Pocket and Portable Tape Recorders
In their day, little tape recorders were fascinating.
Remember, in that time most of us had never heard our own voice played
back. (“I sound like that?!”)
Beside the novel technology, many of these little recorders were very
attractively designed, as you can plainly see! Since people have little
use for these gizmos today, they’re much easier to find and collect
than, say, Van Goghs.
The three good-lookers at the top are, from
left to right, an Executive
TR-10, a Kaytone, and a
turquoise Miny. All three use
3" tape reels and are from Japan.
On the yellow boomerang are three views of the impressive and strange American-made Mohawk Midgetape 44 (model BR-1). It’s dated 1957 and uses a metal tape cartridge. The
electronics inside include three subminiature
tubes. The built-in hand crank is for manual rewind.
On the yellow boomerang are three views of the impressive and strange American-made Mohawk Midgetape 44 (model BR-1). It’s dated 1957 and uses a metal tape cartridge. The
electronics inside include three subminiature
tubes. The built-in hand crank is for manual rewind.
Above is the Craig
TR-404 (Japan), a Sanyo-made recorder
using 2.5-inch reels. Next is the all-chrome (wow!) Juliette LT-44
(Japan), using 3 inch reels, and at right the Fi-Cord 101S, a nifty
little “spy” recorder
using 2-inch reels. It has a built-in microphone and was made in
Switzerland.
Looking stylish on the silver satin are a couple of pocket-size Olympus Pearlcorders, the larger one an early SD model and the small one an L400 from the 1980s. Both are from Japan and use microcassettes. Shown behind is a nifty accessory, the DRA 2 FM tuner which docks to the bottom of the SD, making it an FM radio. Cool!
While I say I collect “tape recorders,” the medium (the
tape) is not the point exactly. Wire recorders are equally fascinating,
and for its stunning good looks the green Telefunken 600 “Portable
Dictating Machine” which uses “magnetic recording discs” is in
my collection, although it’s basically office equipment. It was made in
Germany, probably in the 1960s.
The really small Tapette takes extra-tiny 1.75-inch reels (Japan, mid-’60s). With push-button controls on the end, it measures just 8 by 2.65 inches.
And here is the perfect accessory in any collection of spy recorders, the external microphone disguised as a wristwatch. I acquired this one with a Minifon P55 wire recorder. Long-sleeve shirt required!
And here is the perfect accessory in any collection of spy recorders, the external microphone disguised as a wristwatch. I acquired this one with a Minifon P55 wire recorder. Long-sleeve shirt required!
