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SPECIAL FERROGRAPH MODELS ...... THE MUZICORD OR YCP-500 |
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Left: A complete surprise
to me, the Muzicord, yet unmistakably manufactured by Ferrograph.
It was a continuous tape player only, (no record function) but having auto-reverse, a single operating speed, no rewind motors, and a belt driven capstan flywheel. Amplifier controls from left to right are Bass, Treble, Volume, Aux Socket. On/Off switch for amplifier. All pictures courtesy of Bob Marriott. |
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Right: Under the deck. Note the scarcity of components. The Flywheel was driven by a rubber belt from the normal capstan motor, but with only a single speed. No multifunction control knob, just a mains on/off switch and normal amplifier replay controls. |
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1960 YCP-500 |
Left: An overview of the tape-path. swinging tension arms controlled tape tension, centrally mounted head-block with the pinch-roller and capstan placed centrally, with a single replay head on either side of it, which switched as required for replay in either direction. Maximum spool size was 7 inch. Single operating speed of 3.75 i.p.s. The toggle switch bottom right of the picture is the deck start/stop switch. |
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Right: More detailed look at the head-block. Clearly shown is the Brass pinch-wheel, with the two replay heads, Left of the capstan the upper track replay only head. Right of the capstan the lower track replay only head. |
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The new Ferrograph Model YCP 500 was being used on the British Ferrograph stand (1960) to supply information on the Ferrograph Echo Sounders.
It runs at 3 3/4 i.p.s., takes up to 7 inch diameter spools and is continuously reversible by means of end of reel tension switches.
The "Off" switch can be operated at any time to cut off the machine when the tape gets to the end of the spool. No fast wind or rewind facilities are provided for. |
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model was aimed at the industrial end of the tape market, part of the
"Y" series range this was designated the "YCP 500",
the CP being continuous play.
If anyone ever came across this model, in a working situation, or who knows anything about Muzicord, I would be interested to hear from them. Early rumours about this was that it was built as a one off for Richard Merricks wife, this is nonsense of course, it was a commercial model and I would have thought found it's way into the sector of the market that required continuous announcements, music etc, similar to the Muzak background music system, although there is nothing to indicate that was the case. It was certainly targeted at situations were continuous announcements were required to be made and reliability was paramount |
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