Joining my collection - 1977 National MAC ST-5 (RS-4250), fully Working. 

The External Mic attachment provision

All controls, Antenna and Belt are intact.

Radio with moving dial.

Cassette deck works fully including the Rewind-AutoPlay function.

Sound quality is above average, for a 9V older technology amp. The body is made heavy with lot of ribbed reinforcements, giving good Bass response.

The inside was surprisingly clean for its age. All original and no repair has been made to the electronics. It looks like even the heads are original. See the motor date stamp.

love the moving dial of your almost mint new old beauty, it's the perfect complement to the VUs. so elegant...

this is a real beauty,your right there....forget the likes of the jvc 838 and the like,this is a very nice and much overlooked box from the severnties....now ive got another to chase after

do i see traces of the elephant (philips d8814) in this one? i think so........looks great very nice design i like it

One of most beautiful boxes I've ever seen and in great condition to boot.

WOW Well done

Are the external mics directional like the jvc  550?

This, to me, is one of the nicest radio`s i have ever seen. Nice one. There were some beauties, in the national RS range. I had a 4350. Got it from germany. Seller, put no packing in the box whatsoever, just a cardboard box, with the radio inside. The 4350, is such a tough nut, it wasn`t damaged one bit.

I recently got this box

I wanted it for so long

Im trying to work out the line in

Mic seems to be the same

It only works when I push record on the tape deck is this normal

Im thinking maybe thats just the way it is 

you record line in and then play back recorded to tape

Is yours the same

Congratulations on acquiring the best looking Panasonic (IMO).

Yes, the Line-in of that era was meant for recording. It works when Rec+ Play is pressed. But there is a way to use it without a tape and with the cassette deck motor not running.

Open the cassette door and release the recording tab sensor by pressing it up on the left top side with your finger. Then press Pause + Play + Record. You can now close the tape door of this Panasonic, even when the play head is down and Play working.

Look for a small pin socket next to Mic input socket named Remote. This is a socket for a remote to control the on-off action of the motor. Insert a mono pin (must be half the size of regular 3.5mm headphone pin) into that Remote socket - It will stop the motor!

I think you need the first pin the attached picture (2.5mm). It is smaller than the usual 3.5 mm dia headphone pin! 

When you insert the pin, the motor power gets disconnected and goes through this plug. Means, if you short the plug, motor will run. That is how the remote control for motor is made. 

Thus by keeping a simple mono plug inserted into the Remote socket, you can use the Line-in through Record + Play without the motor running and without damaging the pinch roller (with Pause key pressed).

A bonus is that the VUs will work to signal level in record mode. Otherwise they are only for Battery power level.

It's ... I just can't find my words ... Wow! It's ... NEW!

I guess I can do the same trick with my Panasonic. I'm worried about some idler inside mechanism or something like that. Nothing stays in there pressed? I did not payed much attention to that aspect when I've opened it for cleaning.

Ah great idea

Im of to get a 2.5 mm plug

The tape was easy fix just new belts

the other thing and I feel this is going to be even harder 

is the fm works for about 30 mins then fades out

I Think something is warming up and then stopping to work

Im going to tear it apart again today

After working on so many other boxes 

I love the simplicity of this box

And that sexy shape

I can sit and watch it even without the radio working

Very cool box, I love how the tweeters are angled up.

Do you know what model microphones fit it?

i think it takes just a normal mic stand mount

then you can put any mic

but I bet they had a specific one at the time 

anyone know ?

This is a simple mechanical deck. When the remote plug is inserted, power supply to the only motor is cut off. Nothing rotate afterwards. Basically the audio circuit will be on, with the motor off - Hence no wear and tear.

OK that I understand. But what worries me is: one of the rotating idlers is still pressed on some other roller or everything is off? Once when I forgot few days play on I had to change the pinch roller and idler because of the tam-tam-tam sound when roller was reaching that gap. I've changed first the roller and still I had that noise inside the machine. When I've opened it, there was another roller inside with the same issue

OK that I understand. But what worries me is: one of the rotating idlers is still pressed on some other roller or everything is off? Once when I forgot few days play on I had to change the pinch roller and idler because of the tam-tam-tam sound when roller was reaching that gap. I've changed first the roller and still I had that noise inside the machine. When I've opened it, there was another roller inside with the same issue

I think, I understand it now. Yes, the deck will be in full engaged position for Play, but nothing will be rotating. There is only one motor in my deck.

But all idlers or clutches will be in the pressed position for Rec+Playback. If oil, grease or contact friction has an effect when they are in engaged position continuously, (like grease getting dried up or non-symmetrical pressure on roller/discs etc.) it may matter. I suggest not to keep the Rec+Play engaged for ever. Use it only for playing Line-In and disengage the mechanism after usage.  

Me too!!!

Originally Posted by paul botta:

OK that I understand. But what worries me is: one of the rotating idlers is still pressed on some other roller or everything is off? Once when I forgot few days play on I had to change the pinch roller and idler because of the tam-tam-tam sound when roller was reaching that gap. I've changed first the roller and still I had that noise inside the machine. When I've opened it, there was another roller inside with the same issue

I think, I understand it now. Yes, the deck will be in full engaged position for Play, but nothing will be rotating. There is only one motor in my deck.

 

But all idlers or clutches will be in the pressed position for Rec+Playback. If oil, grease or contact friction has an effect when they are in engaged position continuously, (like grease getting dried up or non-symmetrical pressure on roller/discs etc.) it may matter. I suggest not to keep the Rec+Play engaged for ever. Use it only for playing Line-In and disengage the mechanism after usage.  

Will do. Thanks for advice. One can never be careful enough especially when cares about his collection