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Rescued from a dumpster: Sony TC-350s

128.48.9.89
Posted on October 26, 2009 at 09:39:06
Marantzguy
Audiophile

Posts: 2411
Joined: June 21, 2002



Hi, Folks:

Over the weekend, I was able to remove two restorable Sony TC-350 tape recorders from a dumpster at a well known SF / Bay Area recycling center.

These machines are 3-head solid-state and were manufactured in the late 1960's and sold for about $200 when new.

I should know! I scrimped and saved up to purchase one of these new back then and loved the deck! So, when I saw two of these sitting in a dumpster, I had to ACT fast!

I must have spent about two hours cleaning both decks. They were a bit dirty, but I believe that they operate, but I have yet to run them.

The funny part was that one of the machines was rattling when I pulled it out of the dumpster. I thought that the fan blade had worked its way loose. What a surprise when I opened up the machine and discovered that there were ROCKS inside the deck! Some kid must have been playing with it and managed to squeeze those stones through a very slim opening.

Or, perhaps it was a bird?

Who knows!

Talk about a machine destined to play ROCK MUSIC?

There you go.

Richard Links
Berkeley, CA
Where folks toss out great audio gear
What Dummies!
RE: Rescued from a dumpster: Sony TC-350s, posted on October 30, 2009 at 15:19:02
Marantzguy
Audiophile

Posts: 2411
Joined: June 21, 2002
 Update!

Both of these TC-350's work. Amazing. They do need some servicing, though. I am not going to spend any huge amount of time futzing with them though. Basic cleaning took me at least two hours, etc.

I might post them as "make offer" and get them into nice homes.

Anyone here in the SF / Bay Area who might be interested is encouraged to contact me offline.

Thanks!
Richard Links
Berkeley, CA

RE: Rescued from a dumpster: Sony TC-350s, posted on October 26, 2009 at 10:13:22
no1maestro
Audiophile

Posts: 593
Location: midwest
Joined: December 2, 2004
 Good for you to find these. That was the second Sony that I owned and I loved it. Nice that someone out there saves these for the rest of us!

RE: Rescued from a dumpster: Sony TC-350s, posted on October 26, 2009 at 11:35:37
Marantzguy
Audiophile

Posts: 2411
Joined: June 21, 2002
 Thanks, nolmaestro!

I was quite pissed when I saw those machines sitting in that dumpster!

But then again, I pulled a Crown 150-A stereo power amplifier out of the same dumpster two years ago!

What was particularly strange to me was that I never once saw those two TC-350's inside the place, just in the dumpster, yet they had price stickers on them both! One was marked $5 and the other one, $10.

They have also tossed out old Ampex consumer decks, but with all the tubes removed, of course! They are wise to that routine by now!

(Thanks to eBay!)

Richard Links
Berkeley, CA

You know what would be really neat...., posted on October 26, 2009 at 09:46:56
Grant99
Audiophile

Posts: 213
Location: Toronto
Joined: April 6, 2000
 Hi Richard, it would be really neat for you to post a picture of where you store all this equipment you've collected!

You must have a warehouse full of it.

regards
Grant

RE: You know what would be really neat...., posted on October 26, 2009 at 09:52:59
Marantzguy
Audiophile

Posts: 2411
Joined: June 21, 2002
 Hi, Grant:

When I put the JBL L-300 "Summit" loudspeakers in the garage, which I purchased two weeks ago locally, that sort of took up most of the remaining space in my garage. Basically, I have industrial shelving units lining the walls to hold most of my stuff.

Once I have determined if these old Sony TC-350's work, I will offer them, but there was one problem which I did notice on one of these machines. Since I am somewhat familiar with the design and mechanics of these, I saw that on one, the spring-loaded pressure pad flap on the play head was broken and no longer sprung up to press against the head.

I will remove the part and see if I can restore it.

BTW, I do own quite a few fine old open reel decks. I wonder if it would merit holding some sort of a local garage sale. Lots of old turntables, tape recorders and the like?

Maybe it is time!

Thanks!

Richard Links
Berkeley, CA

RE: You know what would be really neat...., posted on October 26, 2009 at 10:33:23
ironbut
Audiophile

Posts: 1115
Location: no california
Joined: February 21, 2004
 Hey, count me in if you do have a garage sale.

At least you wouldn't have to put up signs, you should be able to see your sale from the freeway!

RE: You know what would be really neat...., posted on October 26, 2009 at 11:31:50
Marantzguy
Audiophile

Posts: 2411
Joined: June 21, 2002
 Hi, IB:

The event might be visible from Skylab!

Rich Links
Berkeley, CA

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