Western Electric/Dictaphone Mystery Machine
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- audio school
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Western Electric/Dictaphone Mystery Machine
Hi! Firstly, I apologize if this isn't the greatest place to ask this because it has to do more with the military than music/sound, but I figure presenting it to a bunch of people who know something about electronics and recording couldn't hurt. I own an antique shop and, therefore, go to a ton of estate sales; I recently dug this machine out of someone's basement. I know it was used during or shortly after WWII at Truax Field (air field base) in Madison, Wisconsin. I think it was possibly used in some capacity to record or train air field controllers, as it came with a headset and the two metal spools have very wide (6-7inches, probably) magnetic recording tape wound around them. The placards both have the Western Electric and Dictaphone Corp. names on them, and the model numbers include KS-16658-L1 and KS-16659-L1. It does turn on, but I was unwilling to mess around with it more for fear of damaging it and/or blowing up my shop.
You can see photos of the machine here: http://imgur.com/a/0NNyy
Again, apologies if this isn't pertinent to this message board, but I'm at a loss trying to get some information about this thing. Thanks in advance for any clues you're able to give me!
You can see photos of the machine here: http://imgur.com/a/0NNyy
Again, apologies if this isn't pertinent to this message board, but I'm at a loss trying to get some information about this thing. Thanks in advance for any clues you're able to give me!
- shedshrine
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- steve albini likes it
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If nothing else, it has some cool looking knobs. Gotta love them chicken heads. It looks like it might have tubes and trannies in it. If so, it might just be worth your while to part it out.
A while back I acquired one of those 1950's quack medicine self electrocution machines which had a cool Bakelite?? case, and a few off-white chicken heads on it. The case fits an SM7 and accessories perfectly. Looks so retro-cool. Wish I had a vintage mike to put in it.
A while back I acquired one of those 1950's quack medicine self electrocution machines which had a cool Bakelite?? case, and a few off-white chicken heads on it. The case fits an SM7 and accessories perfectly. Looks so retro-cool. Wish I had a vintage mike to put in it.
I'd gladly trade everything I have now for a nice sounding room and a bucket of 57's
- Gregg Juke
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Yes, it definitely would look good flanked by a couple of Tesla coils in Frank-uhn-schteens's la-bore-itory, but I wonder what it actually is? I did some Internet poking; I can't find anything like it. Pretty cool looking machine, but I think you're right-- without finding the right World War II-specific museum or collector, it would probably be worth more separated into individual parts.
GJ
GJ
Gregg Juke
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"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "
Nocturnal Productions Music Group
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"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "
- Nick Sevilla
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It's a dictaphone.
A recording device for secretaries to use in the office.
Here is a modern version of this:
http://en.akihabaranews.com/10690/legac ... dictaphone
A recording device for secretaries to use in the office.
Here is a modern version of this:
http://en.akihabaranews.com/10690/legac ... dictaphone
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.
- Gregg Juke
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Hey Nick,
I know it was made by Western Electric, but I'm pretty sure that's not a Dictaphone. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictaphone ) My dad used to use a Dictaphone back in the "late-Mad Men" days (60's and 70's); it didn't take-up the same amount of space as a walk-in closet.
It's recording and reproducing something, but most likely not some General's letter to Brigade Command. Didn't the OP say it was from an air-base? Maybe it was some kind of mechanical/electronic flight log or communications recorder?
GJ
I know it was made by Western Electric, but I'm pretty sure that's not a Dictaphone. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictaphone ) My dad used to use a Dictaphone back in the "late-Mad Men" days (60's and 70's); it didn't take-up the same amount of space as a walk-in closet.
It's recording and reproducing something, but most likely not some General's letter to Brigade Command. Didn't the OP say it was from an air-base? Maybe it was some kind of mechanical/electronic flight log or communications recorder?
GJ
Gregg Juke
Nocturnal Productions Music Group
Drum! Magazine Contributor
http://MightyNoStars.com
"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "
Nocturnal Productions Music Group
Drum! Magazine Contributor
http://MightyNoStars.com
"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "
- Nick Sevilla
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Greg. It is a Dictaphone. In the bottom most picture, on the placard. It says "Dictaphone Corporation". It can't get more Dictaphone than that.Gregg Juke wrote:Hey Nick,
I know it was made by Western Electric, but I'm pretty sure that's not a Dictaphone. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictaphone ) My dad used to use a Dictaphone back in the "late-Mad Men" days (60's and 70's); it didn't take-up the same amount of space as a walk-in closet.
It's recording and reproducing something, but most likely not some General's letter to Brigade Command. Didn't the OP say it was from an air-base? Maybe it was some kind of mechanical/electronic flight log or communications recorder?
GJ
This may have been used to record a General's voice for reproduction over a loudpseaker system, like in some important announcements that might have been made at bases. Rather than have the General say it every hour or so, he would record it on this device, then it could be trotted from hi office to the communications center, and even onto other bases.
That use is undoubtedly different than the "normal" use of a dictaphone, for secretaries to playback dictation or interviews etc. I bet a WWII museum might have some knowledge on this stuff...somewhere. The reason we don't see this particular device on the internets, is probably because it was a military issue one... and those tended to be destroyed at the end of their lifecycle more than kept.
Here is another placard of a commercial Dictaphone:
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.
- Snarl 12/8
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- Darlington Pair
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I'm willing to bet that this is an early Dictabelt recorder, if you pull out those cylinders there will most likely be a belt with grooves cut into it.
I have two of these... http://www.cuttingarchives.com/vintage- ... s/16478806
I have two of these... http://www.cuttingarchives.com/vintage- ... s/16478806
- Gregg Juke
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Could be. And that's what I meant-- there is something going on in there, and yes, it has the "Dictaphone" nameplate on the side, but it's not just a simple Dictaphone, whicvh even back in the early part of the last century were relatively "table-top" in size...
Speaking of which, what's the deal on this one, DP:
http://www.cuttingarchives.com/vintage- ... s/16478809
It looks like you modified that to take RCA ins somehow (???)...
GJ
Speaking of which, what's the deal on this one, DP:
http://www.cuttingarchives.com/vintage- ... s/16478809
It looks like you modified that to take RCA ins somehow (???)...
GJ
Gregg Juke
Nocturnal Productions Music Group
Drum! Magazine Contributor
http://MightyNoStars.com
"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "
Nocturnal Productions Music Group
Drum! Magazine Contributor
http://MightyNoStars.com
"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "
- Gregg Juke
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Oh, duh-- that is, I made the assumption that that is your website, but it might not be. So if you do know what's up with that particular Edison model, give me some insight!
GJ
GJ
Gregg Juke
Nocturnal Productions Music Group
Drum! Magazine Contributor
http://MightyNoStars.com
"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "
Nocturnal Productions Music Group
Drum! Magazine Contributor
http://MightyNoStars.com
"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "
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