Anyone who has to deal with tape recorders in Germany (and maybe in some other places around the world) will get a Grundig TK 5 in his fingers sooner or later . Why should it be different for me? Just a few years ago I had such a Grundig TK 5 once. However, it had a different color than this one here. Somehow I needed space and sold it with heavy heart. The unit was not in the best condition when I got it, just like this one. Dusted and polluted, it was waiting for someone to take care of it ...

The tube equipment is: EF86, ECC81, 2x EL42, EM85.

Even under the lid it does not look better. On the soundhead cover, although it probably already looked better. The emblem on the plastic cover underneath is lost. The left tape reel seems even to be original, while the BASF tape is wound on a green spool and dark red on the back. I didn't want connect the TK 5 to mains power in this condition.

Under the plastic cover the usual picture. Dirt and belt wear garnish with well-deposited rust.

Under the cover plate it does not look very good. The metal parts, which are not part of the compression molding chassis, are unfortunately somewhat corroded. Apparently the device was not stored dry. Potentiometers, controls and all moving parts are slightly heavy and wanted to be used only reluctantly.

Here you can see the erase and audio head as well as capstan and pressure roller. Especially the audio head looks very interesting. The thick pressure roller almost looks as if it were made of solid rubber. Even the pressure fleeces for the heads are still there.

In the center you can see the switch for fast forward and rewind. The function button for the drive must be set in the corresponding switch position. If the function button is in this position, the motor runs faster (and has a much higher current). If electricity was still as cheap as it was in 1957 ...

Here you can see the magical eye EM 85. Will this tube still does it? It will soon show. Here it is still waiting to be awaked from its long sleep.

The square for receiving the knob....

Everything from a single mold. This thought came to my mind when I first saw the inner life of a TK 5. Above all, the huge outer-engine engine "System Papst" is impressive. The massive outer rotor is a very good and heavy inertia mass. By the way, the motor directly drives the capstan shaft. He, too, is waiting (patiently) for his first commissioning after many years.

The amplifier tube EL 42 with Rimlock base. It is only one of two EL 42 tubes used in this device. The other tube serves as an HF oscillator tube for the bias of the tape during recording. Also in the picture you can see one of the many WIMA capacitor.

The original Grundig quality loudspeaker. It is connected to the output transformer in the device chassis via a solid cable. The massive body case of the TK 5 is also used as sound body.

It is impressive how electronic devices were built in 1957. Nowadays, where only cheap plastic is found, there was a real wood case. Unfortunately, this should change almost two decades later (with some exceptions, such as television sets). The speaker cable is fortunately so long that the chassis can be easily removed without having to disconnect the loudspeaker. If that is not a luxury.

Here the motor reveals his date of birth. On 18 October 1957 he saw the light of the world, or rather the interior of a Grundig TK 5.

"System Papst - Made in Germany"

There was still a need for real handwork. Delicate women's hands at the Grundig factory were occupied all day with the task of fingering and soldering together the confusion of electronic components, soldering components and wires. Unfortunately also the famous notorious WIMA capacitors. These must be replaced. With this flying wiring, however, this is easier said than done....

At some point, I could not wait for it and wanted to bring the TK 5 back to life and listen to the old tape. Before that, however, I performed a first cleaning of the heads and tape guides. For safety reasons, I connected the tape recorder for the first commissioning to an isolating transformer and drove the operating voltage up step by step ...

In fact, the filaments of the tubes began to glow after a few seconds. It is always an indescribable moment to restart such a device after many, many years. The magical fan also slowly began to shine green.

But the motor didn't want to start. After some turning back and forth of the function switch and after several times he started slowly, as slowly as most people on Monday morning at half past five ... But somehow he ran. Carefully I turned the volume control. The loudspeaker gave the first signs of life in the form of cracking and cracking, and after a while, contemporary music from the fifties or sixties actually sounded from the loudspeaker of the tape recorder. I was heavily impressed, how such a tape recorder like this Grundig TK 5 reproduces music with a relatively good sound. At such moments, I know why I exercise this hobby.

Usually it starts quite harmless. So also here with the release of the key unit and the pressure roller together with the lever.

The head support plate is fixed with four screws. After releasing these screws, it can be removed carefully and placed aside. If necessary, the two levers at the top of the head support plate must be slightly pushed apart so that they can be removed.

Then the two intermediate wheels must be removed. I also removed the springs with the lever at the square.

I wanted to clean the tape winding plates on the occasion and provided with new lubricants, which is why I have removed them. However, this step is not necessary for belt changing.

The rewinding knob with the square still disturbs. The new belt must be placed around it.

This obstacle was also eliminated. Now the new belt can finally be put on, at least on the engine.

The new drive belt is much too thin. Unfortunately, I currently have no other in stock. I have also cleaned the drive. There were still remnants of the broken belt distributed everywhere.

Head support plate, rewinding mechanism, idlers and key unit were installed again. Now only the freshly cleaned wrapping discs are missing, right?

Not quite ... The pressure roller with lever waited still for its installation. Previously, however, this had still to be thoroughly cleaned and freed from the belt abrasion of the last decades.

Now the TK 5 is finally ready for another trial.

Now also the rewinding works again. Time will tell how long the too thin belt will do it.

I have now also cleaned the case again and freed from dust. Here the loudspeakers and chassis of the TK 5 were re-installed. The new capacitors still must be ordered.