This is the long awaited Solid State Page.
The first Transistor Copicats appeared around 1965 and were produced until the mid 70's. Though a transistor machine, they were called the "Solid State". Printed on the top right of the face plate under the W E M logo. Produced in their hundreds of thousands many survive and are still in full use today. A very reliable machine that went through few cosmetic and circuit changes during its production. The most obvious being the colour of the push buttons, some black some white, later ones were thicker buttons due to the use of different switches. Another thing to change a few times was the tension arm form metal to a plastic moulding, later ones even had plastic wheels. Early ones had round knobs instead of the later two pointed type. later machines also had larger and better lid catches. The following pictures show the machine with its various knobs and buttons etc. in no particular order.
The machine above has an added socket near the power on lamp, for foot switch. Pointy knobs, white switch buttons
Above with pointy knobs & plastic wheels white switch buttons.
Round
knobs black buttons
Guild
USA version with fat buttons
Fat
buttons, incorrectly fitted tape
With cover
The first type solid state (transistor) Copicat for some reason called the MK111. had the bias oscillator integral with the main printed circuit board. It also had push together connectors for the power supply and motor connections.
Above, a Mk111 showing the oscillator screening plate, oscillator integral with main pcb & chassis mounted connectors for motor and power supply to main pcb.
Soon to be replaced by the MK1V with improved bias oscillator circuit, now t on its own separate board mounted away from the main pcb. The power supply and motor are now wired direct, the connectors now having been disposed with. See following image.
I have had several requests for an Instruction sheet the one below is the best I have at the moment, it is for the MK1V units shown on this page, but is pretty well common to the whole Copicat range.
Help yourself to a copy.
Section 9 Tape loop Ignore the shinny side out instruction, this applies to old tape stocks.
To be continued last updated 29/01/2008