Ampex 1163 Internals

The machine with the various clip-on plastic covers removed.

Here you can see the unique (?) self-threading takeup reel.

The transport controls are located in the middle of the head mounting casting. They consist of two
vertical sliding 'tabs' and a horizontal slide switch. The slide switch controls the forward or reverse
mode of the machine (by switching the windings of the mains synchronous induction motor), and the tabs
select the play or wind modes. To record you press an illuminated button on the electronics panel and
and at the same time slide the play tab upwards, which is locked in position by a solenoid.

Above - the metal front covers have been removed (These are held on by rather nice socket head
countersunk screws.).

The whole recorder is built up from a set of complex and nicely finished alloy castings. The transport
and electronics sub-assembleys are fixed to the front picture frame casting, and this can either be built
into a once fashionable equipment 'console' or into a wooden carrying case. Seperate detachable
speakers were available that clipped over the front of the recorder to act a a 'lid'.

On the right of the machine is a self-contained electronics package that contains power supply, bias and
erase oscillator and the record and reproduce circuitry (the blue and yellow electrolytic caps are later
but non-standard replacements). To the left of the electronics unit is the tape transport, this is made up
of four main alloy die-castings. Here we can see the slightly ironic combination of rather perishable
(literally) polymer drive belts combined with fine precision machined alloy die-castings. Mechanical
alignment here is outstanding for a 'domestic' tape recorder. Magnetic heads, pinch rollers, capstan and
reel hubs are all held in precise and very stable relationships.

(Above): rear of the transport.

The large solenoid at lower right and the circuitry adjacent to it actuate the auto-reverse switching of
the machine. (The row of blue capacitors are later replacements of the original 1960's electrolytics.)

Here were have the motor removed, as it is belt and tyre replacement time (again).

Gallery