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VILMA D-3
Soviet copy and German original
Used Google
translator
VILMA D-3 is a Soviet copy of the Grundig EN3 recorder.
The German original was considered a very successful
model, and such recorders still work fine. I have two
devices from the series of its modifications -
Grundig
EN3 Luxus and Grundig DeJur Versatile III. and both of
them are now in good working order. Produce them began
in the early 60's, the earliest patent relating to
design EN3 is dated 1961 year. When started to produce Vilma D-3 it's not known exactly, but my device probably
was made in 1967, as all the electronic components of
the circuit were manufactured this year.
I well know the nuances of the Grundig EN3 design, and I
can confidently say that all components of the Vilma D-3
design were manufactured in the USSR, including
cassettes. The only doubt is the electric motor, it is
very similar to German, but without a centrifugal
regulator. Instead, there is an electronic stabilizer in
the circuit, which is not in the German design. However,
in my Vilma D-3 it is the engine that works poorly, and
the German electric motors work reliably. This suggests
that the engine was probably also manufactured in the
USSR.
The whole design is copied very accurately, with the
exception of the wiring diagram. However, this is
difficult to say with certainty, since EN3 was produced
in several modifications, and I may not know the one
with which the scheme could copy. Scheme Vilma D-3 is
assembled on 6 transistors, four of which (ÌÃÒ108Â) in
the amplifier, and two (ÌÏ11 and ÌÏ41À) in the speed
regulator of the electric motor. I can say with
confidence that the transistors of the amplifier have
not been replaced before me, the factory rations have
not been violated, and the transistors of the stabilizer
have been replaced, and they are 1969, so we can assume
that the original could have other transistors, and when
repairing installed what was available. The electronics
board is manufactured in an industrial way from
textolite.
The tape mechanism copied very accurately, rubber
rollers of good quality, and have remained perfectly.
Metal parts are stamped, it can be seen that this was a
mass production, but the chassis shows traces of manual
modification. The magnetic head is made well, outwardly
very similar to the original one. In general, the whole
design is similar to the original, but for a variety of
nuances and minor defects it is easy to understand that
the device was made in the USSR. The cassettes are not
as neat as the German ones, but they work well, there
are no censures on them.
The previous owner of the recorder was the son of a
developer of the Soviet version, so on the two tapes
that I got, they recorded the tests made while setting
up the recorder. There was also useful information, for
example it became known that the removable
microphone-speaker MVU-2 was developed at the Leningrad
Institute of Broadcasting and Acoustics named after
Popov. Also, along with the recorder I got two photos
that were clearly made for use in advertising, or in the
operating instructions.
Externally, the devices are almost indistinguishable,
but the EN3 microphone-speaker has a metallized coating,
which makes it much nicer. My device is working poorly,
I've repaired the electrical circuit, and it works fine,
but the speed of the tape is very unstable, and this is
due to a motor defect. The mechanism I repaired,
cleaned, lubricated, and now it is completely in order.
Probably these recorders were made in a small
amount, since there is no information on the Internet
about them, and there are no such recorders in the
collections known to me. Apparently I own the only
surviving specimen of Vilma D-3.
Photos can be enlarged
 
For comparison, in the photo on the
right, I put a German cassette next to it. There are no
inscriptions on the Soviet cassette, the German cassette
has the inscription "Grundig Made in Germany". There are
no design differences, if you do not take into account
different patterns on the reel. On the Soviet - a
spiral, in German - radial lines.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Electric scheme of the recorder VILMA D-3
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