The Brenell Zone
I have created this new section, with help from Andrew Todd and John Davis, to try and provide as much background information on the Brenell machines and the company that built them as I have access to. The scans are mainly high quality JPGs from original Brenell documentation. Average file size is about 250k.
The naming of the Brenell machines is confusing. Everything from the 60's seems to be called Mk5 Series 3, despite the changes in motors etc that happened over time. Less confusing is the 'type M' designation. This means that the machine has a 3rd head and supports off-tape monitoring during record. Although it should be noted that none of the 60's machines had a true A/B source monitor switch except the stereo STB model. Type M machines actually seem more common than their 2 head counterparts. I assume this is because the enthusiasts that these types of machine sold to preferred to have all the facilities.
The following scan is a 1970 Article from 'records and recording' magazine, reprinted by Brenell in one of their brochures. It gives a potted history of the company and its products.
The first Brenell? A 'Wireless World' review from 1953 of the 'Sound
Master' tape recorder kit. Note that speed changing is already by both
capstan sleeve and capstan gearing as used in the classic machines.
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Typical Brenell advert from Hi-Fi News April 1959.
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Mk5 Series 2 Leaflet from early 60s
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Brenell article from Amateur Tape Recording & HiFi April 1963
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General brochure and price list probably from 1966.
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Mk5 Series 3 Tape recorder brochure from about 1965.
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Mk5 Series 3 Tape deck brochure from about 1969 - reel motors are certainly
the later type.
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Tape Link. This valve based unit could provide all necessary amplification
allowing a user to build a machine into his own Hi-Fi cabinet. Date unknown.
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Mk5 Type M Series 3 Machine Complete operating instructions from 1965.
Note how instructions regarding the locking of the pause control have been
deleted with marker pen.
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By popular request here are the Mark 5 Type M series 3 circuits:
Rec/PB amps: brencir1.gif
Deck/Bias/PSU: brencir2.gif
And here are the STB2 Circuits
Deck/Heads/Pre-amps: STB2-1.gif
PSU/Oscillator/Monitor Amp: STB2-2.gif
For the 70's the deck was updated to Mk6 status and the electronics moved over to using transistors rather than valves. The first product of the new line was the ST series. ST200 was the half track model and ST400 the quarter track. The Mk6 deck was also capable of vertical operation.
This brochure shows the early 70's product line:
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This is the Brochure for the ST range
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And this is the MK6 Type M
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A transistorised verion of the tape link was also introduced
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The Tape link was mounted together in a box with the Mk6 deck to produce
the Mk6 stereo unit
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The last machine that I have information on is the IC2000. The deck
still looks like the Mk6, but now 10.5" NAB spools are standard.
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