This is my broken Sansui tape deck
The unit is like 30 plus years old
and has pretty much created my library
of copied CDs and records. I generally
used a Walkman style tape unit so I
could be mobile and when I got a new
record or CD I simply copied it.
I have established that the fault lies
in a drive grommet that must have perished
I can manually move the drive wheels until
they free up but they lock when I insert
a tape into the unit.
I was never a fan of loads of buttons
and other functions. I tended to view
that buy less functionality for the
most money and get better quality
In the day for the same money you could
buy a mini hi-fi system... but it would
probably be an Amstrad, and would also
have broken decades ago
Anyway the replacement Panasonic tape
deck will go very nicely with my rather
dusty Panasonic 5" mini TV which will
sit top of the stack of hi-fi equipment
Time to go through all the Spectrum's to
do a system check to see they are all
working without fault.. Seemed like a
good time to do this. First the +3s
The various Spectrum's have such a wide
array of power supplies and use differing
data storage methods
Test completed no problem
The second +3 has a slight video
display problem with faint vertical
lines. More visible with the camera
The +3 and +2 had differing media
and power supplies... I prefer the
3" which is great for data but crap
when it comes to the Speccy back
catalogue of games and the like
You would think this +2 would use the
+2 power supply.. but it doesn't
It uses a different one
Amstrad 1982... You gotta be joking
For the +2 power that fits a +2 computer
you kinda need the black Spectrum
Which uses the +3 BASIC
OK let's play Oracle's Cave.. Classic
This game is so clever for it's age
It really has all the aspects of a
modern DnD with the puzzle solving
and exploration thrown in
You basically are given a quest, or
should I say you select a quest and
then work your way through a series
of caves uncovering items and paths
and various monsters. You need to
acquire 40 gold, kill your selected
monster to complete. You can only
carry one item and so you do need to
use your noggin to work out what to
do. Battles are tricky and you will
need to rest. But the quest must be
complete in five days... so beware.
And these monsters kick very hard
Simple graphics but still all the
aspects of modern combat.
When I first had this game I would
spend all night playing.. No sleep
It really is that intoxicating
As I moved through the range of Spectrum's
I needed to enlist the services of my
much loved Smiths tape machine. This
thing never fails to play tapes
Back to Oracle's Cave
The control you get with the Smiths
is truly amazing. You can monitor
and adjust most things
Oracle's Cave on another Spectrum
The new style keyboard may be favoured
by some, but I really don't like the
keyboard layout. Either be the BASIC
+3 style of system or the Classic
Both these units worked fine
And so to another power supply and
another Spectrum. The only real Spectrum
in truth.
Don't you just feel at home.. Ar hum
When you are use to this layout
then it's real easy finding your
way round most tapes you find
And with the tape machine I was
truly ready to test out all those tapes
So off I go
Hmmm just one last game of Oracle's Cave
I generally have two of most things
out when I can to have alternative
options just in case something fails
This is the Spectrum I recently fitted
the new membrane to
And finally not a Spectrum. BUT yet
another power supply and the trusty
classic ZX81. My first love
Not much gaming on the ZX81. I do
have a few, but mostly I bought the
computer back then to compute
Still working after all these years
And so to my mountain of Sinclair tapes
Loadsa tapes
As ever I spent more time playing games
than actually finding tapes
In the end I did find half a dozen proper
C15 data tapes in good condition that allowed
me to free up a dozen C90s. Interesting fun
with cassettes.
