Masthead

Modern Photography's Tape Reorder Roundup

For a number of years , Modern Photography magazine was owned by the group that published Billboard magazine. One of the "synergies" was that Modern would run a couple tape recording articles in every issue. A few times they ran a "Tape Recorder Roundup," which I am summarizing here.

Brand: sorted alphabetically by maker as listed in my original source. This is typically the popular brand name, not the parent. I.e. Wollensak appears as Wollensak, not as 3M Wollensak.

Model: Name or Number.

Type: F = Full-size, stand-alone recorder, which means it has its own audio amplifier an speakers requires no other equipment to run. D = Deck, which means that it is a component that must be connected to an external amplifier/speaker system. Many stand-alones are also availble as decks at a lower price. P = battery-operated portable.

Speeds: Whole numbers only, in inches/second. 15 = 15 ips, 7 = 7-½, 3 = 3-¼, 1 = 1-7/8 ips

Heads: number of heads (recording and playback).

Motors: number of motors.

Record: Tracks available. Numeral is the number of tracks, M = mono, S = stereo. e.g. 4S means 4-track stereo. It is assumed that if a machine can record stereo, it can also record mono. A mono listing means it can only record mono. It is assumed that a 4-track machine can also handle 2-track. It is assumed that a 4-track machine can also handle 2-track.

Play: Tracks available. Numeral is the number of tracks, M = mono, S = stereo. e.g. 4S means 4-track stereo. It is assumed that if a machine can record stereo, it can also record mono. A mono listing means it can only record mono. It is assumed that a 4-track machine can also handle 2-track. It is common in machines from the late 50s and early 60s to have stereo playback capability but mono-only record.

Freq: Frequency Response, in Hz, low and high. e.g. 30-15k means 30Hz to 15,000 Hz

Wgt: weight in pounds.

MSRP: In US dollars. Price as published in the guide.

Comment: whatever additional info I feel like typing in.

Source: CS = Consumer Reports. MP = Modern Photography.

Date: earliest month and year this appeared in the magazine.

Brand Model Type Speeds Heads Moters Record Play Freq Resp Wgt MSRP Comment Source Date
American Concertone 801 F 7,3 6 3 4S 4S 30-18k 47 $ 449   MP

11/1964

Ampex UST-4 F 7,3 2 1 4S 4S 50-15k 34 $ 299   MP 11/1964
Ampex 1070 F 7,3,1 3 1 4S 4S 40-17k 39 $ 399   MP 11/1964
Ampex 2070 F 7,3,1 3 1 4S 4S 30-18k 39 $ 499   MP 11/1964
Ampex F-4452 F 7,3 3 1 4S 4S 50-15k 48 $ 695 Same as 4460 but unmounted, no volume control MP 11/1964
Ampex F-4460 F 7,3 3 1 4S 4S 50-15k 48 $ 695 Same as 4470 but no speakers MP 11/1964
Ampex F-4470 F 7,3 3 1 4S 4S 50-15k 48 $ 695   MP 11/1964
Bell RT 360 F 7,3 3 3 4S 4S 40-16k 48 $ 449   MP 11/1964
Bryan TK7 F 7,3,1 2 1 4S 4S 80-15k 29 $ 199   MP 11/1964
Cipher I F 7,3,1 3 1 2M 2M 70-13k 25 $139   MP 11/1964
Cipher VII F 7,3,1 3 1 4S 4S 35-15k 45 $274 Also available as a deck -$199 MP 11/1964
Cipher 800 F 7,3 2 3 4S 4S 50-15k 50 $449   MP 11/1964
Concord 104 F 7,3 2 1 2M 2M 40-12k 11 $100   MP 11/1964
Concord 220 F 7,3,1 3 1 2M 2M 4-15k 22 $150   MP 11/1964
Concord 440 F 7,3,1 2 1 4S 4S 50-15k 34 $240   MP 11/1964
Concord 550-4 F 7,3,1 2 1 4S 4S   44 $320   MP 11/1964
Concord 884 F 7,1 3 1 4S 4S 30-20k 43 $450   MP 11/1964
Concord R-1100 F 7,3,1 4 3 4S 4S 50-15k 46   also available as a deck MP 11/1964
Continental TP877 F 7,3 2 1 2M 2M 100-10k 9 $99 with attache case $119 MP 11/1964
Emerson MM 316 F 7,3,1 2 1 2M 2M 5-13k 18 $99 additional speed 15/16 ips MP 11/1964
Emerson MM 317 F 7,3,1 2 1 2M 2M 50-15k 21 $129 additional speed 15/16 ips MP 11/1964
Emerson SS 333 F 7,3,1 2 1 2M 2M 35-18k 26 $199 additional speed 15/16 ips MP 11/1964
Estey 20 F 7,3 2 1 2M 2M 50-12k 21 $99   MP 11/1964
Estey 30 F 7,3 2 1 2M 2M 100-12k 21 $129   MP 11/1964
Estey 50 F 7.3 2 1 4S 4S 60-12K 23 $249   MP 11/1964
Estey 70 F 7,3 3 1 4S 4S 50-16k 24 $349   MP 11/1964
Estey T-91 F 7,3,1 3 1 4S 4S 40-18k 29 $499   MP 11/1964
Fanon-Masco FTR-404 F                   MP 11/1964
Fanon-Masco FTR-409 F                   MP 11/1964
Ferrograph S/AN F                   MP 11/1964
Ferrograph S/424 F                   MP 11/1964
Freeman 600 F                   MP 11/1964
Freeman 800 F                   MP 11/1964
Geloso G 257 F                   MP 11/1964
Geloso 258A F                   MP 11/1964
Graetz (none) F                   MP 11/1964
Grundig TK46 F                   MP 11/1964
Grundig TK42 F                   MP 11/1964
Grundig TK-400 F                   MP 11/1964
Heath AD-72A F                   MP 11/1964
Kalimar 1600 F                   MP 11/1964
Kalimar 2000 F                   MP 11/1964
Korting TR-3000 F                   MP 11/1964
Korting 4000 F                   MP 11/1964
Lafayette RK-600A F                   MP 11/1964
Lafayette RK-675 F                   MP 11/1964
Lafayette 1000 F                   MP 11/1964
Lexington 66 F                   MP 11/1964
Lexington 77 F                   MP 11/1964
Lucor 561B F                   MP 11/1964
Lucor 751 F                   MP 11/1964
Lucor 1250 F                   MP 11/1964
Masterwork M-800 F                   MP 11/1964
Miranda Nocturne F                   MP 11/1964
Miranda Sorrento F                   MP 11/1964
Norelco 200 F                   MP 11/1964
Norelco 301 F                   MP 11/1964
Norelco 401 F                   MP 11/1964
Oki 111 F                   MP 11/1964
Oki 222 F                   MP 11/1964
Oki 333 F                   MP 11/1964
Oki 555 F                   MP 11/1964
Panasonic RQ-555 F                   MP 11/1964
Panasonic RQ-700 F                   MP 11/1964
Pentron President F                   MP 11/1964
RCA Victor 1YB1 F                   MP 11/1964
RCA Victor 1YB29A F                   MP 11/1964
RCA Victor 1YC1 F                   MP 11/1964
RCA Victor 3YD1 F                   MP 11/1964
Revere-Wollensak M2 F 1 2 1 2S 2S 40-15K 32 $ 399   MP 11/1964
Revere-Wollensak M3 F 1 2 1 2S 2S 40-15K 32 $ 329 Same as M2 but playback only, no speakers MP 11/1964
Revere-Wollensak M20 F 1 2 1 2S 2S 40-15K 32 $ 339 Same as M2 but no output amplifiers, speakers MP 11/1964
Revere-Wollensak M30 F 1 2 1 2S 2S 40-15K 32 $ 269 Same as M2 but playack only, no amps or speakers MP 11/1964
Revere-Wollensak M4 F 1 2 1 2S 2S 40-15K 43 $ 459 uses automatic tape-cartridge system MP 11/1964
Roberts 192 F 7,3 2 1 2M 2M 40-15K 28 $ 349 capable of full-track record/playback MP 11/1964
Roberts 400 F 15,7,3 3 1 4S 4S 40-18K   $ 699 15 ips optional accessory MP 11/1964
Roberts 4000D D 15,7,3 3 1 4S 4S 40-18K   $ 599 deck version of 400 MP 11/1964
Roberts 330 F 15,7,3 3 1 4S 4S 40-15K 27 $ 349 15 ips optional accessory MP 11/1964
Roberts 455 F 15,7,3,1 3 1 4S 4S 40-17K 64 $ 599 15 ips optional accessory MP 11/1964
Roberts 720 F 15,7,3,1 2 1 4S 4S 40-15K 46 $ 399 15 ips optional accessory MP 11/1964
Roberts 770 F 15,7,3,1 3 1 4S 4S 40-22K 49 $ 199 15 ips optional accessory MP 11/1964
Roberts 105S F 15,7,3,1 2 1 4S 4S 50-15K 25 $ 169 15 ips optional accessory MP 11/1964
Roberts 1600 F 7,3,1 2 1 2M 2M 50-15K 22 $ 259   MP 11/1964
Roberts 1640 F 15,7,3,1 2 1 4S 4S 40-18K 25 $ 299 15 ips optional accessory MP 11/1964
Roberts 1650 F                   MP 11/1964
Sony 102 F                   MP 11/1964
Sony 200 F                   MP 11/1964
Sony 211TS F                   MP 11/1964
Sony 500 F                   MP 11/1964
Sony 600 F                   MP 11/1964
Sony 464-SL F                   MP 11/1964
Star-Lite 700 F                   MP 11/1964
Star-Lite 900 F                   MP 11/1964
Symphonic S4R09 F                   MP 11/1964
Symphonic R507 F                   MP 11/1964
Tandberg 74B F                   MP 11/1964
Tandberg 841F F                   MP 11/1964
Tandberg 92F F                   MP 11/1964
Telefunken Magnetophon 85 F                   MP 11/1964
Telefunken Magnetophon 97 F                   MP 11/1964
Truvox PD-100 F                   MP 11/1964
Uher 5000 F                   MP 11/1964
Uher 8000S F                   MP 11/1964
United Audio-Dual TG 12A F                   MP 11/1964
Vernon 47/26 F                   MP 11/1964
Viking 220 F                   MP 11/1964
Viking 770 F                   MP 11/1964
Viking 880 F                   MP 11/1964
Vista TM70 F                   MP 11/1964
V-M 725 F 7,3,1 1 1 4M 4M 50-15K 15 $ 109.95   MP 11/1964
V-M 730 F 7,3,1 1 1 2M 2M 50-15K 21 $ 169   MP 11/1964
V-M 735 F 7,3,1 2 1 4M 4S 50-15K 22 $ 199.95   MP 11/1964
V-M 736 F 7,3,1 2 1 4M 4S 50-15K 22 $ 225 Same as 735 but with remote control MP 11/1964
V-M 738 F 7,3,1 1 1 4S 4S 50-15K 25 $ 199.95   MP 11/1964
V-M 740 F 7,3,1 1 1 4S 4S 50-15K 22 $ 269.95   MP 11/1964
V-M 1471 D 7,3,1 1 1 4S 4S 50-15K 22 $ 179.95 deck version of 740 MP 11/1964
Webcor 2500 F 7,3 2 1 2M 2M 300-7K 15     MP 11/1964
Webcor 2502 F 7,3 2 1 2M 2M 15-12K 19     MP 11/1964
Webcor 2503 F 7,3,1 3 1 4M 4M 100-15K 21     MP 11/1964
Webcor 2520 F 7,3 1 1 4S 4S 100-15K 27     MP 11/1964
Webcor 2522 F 7,3 2 1 4S 4S 50-15K 34     MP 11/1964
Webcor Professional F 7,3,1 2 1 4S 4S 40-18K 45     MP 11/1964
Wollensak 600 P 3,1 2 1 2M 2M 250-5K 4-½ $ 120   MP 11/1964
Wollensak 1220 F 7,3 2 1 4M 4M 50-17K 27     MP 11/1964
Wollensak 1280 F 7,3 2 1 4S 4S 50-17K 30     MP 11/1964
Wollensak 1400 F 7,3 2 1 2M 2M 40-13K 20     MP 11/1964
Wollensak 1500 F 7,3 2 1 2M 2M 40-15K 20     MP 11/1964
Wollensak 1515 F 7,3 2 1 4M 4S 40-17K 20     MP 11/1964
Wollensak 1580 F 7,3 2 1 4S 4S 40-18K 26     MP 11/1964
Wollensak 1980 F 7,3 2 1 4S 4S 40-18K 42 $ 379   MP 11/1964
Wollensak 1981 F 7,3 2 1 4S 4S 40-18K 42 $ 340 Same as 1980 but no speakers MP 11/1964