Minifon Attache

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       Minifon Attache (1960 - 1967).      The latest model series portable recorders Minifon company "Protona GmbH"; Hamburg, and after 1962 - "Telefunken", Germany. At the same time (1961 - 1967) produced similar in design model Minifon Hi-Fi with better wiring. It is known that in 1961 Minifon Attache was worth $ 249.50.

Video review

After 1962, in the United States on the label in the box between minifon & attache could be placed logo "ITT". Photos can be enlarged

As an accessory to recorders made Minifon desktop speakers with an amplifier, combining the functions as a microphone and transmitter for non-contact recording from the telephone. For more details about their designs on the pages can be Minifon Attache-Speaker and Minifon P55-Speaker

     Unlike previous models, to write to the wire, the Attache uses a compact cassette tape standard width of 1/4 inches. The model presented in 1959, and began producing in 1960, and still continued to produce the latest version of the wire, Minifon Protona Special. In 1962, "Protona GmbH" became part of the company "Telefunken", and before 1967 Attache released under the name "ITT". On the complexity of design Minifon Attache surpasses all previous models Minifon, and all existing at that time recorders in the world. This is a true marvel of engineering, and production technology of the time. An amazing machine, and after the repair works just fine. DVR Dimensions 177 x 102 x 42 mm. Weight without batteries 800 g, food 12 v, a special battery, which has no modern analogues. The original tape has dimensions of 110 x 78 x 11.5 mm and weighs 50 grams. Produced cassettes, calculated at 1 hour (2 x 30 minutes), ½ hours (2 x 15 minutes) and 12 (2 x 6) minutes of recording time.

     The recorder has, rewind to the two sides, switch-level power indicator, volume control and level of recording, tape counter with the possibility of nullification, and hitchhiking with indication of actuation. Hitchhiking is an original design. To properly install the tape on the deck there are two guide pin, which are also contacts hitchhiking. Tape at the beginning and end of a metallized coating, which closes the contacts, and hitchhiking trips. It is lit red light located in the window switch indicator. Pinch roller, capstan, universal and erase head, covered with decorative covers. Near-date transport battery terminal cover in favor of the lever that will lead to a permanent magnet tape. With its help. You can quickly erase the tape (both tracks simultaneously) during the fast.

     The recorder is switched off when the button "Stop" is pressed to commit. Rewind activated when you press the button "Rewind". Reproduction is included if you press and release the button "Listen". This button does not commit, and when you press it removed all the buttons lock. That is, the play is, when not pressed the no button. Hold the button "Listen" to the depressed condition includes fast forward. Clicking "Record" to commit includes a recording mode. Scheme collected by 9 transistors. 5 transistors used in a universal amplifier, 2 in the stabilizer motor speed, one in a voltage regulator amplifier, and another as a key management. The amplifier gives a fairly sound quality, excellent sensitivity when recording, and a very loud sound in the headphones. The bandwidth of frequencies, 150 - 6 000 Hz. The apparatus consists of a cast body, and inserted into his deck, which placed all the mechanics and electronics. The board of the amplifier is connected to the electronics deck with 10-pin connector and fastened to it with two screws.

     The engine is connected to a cylindrical flywheel with a rubber belt, and the flywheel rotates rubberized roller, whose axis is capstan. Modes of winding work with three rubber rollers. It originally implemented preroll host reel table. With the engine as it may not yet connected. Capstan stretches the tape forward, and this leads to rotation submitting reel table. Reel tables interconnected belt, and the rotation of submitting reel table leads to rotation of the host. It looks like this is doubtful, but it works fine. 

    By a voice recorder attached accessories, microphone, remote switching, headphone - stethoscope, pedal - a button to control by pressing the legs, AC Adapter, five cassettes in plastic boxes, three batteries 12 v, and documentation, description, warranty booklet. One of the existing my original battery, I redid the container under the battery 9 v, such as PP3. This voltage is enough to power as a normal work recorder actually stored in the voltage range 8 - 12 v (as in passport 6 - 12 v). To use the pedal, its connector is inserted into the tape recorder, a headphone jack, microphone jack is inserted into the pedal. Button pedal has a lock, and every click, or includes, or disables voice recorder. Connector for accessories is on the left, and to connect the power supply to the right. The volume control, recording level - between them.

In the photo on the left inside the original battery 12 v. In the photo on the right is converted into a container for batteries PP3.

Television-adapter Minifon

Circuit television-adapter Minifon

     The device came to me from Germany in perfect cosmetic condition as if just from the factory, but not working. The problem was in the engine. Under load it does not rotate at all, and no-load starts to rotate with eerie sounds, and quickly stopped, it gets jammed. Bulkhead of the engine revealed that he had been tightened further during assembly, and probably the first time he worked through the factory grease. Lubrication of bearings tied with quickly worked, and it was a shim. Perhaps this is the reason the ideal safety device. After it broke, it could simply remove a shelf, where it lay till the present day. However, against this version says there are two stamps inside. One - "28. Nov. 1961", the second - "14. Juni. 1968". Warranty on recorder framed in 1961, and it is probable year of manufacture. Where did the stamp in 1968, it is not clear, perhaps it is the date of a repair. Against this version says that the apparatus was sealed with the factory seals. On seals inscription Minifon, and the numbers 251. The final deal with dates I have not succeeded.

      Engine lubrication and after correct assembly, to work, but it was not the only defect. For prolonged storage, when the metal shaft is pressed to the rubber roller, the rubber formed crater. Such indentations formed on pinch roller and the rubber roller, the axis of which is capstan. Pinch roller had to be repaired, so as to find the same new nowhere. Dent, I closed up with glue (Poxipol), and carefully handled, and then put on top of the segment of the shrinking diameter. Diameter roller with increased but not significantly, and it normally works. To align promyatuyu rubber on the second clip, I'm stuck at this place a piece of wire, which raised the rubber, and almost completely eliminated the dent. Now the unit is in excellent working condition.

In the photo on the left is visible dent on the rubber pinch roller. In the photo on the right spot removed.

Pinch roller a dent, and after fixing dents glue (Poxipol).

In the photo on the left renovated pinch roller in the prescribed form. In the photo on the right renovated roller capstan. You can see a piece of wire thrust into the rubber. Unfortunately, the photograph dent repair before I forgot.

The electrical circuit and specification Minifon Attache. Photo from the book by Roland Shellin "Minifon Spy in the pocket" (Roland Schellin, "Minifon Der spion in der tasche").

Manual Minifon Attache that came bundled with the device

Warranty and some letter associated with the warranty.

Brochure and price

In the photo below, price and prospectus to the recorder Minifon Hi-Fi. It differs from Attache more complex circuitry to 11 transistors, providing bandwidth frequencies 40 - 12 000 Hz. They were produced from 1961 to 1967.

In the photo below, accessories for both models