How many of us are sitting on personal memories that are denied to us because they’re stored on obsolete audio-visual formats (like those in the picture)? Similarly, old projects that could be resuscitated were it not for the fact that the hardware used in their creation or storage broke down and was disposed of years ago? And then there’s the music or film lover with dozens of videodiscs or vinyl LPs that lurk, practically forgotten, at the back of a cupboard. Wouldn’t it be great to bring them back to life again?
They could, with due care and attention, be transferred to more modern media – such as CD/DVD, or digital files that could be copied to a NAS (Network Attached Storage), computer, smartphone or music server. Deterioration, like flaky oxide and the risk of partial erasure by accidental exposure to magnetic fields, is kept at bay; such files can be copied with no ‘generation loss’ from one generation of digital media to the next
As a frequent contributor to the ‘Olde Worlde’ section of the popular UK magazine Hi-Fi World ( http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk ) and the creator of the popular ‘Audiojumble’ film ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpVm_WtABH4 ) I have a fascination for the recording techniques, media, formats and technologies of the past. They played a pivotal role in capturing life – creative and mundane, as well as key world events – with increasing frequency from the early part of the twentieth century onwards.
Thus the slogan/mission statement of my company Tekktalk: “Preserving The Past For Posterity”. Over the years, I have brought many of the representative machines back to life as restoration projects, and accumulated many more – consumer, professional and broadcast alike – for personal use. They have been maintained with spares and servicing information obtained from across the globe; if parts are no longer available, then close substitutes are sourced or modifications implemented where possible. Sometimes, considerable ingenuity is required here!
Have a look through the articles on this site – hopefully you’ll find something of interest. The various formats I can currently deal with are listed, along with an insight into what’s involved during transfer. If you have a need of my services, please feel free to drop me a line so that your specific requirements can be discussed. I should also be able to help if you want to identify a particular tape or disc, and whether I’ll be able to yield the secrets it contains or not! If you have equipment that you’d like repaired, featured in ‘Olde Worlde’ or want to dispose of, I might also be able to help; again, please get in touch. My e-mail address is tekktalkuk@virginmedia.com; you can contact me by phone on +44 (0) 7802 200660
Best wishes
Martin
tekktalkuk 