Dynamax Cart info, was antique arcade game repair

[Michael]

I am restoring an old arcade game called Top Gun. It sumulates a quick
draw contest where the player draws against a full size manikin.

http://www.sandsmuseum.com/test/topgun/topgun.html

The game is controlled by a Fidelipac or jingle cart. The tape head in
the original Viking Deck is bad. So I bid on and bought a Dynamax
stereo recorder of eBay in the hopes of using the tape head. Talk about
going to extremes to repair a game! (Dynamax CTR100)

Once the deck arrived, I found the tape head records and plays back
three tracks. I assume the third track is for queing.

Now all my questions:

1. Is the individual head spacing the same as a reel-to-reel deck? Can
I record the material on the reel-to-reel deck and then play it back
using the Dynamax tape heads?

2. Are there line in and out on the Dynamax deck? I found the pins on
the RJ15 or RJ25 like(?) input and output jacks in the back that allow
for input and output. However there are two for each channel that run
first to a inductance coil. Can I just use one lead or do I need to tap
into the circuit farther downstream? Where do I connect line level
inputs and outputs?

3. What are the SEC and TER buttons for?

4. Is there an easy way to record my material using the Dynamax itself
instead of a reel-to-reel deck, relating to number 2 or will the balance
be wrong on the inputs? (I will also need to figure out how to load
more tape than necessary first, record the material, and then shorten
the tape to the correct length...)

5. Anyone have any old tape heads they are willng to part with? I
bought the Dynamax thinking I would just steal the tape head and junk
the rest of the machine. They were so nicely built and it seems both
record and playback worked that I could not bring myself to trashing the
unit!

Any help will be greatly appreciated,

Michael

www.sandsmuseum.com
museum quality antique coin op restoration

 

[Gary Tait]

I am restoring an old arcade game called Top Gun. It sumulates a quick
draw contest where the player draws against a full size manikin.

http://www.sandsmuseum.com/test/topgun/topgun.html

The game is controlled by a Fidelipac or jingle cart. The tape head in
the original Viking Deck is bad. So I bid on and bought a Dynamax
stereo recorder of eBay in the hopes of using the tape head. Talk about
going to extremes to repair a game! (Dynamax CTR100)

Once the deck arrived, I found the tape head records and plays back
three tracks. I assume the third track is for queing.

Now all my questions:

1. Is the individual head spacing the same as a reel-to-reel deck? Can
I record the material on the reel-to-reel deck and then play it back
using the Dynamax tape heads?

It might be half. Fidelpack is the same as 8-track, except the roller
is part of the deck, not the cart.

2. Are there line in and out on the Dynamax deck? I found the pins on
the RJ15 or RJ25 like(?) input and output jacks in the back that allow
for input and output. However there are two for each channel that run
first to a inductance coil. Can I just use one lead or do I need to tap
into the circuit farther downstream? Where do I connect line level
inputs and outputs?

3. What are the SEC and TER buttons for?

4. Is there an easy way to record my material using the Dynamax itself
instead of a reel-to-reel deck, relating to number 2 or will the balance
be wrong on the inputs? (I will also need to figure out how to load
more tape than necessary first, record the material, and then shorten
the tape to the correct length...)

5. Anyone have any old tape heads they are willng to part with? I
bought the Dynamax thinking I would just steal the tape head and junk
the rest of the machine. They were so nicely built and it seems both
record and playback worked that I could not bring myself to trashing the
unit!

You could look into scavanging an old 8-track deck.

 

[Xmttrman]

Are there any identifying marks on original tape heads..... is this a Telex tape deck? I may have a
source for discarded Telex broadcast decks also some Nortronics heads for these units.

The Sec and Ter buttons are for recording cue tones... one for stop and one for fast forwarding...
can't remember which... we replaced all our cart machines with servers and gave the old units to a
local broadcast museum.