My thoughts with the guesses. Rim-drive DC bias R2R recorder. Rim-drive and DC bias are like two lovers. I like the styling of this device, especially with the vent and area around the knob. Guess on lettering: 741TC. So much plastic!! Oh! That rim-drive. I love how everything's so perfectly straight in there with the rollers. I love how there is no provision for head alignment! Very nice presentation on this classic rim-drive unit. I look at the comment below. My guess was dead wrong. The microphone sounds crystal. I think the "esses" would be less extreme with a dynamic.
Wow, that is a cleverly simple but effective design. As for the name, a lot of other people in the comments seem to have pretty good guesses. I hope to find (or find someone on TH-cam with) a flat, square portable AM radio + record player that I had back in the late 1980s that was of similar vintage to that. It was white with a black metal cover that was held onto the top with a single large round thumbscrew in the center. I believe it ran off of 2 D cells. It used a vertical rubber roller to drive the record.
PS- looking at it from the outside you'd never think it was a rim drive- it looked like a capstan drive to me because the motor shaft isn't sticking out from under like they usually are.
I agree! I've been fooled a few times while looking at recorders on E-Bay. Some of the rim drive machines look like capstan drive units. For example the two Grundig battery machines. The "Cub" is capstan drive, but the "Niki" - which looks like an update - is rim drive. GE has a little recorder that looks like it is rim drive, but in fact - it's capstan driven - yet its "sibling" is rim drive but looks very similar. The sellers on E-Bay charge too much anyway!
Yes, I agree with you about certain sellers on eBay, but I've also had my share of very reasonable ones also.(for example, a nice guy with the handle 'dedempsey'. I've gotten a few things from him.) Nice video, really appreciate it!
Well, this video's a few years old, but since it popped up again, I'll make a guess. By its' styling, lettering and mostly plastic transport it's an AITC from about 1970. it might still be made in Japan, but by then, the cheapest stuff was already coming from Hong Kong. By the early '70s, I'd still see stuff like this, gathering dust behind the counter of drug or dime-stores, often convenience-store priced at $29.95 or more. BY 1970, one could find a cheap rim drive on sale in the Lafayette catalog for as low as $15.95. I remeber because I tried unsucessfully to save up my 50 cents allowance for that very recorder. Finally, after seeing one in a shopping mall display window for 19.95, and pestering my folks, I got my first tape recorder on Christmas 1969 - a somewhat better quality rim-drive Aiwa TP-32a, with a mostly-metal transport deck - made in Japan!
It turns out to be AITC brand, an obscure brand to be sure. I think it was very low end, possibly for giveaway companies (they would put a company's sticker on it) as a door prize, or perhaps it was sold in very inexpensive stores - like Wooolworths.
AITC - a small importer in the mid 60s. You'll also find radios from them. Mostly low-end Hong Kong stuff but I would guess the recorder to be Japanese.
Many of the cheap recorders lack an azimuth adjustment because -- well, what would be the point? These machines are notoriously incompatible with each other, so people usually did not trade tapes unless they both had the same brand and model. As long as the azimuth is approximately 90 degrees, a tape recorded on the machine will play back just fine -- or as fine as their little amplifiers allowed.
Looks like AITC to me. You're right about the graphic designers going overboard, it's as hard to read as one of those concert posters from the 60's! Thanks for another very interesting video.
Thanks for your comment and for your information. It turns out that you are right, as several other commenters have pointed out. AITC it is. Never heard of them myself. It is amazing what some designers will do to make things unreadable. The latest craze is using gray type on a bright white background in web pages. Drives me batty!
Another unknown by many brand (I never heard of or seen it)- just like record companies in the past (so many small ones that aren't around anymore.) Without looking it up I would've guessed Asian Intelligence Technical Corp or Company. Thanks again!
Yep, sure enough it's AITC. Do a google search for AITC Radio and you'll see a bunch of 'em. Looks like they're made in Hong Kong. They don't say what the "A" stands for but ITC = International Transistor Corporation according to the boxes and manuals for the radios. Neat! Never heard of 'em before. Thanx again for the vid!
Thanks for watching the video and for your information. I should have looked in Google before making the video -- but then, how could I have gotten all my viewers to do it for me? Hee Hee...
Yeah, I thought the same! Some folks discovered that it says AITC -- an importer in the mid '60s. Thanks for watching my video and sharing your thoughts. Cheers.
Interesting little recorder. I was thinking it's design reminded me also of the mayfair. The rim drive for the reel tables is unique in that the motor shaft drives an idler wheel that drives the rewind table usually its a more direct rim drive. I also kind of figured early on that that red mark on the volume control was probably the optimum record level for your microphone which is also a cool looking little accessory. Makes the machine look more important than it is. Lol. As far as the name goes....... it's anybody's guess, but I was thinking it was 741TC. Although it wouldn't share the same lineage with the TC standing for Sony's tapecorder. But non the less a cool little machine.
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment. RAY ROONEY solved the mystery - the brand is AITC - a low cost importer of radios and tape recorders in the mid 1960's. I think they set up the idler arrangement so they would not have to change the direction of the motor to get rewind. I have a HOMEY recorder that does the same thing. It IS a cute little thing, isn't it!
Easiest answer: It means "No tubes" or in the UK, "No Valves". It always referred to the use of transistors in the circuit in place of tubes. There are other, more complex explanations that I don't fully understand. Once tube circuits ceased to be manufactured, the term solid state became obsolete in this usage because the competition was gone. However, now that TUBE driven amplifiers are becoming a "thing", (like vinyl recordings), we may see the term reappear as a differentiator! Remember when "IC" was the big term -- "... this radio uses ICs!" It too was a selling point indicating that parts of the circuit used Integrated Circuits.
Great video as always thank you for the help with my tascam 32 tape deck I found a sight to get the manuals it is www.hifiengine.com I hope it can help you if you need manuals or other people may need manuals all the best always
.Always glad to hear from you
Thanks! And thanks for watching the video!
very nice and cute tape recorder great video and job getting it running all the best to you and feel good and be well
Thanks for watching the video and for your kind comment!
My thoughts with the guesses. Rim-drive DC bias R2R recorder. Rim-drive and DC bias are like two lovers. I like the styling of this device, especially with the vent and area around the knob.
Guess on lettering: 741TC.
So much plastic!! Oh! That rim-drive. I love how everything's so perfectly straight in there with the rollers. I love how there is no provision for head alignment!
Very nice presentation on this classic rim-drive unit.
I look at the comment below. My guess was dead wrong.
The microphone sounds crystal. I think the "esses" would be less extreme with a dynamic.
Thanks for watching the video!
Wow, that is a cleverly simple but effective design. As for the name, a lot of other people in the comments seem to have pretty good guesses. I hope to find (or find someone on TH-cam with) a flat, square portable AM radio + record player that I had back in the late 1980s that was of similar vintage to that. It was white with a black metal cover that was held onto the top with a single large round thumbscrew in the center. I believe it ran off of 2 D cells. It used a vertical rubber roller to drive the record.
Thanks fore watching the video and leaving your comment.
Thanks a lot for a new video, it has been quite some time.
And thank YOU for watching and commenting!
Jolly Good Show
How are you doing? Hope to see something from you soon. Thanks for watching the video!
PS- looking at it from the outside you'd never think it was a rim drive- it looked like a capstan drive to me because the motor shaft isn't sticking out from under like they usually are.
I agree! I've been fooled a few times while looking at recorders on E-Bay. Some of the rim drive machines look like capstan drive units. For example the two Grundig battery machines. The "Cub" is capstan drive, but the "Niki" - which looks like an update - is rim drive. GE has a little recorder that looks like it is rim drive, but in fact - it's capstan driven - yet its "sibling" is rim drive but looks very similar. The sellers on E-Bay charge too much anyway!
Yes, I agree with you about certain sellers on eBay, but I've also had my share of very reasonable ones also.(for example, a nice guy with the handle 'dedempsey'. I've gotten a few things from him.) Nice video, really appreciate it!
3:09 - '741TC' or '74 ITC'
AITC from Taiwan,,, another cool little tape machine Tim. Good to see you on here again pal.
Thanks Carl, for the info and for watching the video. Mystery SOLVED!
Well, this video's a few years old, but since it popped up again, I'll make a guess. By its' styling, lettering and mostly plastic transport it's an AITC from about 1970. it might still be made in Japan, but by then, the cheapest stuff was already coming from Hong Kong. By the early '70s, I'd still see stuff like this, gathering dust behind the counter of drug or dime-stores, often convenience-store priced at $29.95 or more. BY 1970, one could find a cheap rim drive on sale in the Lafayette catalog for as low as $15.95. I remeber because I tried unsucessfully to save up my 50 cents allowance for that very recorder. Finally, after seeing one in a shopping mall display window for 19.95, and pestering my folks, I got my first tape recorder on Christmas 1969 - a somewhat better quality rim-drive Aiwa TP-32a, with a mostly-metal transport deck - made in Japan!
I can't find any information on the web, rim drive little recorder, very basic, so probably some low end product imported, but who knows?
It turns out to be AITC brand, an obscure brand to be sure. I think it was very low end, possibly for giveaway companies (they would put a company's sticker on it) as a door prize, or perhaps it was sold in very inexpensive stores - like Wooolworths.
AITC - a small importer in the mid 60s. You'll also find radios from them. Mostly low-end Hong Kong stuff but I would guess the recorder to be Japanese.
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment. Mystery SOLVED!
9:35 - That's the first head I've seen that lacks an azimuth adjustment!
Many of the cheap recorders lack an azimuth adjustment because -- well, what would be the point? These machines are notoriously incompatible with each other, so people usually did not trade tapes unless they both had the same brand and model. As long as the azimuth is approximately 90 degrees, a tape recorded on the machine will play back just fine -- or as fine as their little amplifiers allowed.
741TC perhaps a Sony.
Several folks pointed out that the name is AITC - an importer. So, not SONY. Sorry. But interesting guess! Thanks for watching!
No worries, great video anyway.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Looks like AITC to me. You're right about the graphic designers going overboard, it's as hard to read as one of those concert posters from the 60's! Thanks for another very interesting video.
Thanks for your comment and for your information. It turns out that you are right, as several other commenters have pointed out. AITC it is. Never heard of them myself. It is amazing what some designers will do to make things unreadable. The latest craze is using gray type on a bright white background in web pages. Drives me batty!
I'm going to guess it's name is ... Fred. Honestly it could be anything. the DC bias "S" is very pronounced on this one.
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment. Fred , huh? Hmmm.... Ferd - The Tape Recorder... could catch on...
Another unknown by many brand (I never heard of or seen it)- just like record companies in the past (so many small ones that aren't around anymore.) Without looking it up I would've guessed Asian Intelligence Technical Corp or Company. Thanks again!
First tough AMC, then Taitc
AMC - LOL! Turns out it is AITC. Some commenters have tracked it down, thanks to Google. Thanks for commenting and watching!
Yep, sure enough it's AITC. Do a google search for AITC Radio and you'll see a bunch of 'em. Looks like they're made in Hong Kong. They don't say what the "A" stands for but ITC = International Transistor Corporation according to the boxes and manuals for the radios. Neat! Never heard of 'em before. Thanx again for the vid!
Thanks for watching the video and for your information. I should have looked in Google before making the video -- but then, how could I have gotten all my viewers to do it for me? Hee Hee...
I have *no clue* what that says on the label, clydesight... I can look at that but my mind goes, "What the...?" XD
Yeah, I thought the same! Some folks discovered that it says AITC -- an importer in the mid '60s. Thanks for watching my video and sharing your thoughts. Cheers.
Looks like a stylized letter A. Hope it helps
Turns out it is AITC. Some commenters have tracked it down, thanks to Google. Thanks for commenting and watching!
Interesting little recorder. I was thinking it's design reminded me also of the mayfair. The rim drive for the reel tables is unique in that the motor shaft drives an idler wheel that drives the rewind table usually its a more direct rim drive. I also kind of figured early on that that red mark on the volume control was probably the optimum record level for your microphone which is also a cool looking little accessory. Makes the machine look more important than it is. Lol. As far as the name goes....... it's anybody's guess, but I was thinking it was 741TC. Although it wouldn't share the same lineage with the TC standing for Sony's tapecorder. But non the less a cool little machine.
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment. RAY ROONEY solved the mystery - the brand is AITC - a low cost importer of radios and tape recorders in the mid 1960's. I think they set up the idler arrangement so they would not have to change the direction of the motor to get rewind. I have a HOMEY recorder that does the same thing. It IS a cute little thing, isn't it!
What the meaning of "Solid state" IN electronics?
Easiest answer: It means "No tubes" or in the UK, "No Valves". It always referred to the use of transistors in the circuit in place of tubes. There are other, more complex explanations that I don't fully understand. Once tube circuits ceased to be manufactured, the term solid state became obsolete in this usage because the competition was gone. However, now that TUBE driven amplifiers are becoming a "thing", (like vinyl recordings), we may see the term reappear as a differentiator! Remember when "IC" was the big term -- "... this radio uses ICs!" It too was a selling point indicating that parts of the circuit used Integrated Circuits.
So it's a '74 ITC?
Turns out it is AITC. Some commenters have tracked it down, thanks to Google. Thanks for commenting and watching!
Maybe A1 tc
Oh, I didn't think of that! A-1 Tape Recorder --- could work! Thanks for the insight!
American International Trading Company = AITC.
Thanks!
741 TC
Umm yea, I've been calling it that too, just thought maybe it was letters instead of numbers! Thanks for watching and for your comment!
Great video as always thank you for the help with my tascam 32 tape deck I found a sight to get the manuals it is www.hifiengine.com I hope it can help you if you need manuals or other people may need manuals all the best always