Brass capstan
2010-09-08 by Bruce Daily
Hi all-
What is the story behind the M400 brass capstan? Brass is non-magnetic, which would be an advantage. When was it used, and why was it discontinued?
-Bruce Daily
#1221
Thread
Brass capstan
Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-09 by Daniel
Bruce: My EMI tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does not. Dan --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Daily <pocotron@...> wrote:
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> > Hi all- > What is the story behind the M400 brass capstan? Brass is non-magnetic, which would be an advantage. When was it used, and why was it discontinued? > > -Bruce Daily > #1221 > >
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-09 by Rick Blechta
On Sep 9, 2010, at 9:55 AM, Daniel wrote:
Bruce:
My EMI tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does not.
Dan
What about the irregular Streetly one? I understand they made a number of those, too.
;)
Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-09 by Daniel
Well, the rhomboid shape was kind of odd... --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Rick Blechta <rick@...> wrote:
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> > > On Sep 9, 2010, at 9:55 AM, Daniel wrote: > > > Bruce: > > My EMI tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does not. > > Dan > > What about the irregular Streetly one? I understand they made a number of those, too. > > ;) >
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-09 by Tom Doncourt
it was only irregular because
they didn't add enough fiber.
On Sep 9, 2010, at 2:12 PM, Daniel wrote:
Well, the rhomboid shape was kind of odd...
--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Rick Blechta wrote:
>
>
> On Sep 9, 2010, at 9:55 AM, Daniel wrote:
>
> > Bruce:
> > My EMI tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does not.
>; > Dan
>
> What about the irregular Streetly one? I understand they made a number of those, too.
>
> ;)
>
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-09 by Rick Blechta
On Sep 9, 2010, at 2:21 PM, Tom Doncourt wrote: > it was only irregular because > > they didn't add enough fiber. Being the UK, they would add fibre, wouldn't they?
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-09 by lsf5275@aol.com
Obviously not. In a message dated 9/9/2010 2:34:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rick@rickblechta.com writes: On Sep 9, 2010, at 2:21 PM, Tom Doncourt wrote: it was only irregular because they didn't add enough fiber. Being the UK, they would add fibre, wouldn't they?
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-09 by NormLeete@aol.com
In a message dated 09/09/2010 14:55:08 GMT Daylight Time, dan_miso@yahoo.com writes: My EMI tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does not. Agreed, my old EMI had a brass capstan as well. Streetly one I now have is stainless steel... Norm
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-09 by Tom Doncourt
My friend had an EMI with a brass capstan- it already showed signs of wear back in the 80's.
On Sep 9, 2010, at 4:04 PM, NormLeete@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 09/09/2010 14:55:08 GMT Daylight Time, dan_miso@yahoo.com writes:My EMI tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does not.Agreed, my old EMI had a brass capstan as well. Streetly one I now have is stainless steel...Norm
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-10 by Bruce Daily
Thanks Tom- So wear was one issue. Was the brass capstan solid, or did it have a surface plating? -Bruce D. --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Tom Doncourt <tomdcour@amnh.org> wrote:
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From: Tom Doncourt <tomdcour@amnh.org> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010, 2:24 PM My friend had an EMI with a brass capstan- it already showed signs of wear back in the 80's. On Sep 9, 2010, at 4:04 PM, NormLeete@aol.com wrote: In a message dated 09/09/2010 14:55:08 GMT Daylight Time, dan_miso@yahoo.com writes: My EMI tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does not. Agreed, my old EMI had a brass capstan as well. Streetly one I now have is stainless steel... Norm
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-10 by Jack Younger
Exactly. My old EMI tron was equipped with a brass'n. Most EMI's had 'em. The one in mine was slightly bent. As you may know EMI's had shoddy cabinetry that would easily go out of square. The brass capstan is a softer metal and could be subject to stresses when the cabinet and it's housings would go out. The result was a subtle uniform "wow-ing" effect. I sold the EMI before I got a chance to replace it with a proper one. I'm not sure what the "official" reason was for discontinuing their use, but it was a good call for sure. --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Tom Doncourt <tomdcour@amnh.org> wrote:
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From: Tom Doncourt <tomdcour@amnh.org>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010, 4:24 PM
My friend had an EMI with a brass capstan- it already showed signs of wear back in the 80's.
On Sep 9, 2010, at 4:04 PM, NormLeete@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 09/09/2010 14:55:08 GMT Daylight Time,
dan_miso@yahoo.com writes:
My EMI
tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does
not.
Agreed, my old EMI had a brass capstan as well. Streetly one I now have is
stainless steel...
NormRe: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-10 by Thomas C. Doncourt
There was no plating that I recall. I also remember that, although the cabinet had been painted white, it was teak underneath.
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> Exactly. My old EMI tron was equipped with a brass'n. Most EMI's had > 'em. The one in mine was slightly bent. As you may know EMI's had > shoddy cabinetry that would easily go out of square. The brass capstan > is a softer metal and could be subject to stresses when the cabinet and > it's housings would go out. The result was a subtle uniform "wow-ing" > effect. I sold the EMI before I got a chance to replace it with a proper > one. > I'm not sure what the "official" reason was for discontinuing their use, > but it was a good call for sure. > > --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Tom Doncourt <tomdcour@amnh.org> wrote: > > From: Tom Doncourt <tomdcour@amnh.org> > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan > To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com > Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010, 4:24 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > My friend had an EMI with a brass capstan- it already showed signs > of wear back in the 80's. > On Sep 9, 2010, at 4:04 PM, NormLeete@aol.com wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In a message dated 09/09/2010 14:55:08 GMT Daylight Time, > dan_miso@yahoo.com writes: > My EMI > tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does > not. > > Agreed, my old EMI had a brass capstan as well. Streetly one I now have is > stainless steel... > > Norm > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-10 by Andy kinch
Can I just add here that my Streetly refurbished EMI sounds wonderful, brass capstan and all. Andy K -----Original Message----- From: Thomas C. Doncourt <tomdcour@amnh.org> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, Sep 10, 2010 2:24 am Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan There was no plating that I recall. I also remember that, although the cabinet had been painted white, it was teak underneath.
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> Exactly.  My old EMI tron was equipped with a brass'n.  Most EMI's had > 'em.  The one in mine was slightly bent.  As you may know EMI's had > shoddy cabinetry that would easily go out of square.  The brass capstan > is a softer metal and could be subject to stresses when  the cabinet and > it's housings would go out.  The result was a subtle uniform "wow-ing" > effect.  I sold the EMI before I got a chance to replace it with a proper > one. > I'm not sure what the "official" reason was for discontinuing their use, > but it was a good call for sure. > > --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Tom Doncourt <tomdcour@amnh.org> wrote: > > From: Tom Doncourt <tomdcour@amnh.org> > Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan > To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com > Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010, 4:24 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > > My friend had an EMI with a brass capstan- it already showed signs > of wear back in the 80's. > On Sep 9, 2010, at 4:04 PM, NormLeete@aol.com wrote: > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > In a message dated 09/09/2010 14:55:08 GMT Daylight Time, > dan_miso@yahoo.com writes: > My EMI > tron has a brass capstain, but the regular Streetly one does > not. > > Agreed, my old EMI had a brass capstan as well. Streetly one I now have is > stainless steel... >  > Norm > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-10 by md1jkb
My M300 has a brass capstan as they all did. It's solid brass and the only wear that shows is a stripey effect were the tapes lie across it although you can't feel it and it doesn't affect adjustment. It's strange they used brass for these as the M300 has the longest unsupported capstan of all trons and can actually deflect if you play a big centred chord on a badly adjusted keyboard. I think it has to be really bad to do this though! John --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Daily <pocotron@...> wrote:
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> > Hi all- > What is the story behind the M400 brass capstan? Brass is non-magnetic, which would be an advantage. When was it used, and why was it discontinued? > > -Bruce Daily > #1221 > >
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-13 by Bruce Daily
Thanks John & all- The brass capstan was just something I had never read much about. I didn't know they were also employed in the M300. From the info presented here, it seems only the early models of the M400 had brass capstans, but they were standard on the EMI's. I won't even ask about the brass tape heads that appeared later.... My best -Bruce D. --- On Fri, 9/10/10, md1jkb <j.k.beresford@shef.ac.uk> wrote: From: md1jkb <j.k.beresford@shef.ac.uk> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 4:33 AM My M300 has a brass capstan as they all did. It's solid brass and the only wear that shows is a stripey effect were the tapes lie across it although you can't feel it and it doesn't affect adjustment. It's strange they used brass for these as the M300 has the longest unsupported capstan of all trons and can actually deflect if you play a big centred chord on a badly adjusted keyboard. I think it has to be really bad to do this though! John --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Daily <pocotron@...> wrote:
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> > Hi all- > What is the story behind the M400 brass capstan? Brass is non-magnetic, which would be an advantage. When was it used, and why was it discontinued? > > -Bruce Daily > #1221 > >
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-13 by lsf5275@aol.com
You should. They perform very well and are exceptionally bright. In a message dated 9/13/2010 11:30:20 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, pocotron@yahoo.com writes: I won't even ask about the brass tape heads that appeared later....
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-13 by Rick Blechta
On Sep 13, 2010, at 3:08 PM, lsf5275@aol.com wrote:
You should. They perform very well and are exceptionally bright.
;)
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-13 by Bruce Daily
It's his pointy wizard hat that does it! -Bruce D. --- On Mon, 9/13/10, Rick Blechta <rick@rickblechta.com> wrote:
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From: Rick Blechta <rick@rickblechta.com> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, September 13, 2010, 2:36 PM On Sep 13, 2010, at 3:08 PM, lsf5275@aol.com wrote: You should. They perform very well and are exceptionally bright. Are you referring to the Streetly gang? Even on a good day, the only one who might approach that description is Brian. ;)
Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan
2010-09-14 by lsf5275@aol.com
In all seriousness, the brass heads have proven to be very good. I have had two machines so equipped and have found the sounds produced to be very good. Martin noticed as well when I sent him a head stack equipped with the brass heads several years back, before I started doing azimuths. In a message dated 9/13/2010 7:49:45 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, pocotron@yahoo.com writes: It's his pointy wizard hat that does it! -Bruce D. --- On Mon, 9/13/10, Rick Blechta <rick@rickblechta.com> wrote:
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From: Rick Blechta <rick@rickblechta.com> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Brass capstan To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, September 13, 2010, 2:36 PM On Sep 13, 2010, at 3:08 PM, _lsf5275@aol.com_ (http://us.mc636.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=lsf5275@aol.com) wrote: You should. They perform very well and are exceptionally bright. Are you referring to the Streetly gang? Even on a good day, the only one who might approach that description is Brian. ;)