Most liked posts in thread: What's new Pussycat too?

So I've been busy finding and downloading PDF files of user and service manuals and schematics for my Roberts 770X R-to-R, finding out some more interesting aspects of it, like it's a very popular machine with audiophiles and guitar players, even if the tape deck is non working, because the tubed dual amplifiers that can be used as a pre-amp for turntables or even as a straight up guitar amplifier. This feature will certainly be a huge upgrade to my turntable that currently uses a small solid-state $50 pre-amp I use with my turntable currently. Making my LP's sound much fuller and richer, with the obvious recording benefits of my audiophile quality LP's when copying to R-to-R, leaving my LP's for strictly archival purposes.

The 770X can also be used in conjunction with equalizers and sound reduction systems, meaning I can feed my turntable through my 770X pre-amp, then out to the EQ and cassette deck, using JVC's ANRS (noise reduction) and then back to the R-to-R recorder for both recording and playback of R-to-R tapes (I can also record to metal tape cassettes on my cassette recorder at the same time. I'll make a video at some point comparing my LP's with R-to-R and cassettes I recorded them onto.

Another thing I did was open up the 770X and cleaned out all the old grease and re-greased and oiled parts that require it. I checked the belts which were in excellent condition and I suspect that they have been replaced in more recent years (The 770X is 53 years old). Rubber rollers were in very respectable shape too, but definitely older rubber. And the one rubber friction pulley that is on the face of the recorder that the tape passes over was in fair condition but definite signs of cracking and drying. I soaked all the rubber parts in vinegar for several hours which helped restore some of their "rubberyness" and less hard. All are working competently now, though I will purchase back0up replacements.

After that I started researching vintage used R-to-R tapes to see which brands and types were the best for their time and which ones still hold up today as opposed to some that flake or grew sticky and are unusable anymore. Luckily I found that the majority of the used tapes I acquired were very good to great quality back then, and were industry standards, as well as being of quality manufacturing and chemical attributes that stand the test of time and still work today. One of the tapes I have is recommended not to use at all, and two may or may not be good still depending on if they were earlier or later manufacture dates. I still have to look into that, but those two are the small 5" reels with only 15-30 minutes per side depending on the play speed, and I don't know if I'll even have a need for tapes that short...maybe for using to store and load 8-bit computer cassette software for archival purposes.

I did a pre-recording erase of an hour long tape at high speed today, just the first side. After I do the other side, I'll be ready to attempt my first recording and playback of a reel tape. I have to wait on some special cables and adapters (pics below) I've ordered to connect it all up to my JVC stereo system though.

 

Nice finds Andy I have Submarine Commander, Jumbo Jet Pilot, Soccer and Computer War. They're all in the hard library cases you mention. The only difference is they are cartridges and not on tape. In fact until I saw your photo's I never even realised you could get them on cassette! River Rescue was one of my favourite games that they published originally which is why I have ended up with a small collection of the Thorn EMI titles now.

 

The Thorn EMI stuff was another one that Maplin brought in bulk AFTER they had already been out for ages, I grabbed a load of them as they were going to go in the bin. Over the years it all went..

 

I've had an 8-track connected to my system since I first set it up. It was in the pictures I posted a few years ago, here it is again below. The light cover for tracks 5&6 fell off and was lost at some point in my move from Texas years ago. I'll probably have to find something I can modify or fabricate to replace all the track light covers now just so they all match. I hate that it's missing. I have one button missing from my CED videodisc player too that bothers the hell out of me, lost in the same move.



This 8-Track is only a player unfortunately (I used to have one that recorded years ago). It powers on/off when a tape is inserted, tape auto plays, and one button is press multiple times to change tracks by pairs of two (as with all 8-track decks), no PAUSE or STOP except by pulling out the tape. No tapes to play currently; some of my tapes were lost in the storage unit I had in Texas that was broken into. I do still have a brief case style and size 8-track holder full of tapes someplace but I have misplaced them and haven't come across where I put them yet...

 

Nice to get those THORN EMI updates, fellas - yeah, came out on cart/ROM and tape but I never saw disk versions, Al. You even had them in at Maplins too, eh, Paul? I can imagine that they didn't exactly fly out the door, saleswise, but they were OK titles for the day. As for Matt and his 8track player(s), he might just get an 8track tape one year in his Xmas box... you never know what weird gear 8BitBaz has lurking around his retro shed... Good luck with some custom covers/face plates, mate. I know what you mean when a part is missing and it really gets your goat...

 

As you know, Al, from time to time there are some very tempting bargains on Marketplace.

Here are just 1-2 to whet yer 7800 whistle - so glad to hear that the output on the beauty is as clean as a whistle too!

This gadger just wants £50, yeah, for the lot. Offer him a fiver for Ballblazer, Al!



https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:2a8a1620-defb-49c2-b4e0-904bf6039ca6

Then there's this one:

Working out at just £7 each these carts, mate, BOXED, plus some P&P - if either of these gadgers will post:


https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:2a8a1620-defb-49c2-b4e0-904bf6039ca6

Keep me ears peeled, me ol muckah - am sure these would boost your collection, matey.

 

Good luck, Al.
I'll bet the Joust version on the 7800 is excellent and to have it boxed just adds to the attraction!
All the best, buddy.

 

Amiga 500's are the absolute worst for yellowing, the number I've seen go almost orange is shocking. My days of trying to retrobrite stuff is over, tried a couple of bits and got mixed results. Just seemed a waste of good money as I had to get UV lighting as we can't trust our sunlight strength here in the UK. As long as the item works I no longer care..

 

That is hilarious! Though I am glad I live somewhere that items can be left in the open and even car and home doors unlocked indefinitely and never have something turn up missing or damaged.

 

And there was no exaggeration on my part, so far the only things that remain on the balcony are an old bar stool type chair and a broom, the rest, got stolen. And yeah, put something you don't want outside the block,and it's gone, usually within an hour. It's just one of those areas. The only things that never get taken are mattresses, obvious reasons for that

 

My balcony is a safe space from intruders. But then again I do live on the 4th floor, so unless Spiderman is on the grab...

No new software this week but I did get the latest Pixel Addict magazine which I have now subscribed to as it's my favourite monthly read. Also got a new book called Curious Video Game Machines, it looks like a fun read about some very curious video game machines

I do have something arriving this week though hopefully, a cool piece of new hardware for use on the Atari. The question is though, which Atari....

 

Damn Paul, great shout!

More to follow....

 

Very nice there Al, you might get some titles that are hard coded for disk that may not work 100% although I'm sure they will use a patched OS to fake most of them. Nice price too, hope you get loads of fun with it.

 

Funny enough I was just thinking about Boots the other day. We had a massive branch in Glasgow and up on the first or second floor they had a big row of all the current home computers set up and working. The first machine I ever wanted was a Philips G7000 because it looked cool with it's flat keyboard! Back then Boots had a great range of software and toys as well, I remember getting lots of my Star Wars figures from it. Think my mum and dad might even have bought my first Atari 800XL from the same branch

Best thing about being a kid/teenager then was going into town and getting to look in Boots / WH Smiths / John Menzies and Lasky's at all the cool machines and type in the usual goto 10 program

Another time when the family was travelling down to Porstmouth I convinced my mum and dad to sit outside Lyons Corner House in London with me until Silica Shop opened for the day

Did you guy's have a favourite 'big' shop to visit, or how about an indie store in your home town?

 

Brilliant Andy! And how could I forget about Dixons?? Started work in there one Saturday morning and despite telling them I knew a lot about consoles and computers and video they put me out to sell car stereos (and extended warranties, remember the hard sell they used to give on those feckers). Went for my morning break and never returned to the store again.

 

LOL! Our minds work in similar fashions, Paul - very funny indeed and you and your mate totally out-witted us tit-heads - we were running around pressing buttons and setting the timers like junior safe-breakers on wine gums whereas you and your buddy were a tad more sophisticated and several tech-levels above us

Any road, harking back to 1985 and the garbage launch of a certain "electric trike" vehicle.

My mate Bill had only been at Wigfalls a couple of days when they took delivery of their C5 and of course all the sales reps wanted a go on it around the King Edward Street store. When it came to Bill's turn, one of the other trainee kids opened the store door and Bill shot out in it, he'd totally lost control of it and narrowly missed a queue of passengers lining up for a bus and actually ended up in the BUS LANE! Hilarious... no wonder Bill never got into sales. He wasn't invited back after his "introductory" week with Wigfalls and I sincerely hope that you did a lot better, Al!!

 

An out of control C5, is that possible?

 

Been busy with work and birthdays this week but did get the latest issues of Retro Gamer and Pixel Addict in the post.

Retro Gamer has a 6 page guide on Buggy Boy this issue, just after Andy talking about it. Think I'll need to load it up on the ST/Amiga/C64 and do a comparison.

Pixel Addict is a really nice little magazine. It focuses more on hardware and also does features on systems that I have never heard of (it's done a good few French computers). Really looking forward to next month though as the main feature then is a deep dive into Radio Shack / Tandy. Up until last month you could get the magazine in WH Smith but they've now went mail order only again as the distributors were taking too large a margin.

Finally, picked up a boxed copy of Combat for the 2600 from my pals store Forgotten Worlds. I already had the loose cart but wanted the instruction manual and it's nice to have the box on display as well.

I don't have any other purchases planned at the moment as I'm saving up for my summer holidays and The400 Mini that gets released at the end of March. Instead I've been clearing out any underused electronics and other bits (bluetooth speakers, cd player, diy tools, etc). In the process of doing that I found a lovely condition ST mouse and power cable in a box so they'll be getting put out on the STE at some point.

 

Nice work, Al, on getting the full blown Atari Combat cart, fab manual and box art etc plus finding those ST rodent accessories!
I also look forward to your Buggy Boy reviews on the various formats (yep, cosmic forces at work again there!) and your mention of the fab French machines in Pixel Addict reminds me that I must get my finger out soon and do a thread on Manu's Magical French Collection/Connection... coming soon, for sures as he has some amazing exotic beasts in his retro cavern Take care all and thinking of Matt and family and all you guys on here who know the sense of deep loss that our buddy's going through... R.I.P. all our nearest and dearest who have departed.

 

RESULT, Al!
Glad to hear of your success on the console and gaming/mags front.
Mackems went down to their 6th successive loss at Saints (thankfully Utd beat those Toffee nosed nobs) so I'm looking for a bit of retro satisfaction too and a good arcade racer does take some beating.
Probably the best I can hope for is good ol Pole Position!
Enjoy, mate - great buys - well done.

 

I obviously had not seen this post before, I asked if you had any games.

Having never owned an N64 and only borrowed one to play the Zelda and Mario games, so I can't really comment on those titles. Anything that is Burnout like floats my boat (usually), like you, SIM stuff leaves me bored. Seeing the replays on Gran Turismo on the PSX was nice, but the game, not so. I'm no petrol head. When it comes to cars I just want to drive it, I don't want to know how fast it gets to 60, I'll find that out for myself (BUT, I'm no boy racer, just did the advanced driving course for cheaper insurance)

To be honest, I've almost forgotten what it feels like to read a real mag, what with PDF's being the norm.

Enjoy the old N64 mate, I've emulated some games, but none really grabbed me bar the titles I mentioned.

 

Thanks Andy

Not a photographer at all, certainly nowhere near the class of Princess Kate of Wales (how's that for bang up to date topical then lads?). Just like taking wee snaps.

That jaggy looking building is our very modern transport museum. Looks very swish but it makes for a really poor museum. Not enough space inside and no atmosphere. They actually have the cars on a wall so you can't even see into them right, and the bicycles hang from the ceiling. The old museum was much better. In fact, your transport museum in Hull reminded me very much of it, really enjoyed giving that a vist.

 

I've been impressed with the MISTer Multisystem

 

As ever you've been a very busy retronaut, Al - well in, mate. A good ol rummage in that warehouse and no mistake.
Enjoy the reading all cosy indoors as it sounds like the weather's against ye for any further external investigations... we're heading (of course) to the Stadium of Doom and another appointment with... defeat? Could well be as the past 6 matches have gone that way! Only QPR know if they're up to the challenge or not Mackems down to the bare bones, players-wise. Nope, no retro gaming this end by the looks of it but DO let us know what was going on around this time of the year in ST/Amiga World back in the late 80s/early 90s, Al... any of those handheld scanner things launched or dare I ask, any "new fangled" CD ROM drives out yet?!

 

Ha ha...Mr Tinker...Glad its proving some fun. Frontier, Elite II uses any accelerator and smooth the gameplay. I used to sit and watch the intro on my 1200 with 68030 in, really nice. Hope the SD's are handy for you, the Expert Cart for the C64 was never tested by me, I used it back in the day but never tried that one. Just loved all the POS it came with..

PS, do you have a 3DS Richie, might have a couple of free games for you if you do, so far I'm the only person on here that has one.