Philips EL3516 Tube Tape Recorder from 1958 

I've worked on lots of these types of late 50's / early 60's recorders. They are generally well-built. The mechanism will require partial disassembly, degreasing, and lubrication. The center pin under the pickup and supply reels usually gets stuck due to old grease. The various buttons raise and lower the reel platters. The clutch rubber is in fact cork. A sheet of cork can be bought and cut to fit the holes. It's a bit difficult getting the right height though. But once correct the machine will be able to fast forward and rewind with ease. I find that only the mains electrolytics need replacement. Replacement belts can also be made by most belting places. The motor will also need dissasembly and cleaning. These recorders perform really well for their age once repaired.

This model was made in 1957/58, as a very young tech I can remember servicing a few of them, back then you could replace the worn parts

Hi! /55 shows the region produced for, we called slash version back in the days when I worked for Philips. Regards Mark

for antiques lovers like me, this device works and is very nice to see, always with interesting devices to repair.

Amazing engineering on these old machines.

There is a 4 quarter track version of this tape recorder which is a Philips EL3542. I have a clone version which is called the Stellaphone ST455. The mechanism is the same as yours which I had to dismantle, clean & re-grease to make mine to play properly. The main drive belt has stretched and the tape counter belt has turned to goo, both had to be replaced. Also I had to fix the clutch mechanism on both the reel hubs as it is no longer gripping them. Now the machine plays well and pleased with the results.

Great! I love these old tube players.

63 years old same as me

I really enjoy watching the resurrection of old tape machines. I have a pocket wire recorder from the 1950s, made in Germany, with subminiature tubes. I'll have to get into it someday.

You said ‘they’re built like tanks,’ and that could be literal, as through the 50s some companies doing audio equipment were still using surplus components from the end of WW2. So the components were sometimes built way over minimum spec, because they were considered mission critical, going into planes, tanks etc. No idea if this was the case with Philips, however. Holy wow, when you got it open, what a crazy robot. 👀

I've got an old Grundig TK14L. Hardly had to do anything to get it running correctly. It has the eye tube for the recording level which is neat to see.

while watching, I came up with an idea...If I had those 2, I would keep the amplifiers, making a stereo one in that box with these itubes as vu meters as you already mention.Very nice though that one of them is fixed and worked as original.. Nice job as salways Dave

Solid machine. Just think, the integrated circuit chip was to be invented the very next year.

My parents had a tube tape recorder possibly before I was born. In later years it sat up in the closet. They gave it to me because it didn't have sound. I couldn't fix it. I was too young anyway. It did not have keys. It had a twist control for play, stop and rewind. Not sure about record. I regret not saving the tapes. It was a tube set. No idea of brand. I find reel tape recorders fascinating. I bought several small ones of of eBay. I also have a Realistic I fixed. But it's broken again . (motor seized up again)

In the old tape you made the recording there were old Greek popular songs. Now they are gone.

Grundig made decks very similar to that. some were stereo

I like to run my electric guitar through one of these as a type of effect. muddy fuzz. kinda ends up sounding like a proper big muff but through tubes.

1950 wasn't born, before my time

These sorts of players are a dime a dozen here in Australia and are pretty well worthless. Most the time they are in the condition like the first one you showed. Even still, the Philips tape recorders were not great machines in my experience. Part wise, look how 'busy' they were compared to other players of the day. In the early days here, the main units were Philips, National and Sony, and Sony being the best of the them, even the earlier ones. One thing these early Philips machines have going for them when you do find them, you can pay 10 or 20 bucks, and your likely to pick up a set of vintage tubes that are now worth more the player itself! Those that are creative, even turn these little ol guys into guitar amplifiers, which at least saves them from the scrap heap at this point in time. Thanks for the video. :)

@16:45 that was completely bonkers

16:51 the music here is like Greek music

That old vintage unit was made by Timex L.O.L🤭 Nah just kidding - But! I'll say this - It's older than me by 9 years - Hmmmm I wonder if I'll last that long 🤣😂🤭

the thumbnail picture looks like a robot face

The netherlands not holland Holland are 2 provinces north and south holland 😡😡😡 We don't say texas to the united states of america 😡😡😡

I believe that unit was from 1959 as it seemingly was labeled with code on the transformer