Found this as advertisement for a new microphone in Dec '08!!! ...THESE MICROPHONES PRODUCE A PLEASING WARM SOUND BASED ON MICS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED FOR RECORDING AND AUDIO APPLICATIONS FOR CENTURIES, ALTHOUGH MUSIC TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES THE PRINCIPLES REMAIN THE SAME.......
Is the bearings bad because if not, replacing the electrolytic capacitors on the capstan board, power regulator board and the reel drive board may fix all your troubles.
New Reply 
...THESE MICROPHONES PRODUCE A PLEASING WARM SOUND BASED ON MICS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED FOR RECORDING AND AUDIO APPLICATIONS FOR CENTURIES, ALTHOUGH MUSIC TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES THE PRINCIPLES REMAIN THE SAME.......
