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  • Vintage Dansette Consort 4 Reel-to-Reel Tape Player Recorder, C. 1964 - 1967 1
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  • Vintage Dansette Consort 4 Reel-to-Reel Tape Player Recorder, C. 1964 - 1967 2
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Description

If you watch modern films set in the 1950s and 1960s, you could be forgiven for thinking absolutely everyone spent their free time listening to Buddy Holly and The Beatles on a Dansette record player - they're one of the iconic designs of that period.

In actual fact, and as with all home electrical appliances at the time, not very many people could afford them - the first Dansette record players (called The Senior and the Plus-a-Gram, fact fans!) sold new for 33 guineas, nearly £35 and equivalent to about £735 today. At that time, the average weekly wage (for a man, as it was legal for companies to pay women less) was around £10, so the only way you could own a Dansette was to have very cool wealthy parents or actually be either Buddy Holly or in The Beatles, which quite a few people were not.

Fortunately, there was an alternative. Nowadays, reel-to-reel is probably the most expensive way to record your own sounds or consume pre-recorded music but, while tape was expensive, sixty years ago basic reel-to-reel decks were far more affordable, and became even more so when Dansette introduced their simplified Consort range: the basic model, called simply as the Consort, was a mono single speed (3¾ inches per second) machine that only accepted 5¾ inch reels, but it was within reach of a teenager provided he or she didn't mind picking up an extra couple of paper rounds and even the improved models to come - such as this Consort 4, which though still a fairly basic single speed model offered the magical new technology known as stereo if you bought the add-on speaker - was not unattainable...and what's more, it had an audio line-in, so you'd only need to buy a couple of those expensive tapes and you could record all the latest rock and roll off Radio Luxembourg and Caroline, thus terrifying both adults and the British Phonographic Industry. Both of which were obviously Very Good.

This one sort of works - when plugged in, the motor does what it should and drives the reels, and the head is able to read the tape. The built-in mono speaker is working too, though it's hard to judge sound quality since the tape seen in the photos is someone's home recording of the radio, done by holding a microphone up to a speaker (we rocked out to Andy Williams' "Music To Watch Girls By" and then listened to something on the news about Maggie Thatcher, with a kid's voice also recorded over the top) and I gave away all my other tapes with a Revox reel-to-reel a few months ago. However, neither fast forward nor rewind work - the selecter switch does and you can hear the motor providing torque, but it's not enough: looking inside, the mechanism doesn't appear excessively worn but there are traces of very old grease - removing this and replacing it with new lubricant may do the trick.

Overall condition is good: there are some cosmetic faults such as scuffs and scratches, the odd speck of magnolia emulsion and general age-related dust and dirt, but there is no serious damage such as cracks or missing parts. The cabinet is dusty and a little faded but has no rot, nor is the fabric covering torn; the hinges, clasps and handle are all in excellent order. It is supplied with its original owner's manual, what appears to be an original Type C stereo speaker cable and an Acos microphone as seen in the photos.

It's been PAT tested and certified safe to plug into the UK mains and use and, all in all, it would make a very good basis for a relatively easy restoration.

Model: Dansette Consort 4
Made In: England
Produced: 1964-1967
Deck: BSR Type TD2 quarter-track
Valves: ECC83, EL84, DM70; EM84 "Magic Eye" for record level
Tape Speed: 3.75 inches per second only
Spools: 5.75 inches
Connectivity: Microphone, Extension Speaker, Radio PU (all RCA type); 3.5mm stereo out (for use with Dansette Type C add-on stereo speakers)
Dimensions: 355x320x180mm (WxDxH)
Weight: 7.5kg (featherlight in 1964!)

Due to the nature of this item it is not always possible for us to identify any missing parts.
For this reason we ask that you please check the pictures carefully, as these show everything that is included.

This item has been very kindly donated to the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity supports people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end-of-life care. Our ‘Outstanding’ services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. Our aim is to provide the highest quality care, helping them to make every moment count.

100% of the money raised from this sale will go to the charity.

Our sales team do their best to check each item and ensure that the description and pictures provided are as accurate as possible.

Feedback is extremely important to the charity so if you are not fully satisfied with your purchase please give us a chance to resolve any issues by contacting us prior to leaving feedback.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via eBay messages, we will make sure that your message is responded to promptly, usually within three working days. Messages sent over the weekend will be responded to on the next working day.

If this item is not quite what you were looking for but you would still like to help our cause, please consider providing us with a donation which can be done via our eBay Charity Profile linked below.

Donate via Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Profile

We only accept payments made through one of eBay's many approved methods. Please make sure to complete your payment within 96 hours of winning an item. Once your payment has been received we will dispatch your item as soon as possible, usually within two working days.

Delivery times are calculated in working days (Monday to Friday). If your order is placed after 1pm, the next working day will be considered the first working day for delivery. In case of bank holidays and during the Christmas period where delays are more likely, please allow an extra few days for delivery.

Domestic Delivery

We aim to dispatch orders within two working days. If for any reason there is an unexpected delay in dispatching your order we will make sure to inform you of this as soon as possible.

We use Evri to deliver the majority of our parcels. If you would like to specify a preferred neighbour, or safe place for the parcel to be left, please leave the details in a message when placing your order.

Some low-value items will be sent by Royal Mail 2nd Class. Some items of higher value are sent by Royal Mail Signed For or Special Delivery, which require a signature. If you are not present at the time of delivery, a card will be left instructing you to arrange a redelivery, or to collect your order from the local sorting office.

International Delivery

International orders are handled by eBay's Global Shipping Programme.

For full details please see the following eBay help page: Buying internationally with the Global Shipping Programme.

Items can be collected from our Retail Hub at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Eastern Counties Leather Industrial Estate, Pampisford, CB22 3EE during our opening hours of 10:00 to 16:00, Tuesday to Saturday. If you would like to collect your item please contact us in advance to arrange this.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity Retail Hub Sawston Map
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Arthur Rank Hospice Charity uses the eBay Returns system to make the process as easy for you as possible. For full details about the process, and for information on how to begin a return, please see the following eBay help page: Return an item for a refund.

Change of Mind

If when you receive your order you are not completely satisfied, you may return the items to us within 30 days for a refund. Returns will be processed within three working days once the goods have been received by us.

Items must be returned to us in the same condition as they were received by you. This includes, but is not limited to: original packaging, original boxes, packaging materials, manuals, blank warranty cards, accessories and documents. We reserve the right to refuse a return or deduct an amount for lost value where the item is returned in a different condition.

We strongly recommend that you fully insure your package that you are returning, as well as using a carrier that can provide you with tracking information or proof of delivery.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity will not be held responsible for returns lost or damaged in transit.

Please be aware that it is the responsibility of the customer to cover any delivery charges for returning an unwanted item.

Incorrect/Damaged Goods

We try very hard to ensure that you receive your order in pristine condition. In the unlikely event that your order arrives damaged or faulty, please contact us via eBay immediately, this will be given special priority and you can expect to receive a response within 48 hours, Monday to Friday. Arthur Rank Hospice Charity will cover the cost of domestic return postage for any incorrect or damaged items, subject to the cost of the chosen return method being reasonable. Please contact us before proceeding if unsure.

About Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity supports people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end-of-life care. Its ‘Outstanding’ services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. The aim is to provide the highest quality care, helping them to make every moment count.

Around 4,000 patients are cared for each year at the Hospice in Cambridge, the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre in Wisbech and in patients’ own homes via the Arthur Rank Community Team. This care supports people to improve their quality of life and fulfil their end of their life choices.

Alongside the care provided by the Inpatient Unit, Living Well services and Hospice at Home teams, patients can access: patient and family support; lymphoedema care; complementary therapy; medical and pain outpatient clinics; and advice from the clinical nurse specialists within the Specialist Palliative Care Home Team. Programmes are practical, holistic and tailored to the individual patient, family member or carer and may also include rehabilitative support, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychological support.

It will cost £10.5 million in 2021/2022 to run services, which are provided free of charge to patients and their loved ones. Contracted services from the NHS are budgeted at £6.98 million, meaning that £3.52 million needs to be raised through donations, fundraising activities and trading. The Charity is extremely grateful to the local community for the continual dedication, commitment and generosity they show in supporting towards meeting this target.

© 2017 Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. All rights reserved A registered Charity No 1133354