ZX81 denigrated! (was Re: Approaches to projects)

OK, I think I've traced it. A 3rd party user guioe ('The Philips Tape Recorder Book', 1st edition) states that the ST454 is equivalent to the Philips EL3541 and the Cossor CR1602. As luck would have it, the Philips model is one of the few not in Poole and Molloy, but the Cossor one is. It seems to have undergone several revisions over the years, the changes being : 1) The superimpose swtich (turns off the erase head) became a parallel play button (plaus tracks 1 and 3 together). 2) The 2 pin pickup/radio input became a DIN socket (radio input and line level ouptu) and, believe-it-or-not an IEC 5 pin pickup input. 3) THere ware circit changes, some quite significant. I've checked the appropate volumes of Poole and Molloy, and the valves match up with the ones you state. To answer my questions : It should do. Left side of the machine. Early models didn't provide the 16V for the pre-amp here, though. I think it's rexine-covered wood, at least for the Philips EL3541. But I can't be sure, and this is something that may differ between Philips/Cossor/Stella versions. Only one (the EL3542 is essentially the 3 speed model). Presumably 3+3/4 ips As you stanted foor connectors (2 pin radio input, 2 pin monittor headphones, 2 pin estension speaker, DIN microphone, DIN stereo socket, mechanical remote control). Controls look to be conventional Philips, apart from the strainght-through amplifier switch near the connector panel. -tony