Sony PS-F9 Flamingo RetroTech Repair & Demo

Sony's portable battery-powered turntable from 1983 has become a highly desired and expensive collectors piece. However before I can demonstrate this one, I'll need to get it working.

Sony Global Design History Pages

Ebay (well it doesn't cost anything to look)

UPDATE: After uploading the video, it occurred to to that Sony have in fact revisited their back catalogue recently with the re-launch of the Aibo robotic dog. Hopefully this will continue and we'll get to see some more modern reinterpretations of classic Sony products.

OMISSION: I forgot to mention that I pulled out any remnants of the old felt washer that was protruding from between the cogs before installing my replacement cloth tape.
Also perhaps I should have clarified that the gears unit was welded on at both ends, there were no retaining washers or e-clips that could be removed to disassemble it.

Lots of people want me to say the word *Clutch* to describe the gears mechanism as if somehow this will fill a void...so here we go
CLUTCH
I suspect nothing has changed.

RECORDS USED
The bicolour records used for the demonstrations were:
1) Stax Number Ones (Yellow & Red)
2) Lou Reed - Transformer (Black & Yellow)
Both are now discontinued - however they have plenty of other exclusive coloured discs to choose from.

Standard black vinyl editions of both are readily available
Stax - Number Ones

Lou Reed - Transformer

Back to the Future Picture disc was also from Amazon

Q) Where did the 45 with the puppet picture come from.

-------------SUPPORT---------------
This channel can be supported through Patreon
Patrons usually have early access to videos

---------------SUBSCRIBE------------------

-------THANKS TO -------

----------Outro Music-----------

------Outro Sound Effect------

------AFFILIATED LINKS/ADVERTISING NOTICE-------
All links are Affiliated where possible.
When you click on links to various merchants posted here and make a purchase, this can result in me earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network & Amazon.
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to AMAZON Sites (including, but not limited to Amazon US/UK/DE/ES/FR/NL/IT/CAN)

[Techmoan]

As with all my videos, there's a bit more information in the video description text box.  If you are viewing on a smartphone or tablet app click the downward pointing triangle to the right of the title below the video. If you are viewing on the web, click on the words “show more’.

[shimtest]

"not an inexpensive machine...if I break it that's the end of it..." *jams nail file and paper clip in delicate mechanism*

[Quicksilver_Cookie]

I swear, if they re-release this again today with exactly same design they'd sell them like hot cakes. Even hipsters would buy them :)

[ZylonFPV]

This honestly looks like it could have come out in 2017. How is it that some Sony products still look so modern?

[boijorzee]

This thing would have looked so futuristic in 1983. It's a nifty device.

[bigblumerstrikesback]

The Other Techmoan Effect is where you go out and buy music heard on one of your videos because its been stuck in your head all day. Sam and Dave (or their estate holders) should thank you.

[CoreyDWillis]

Sony would make a killing selling remakes of their old products! Genius!

[paulleach]

Hi Matt!

I know this is an old video, you're probably not going to read this and it's slightly unrelated but felt the need to share regardless!

After clearing out my sadly departed uncles house, I came across a Sony PS-Q7 turntable. Nicotine stained and in a non-working state, there were some who wished to throw it in landfill. After watching your videos and getting a better understanding of the mechanics of these machines (they can be salvaged!) I decided to take it home. After some prodding and poking, it turns out it was the drive belt of the tone arm. I managed to get it working with the faulty belt, but ordered a new one to give it a new lease of life.

Thank you for your videos, not only are they fun and educational, but they give numpties like me the confidence to save treasures from the scrap heap.

My teenage son has become fascinated with vinyl after I got my Project turntable. This will go to him and show a new generation the amazing engineering of the past, the value of preservation and the wonder of being curious.

Thanks again.

[sonykroket]

Still a brilliant device, even after 35 years. It still looks amazing, Akio Morita was way ahead of his time.

[BarcadeArcade]

I fell in love with this turntable after seeing your video. I found one on Jauce shortly after and pulled the trigger. Paid quite a bit for it even though it was untested. I got it in the mail today and it had the same problem as yours so I applied your fix and it fixed it right up! It does have another intermittent issue where the stylus will not always stay down after pressing play but I will look into that later. I just want to clarify for others that may be looking for help with a similar problem that you can remove the entire gear assembly and you can take gears off of the shaft and separate them to get to the felt washer. My washer was intact but for some reason it was still slipping hence why I had to use your fix.

Anyway, to get the assembly out, you want to remove the two screws from the top of the motor and just let the motor kind of hang there, it will not fall. Then, to get the actual bracket with the gears out, there are two additional screws in the front, they're the same size as the ones from the motor. Once all four screws are removed, the entire assembly can be carefully removed. The gears are held onto the shaft by very small and hard to see plastic clips. You have to be very very careful when removing them. I used a hobby knife to assist but putting it under the clip and pushing upward. I cannot stress how careful you have to be to both no damage them or lose them when doing this. Hopefully this helps other people. Thanks for your help!

[thevilatr]

I got my PS-F9 about 2 years ago, and it suffers from the same issue that yours initially did. Although I upgraded the stylus and replaced the belt that drives the tonearm mechanism, I was too afraid to tamper with the clamp mechanism lest I break something. Thanks to you, I finally know how to fix this. Many thanks, sir!

[LUchesi]

I really enjoy how your videos touch both ends, the overall information/history of the tech and also the personal experience with each individual device.

[randywatson]

Welcome to the PS-F9 club 😊. I have the PS-F5, PS-F9 EU and PS-F9 Japanese with FM-transmitter. I used to fix the clamp problem by easing the springtension that pushes the large pin into the hole of the vinyl by cutting the spring a little bit shorter and bend the end of it preventing hitting the plastic seem. Still it could hold heavy vinyl succesfully without aid.

[applepinez]

Phenomenal video as always! These past few weeks I have been going on a Techmoan binge watch, and no matter how many times I see your videos, I never get tired of them. Keep up the awesome work!

[espurious]

I'm fascinated by these weird and wonderful retro tech and it's great to see them showcased like this!

[Jerbod]

I remember when you reviewed and restored that other vertical turntable how you'd like to have this one but it being too expensive. Good to see your videos are allowing you to get hold of that type of stuff anyway.

[jw-b]

I just came upon this video and am very pleased to say that I have a PS F9 which I love to bits. You talk of being careful not to damage the record as you insert and seat it in the slot. The best way to do this is by inserting the record with its sleeve still on and then removing the sleeve afterwards.

[NicMG]

Quick everyone spam Sony, hopefully they'll remake this awesome little player!

[CinemaMacabro]

I would buy this for the new vinyls from Death Waltz, they really make amazing looking vinyls that should be displayed vertically. The best part of this video is the trial and error of repair that went into this thing, as a retro tech nerd, I found that truly entertaining!. Another great video @Techmoan

[peanutismint]

What a beautiful merging of design and technology. One of my favourite aspects of your videos are you talking through your troubleshooting/repair process. It's a good encouragement for those of us trying to fix things that have similar small issues to keep trying different things and piecing the puzzle together! :-)