderland) and was given a copy of the raw footage on a PAL tape before he flew back. He performed live at an event and that's what was recorded; no idea how much aired, but likely not too much of it. |
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RWels
Member
Posts: 2,910
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Post by RWels on Jun 18, 2021 20:08:37 GMT
If you have the name & date of the Dutch program, I can take a look if it exists in higher quality today. Unfortunately I really don't, and it wasn't a music show with decent production values, it was just seen as part of a community news report (Gelderland) and was given a copy of the raw footage on a PAL tape before he flew back. He performed live at an event and that's what was recorded; no idea how much aired, but likely not too much of it. Still, if you're keen on good quality audio, you might try if the PAL tape doesn't yield better sound, if it's NOT first converted to NTSC. |
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Post by Ed Brown on Aug 9, 2021 3:39:54 GMT
We've now had two enthusiastic reel-to-reel fans on this thread, who each reported personal injury due to handling reel to reel equipment, in one case it was thru cleaning (or just handling) the printed circuit board which had chemical residue on it, and in the other it was from handling reels which had decayed to a sticky-shed state (i.e. vinegar smell) that was releasing acids.
If it helps, I'd just like to mention my own experience. I've always tried to make it a point to wear gloves when cleaning the equipment. Ordinary gardening gloves will protect against any broken glass or jagged surfaces due to a small component explosion, and I imagine will also protect against exposure to chemicals released by an exploded or leaking capacitor or valve, or chemicals released by a decaying tape.
Really, so long as the equipment is inside its case, and the case is closed, ordinary use of a reel to reel machine is not hazardous. And only newly arrived tapes are likely to be in a sticky condition -- I could smell the vinegar on my own tapes, fairly easily, before picking them off a shelf. If any arrive by post, a careful sniff before opening the box should detect any tell tale scent.
I have occasionally succumbed to the need to open the side panels on the machine, because after a few minutes the heat build up inside it can be a problem, and it's best to wear gloves then.
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Post by richardwoods on Aug 9, 2021 7:38:20 GMT
I think it’s important to keep this in perspective. All old valve based electronics is potentially dangerous if it’s been stood unused for years but if simple steps are followed and it’s used regularly it can provide great enjoyment and sounds better IMHO than more modern transistor stuff. Specialist gear is needed to power it up for the first time. Slowly bringing up the mains voltage with a Variac over say 24 hours allows electrolytic capacitors to reform their oxide layer and makes it a lot safer to power them up fully. If you don’t do this, old electrolytic capacitors can present a short circuit & explode, chucking out a small amount of toxic air borne toxic dust. It is important to keep this in perspective though, if it happens open all windows & doors to get a good air flow, switch off the power to the device & leave the room to let the air clear. It’s happened to me many times over the year & I’m still here. Following these steps also dramatically reduces any fire risk on powering up. Valve equipment by its nature runs hot. That’s how it works and this is not an issue so long as the set is kept ventilated. As far as I know, any risk from the tape itself is so small it’s non existent, but I’m happy to be corrected. If anyone is interested, this forum provides all the help & support you will ever need on this sort of project. www.vintage-radio.net/forum/index.php |
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Post by brianfretwell on Aug 10, 2021 7:44:31 GMT
Cine film with an acetate base is more of an acid hazard than tape,in my opinion, as it is often stored in metal cans which hold the acid vapour in. Anyway it will be acetic acid which isn't really a threat.
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