A SHARP Idea - Sharp RD 426U Vintage AM Radio Cassette

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The SHARP Electronics Company was well known in the 1960's for selling good basic quality consumer tape recorders, radios, and other electronic equipment.

In this video, we explore the SHARP RD426U vintage AM radio cassette tape recorder combination. While a simple, basic vintage cassette recorder, it contained DC bias electronics and the bonus of a simple AM radio to increase capability of the cassette tape recorder. Although at the time the Philips/Norelco cassette tape recorder mechanism specifications were freely available, SHARP chose to alter the mechanism to meet their needs, and included solid brass parts, a bit unusual for a budget cassette tape recorder. This unit was purchased from E-Bay and needed mechanical restoration (new belt, lubrication and cleaning), although the electronics were in excellent condition, merely needing a cleaning. Of historical interest is that the speaker is labeled "Pioneer" and I found a SANYO sticker on the inside of the cassette recorder case, indicating that the unit may have been made by the SANYO Corporation of Japan and sold under the SHARP name.

Regardless, it has a nostalgic vintage cassette recorder sound, typical of a transistor AM radio of the time, and the fact that it works with so little needed after 40 years is a tribute to the engineering of the manufacturer.

Enjoy the video.


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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• clydesight
• Sharp
• RD4326U
• vintage
• cassette
• tape
• recorder
• subliminal
• messages
• depression
• happiness
• unhappiness
• electronics
• AM
• radio

[Lachlant1984]

I used to have a Panasonic machine a bit like this one, the major difference with my machine was that it had a knob for the tape deck functions, not the piano key type buttons on it. I really like this machine, what a shame it's DC Bias. I'm sure if you move the microphone as far away from the machine as you can, you won't have any issues with motor noise etc.

[clydesight]

@Lachlant1984 Thank for your comment. I've seen quite a few Panasonic radio-cassette recorders, some of them are quite good.

Yes, moving the mic away from the machine will reduce it picking up some motor noise, good tip! Thanks

[CassetteMaster]

Are you sure this is DC bias? There doesn't seem to be any of that DC bias background noise noticeable. (some AC bias machines will have a little "DC bias S" occasionally). It sounds too good to be DC bias! Please see if the cassette recorder circuit board has the bias coil or not.(not the radio board).

[clydesight]

I can understand your confusion because of the nice sound of this machine. I did check that amp board (not the radio board, which is separate) and I couldn't find ANY AC bias coil. Also, it uses a magnet for an erase head, a common practice in DC bias machines. I do believe that the quality of other components can affect the sound, so really cheap DC bias machines are notoriously "Ssss y", and a poor quality AC bias machine can also be noisy. I have noticed both issues.

[thecrystalcauldron]

I enjoyed the video and I thought the music sounded very good through the machine. Well done.

[clydesight]

Thanks, the sound of the machine does have an oddly attractive quality to it, though it isn't that wide ranged. Still, it is what it is, and it works!

[vieuxson]

nice sharp recorder ,yesterday a friend give me a old sharp stereo system

[clydesight]

Thanks. The DC bias and amp are a tad bit better than I have heard on other machines, I have to admit. The auto level seems to work pretty well on this one.

[CassetteMaster]

That's a very nice recorder! Too bad it's DC bias, but, there seems to be surprisingly little background DC bias noise! The sounds seems pretty good, and the machine looks really cool. Also funny, it's only AM. I have a Passport radio-cassette recorder that is also AM only and DC bias, and it has manual level and a little meter.