I worked for Dictaphone for 22 years. When I started with the company in 1983 our service department was occasionally still repairing these Dicta-belt machines.
I worked as a secretary for many years starting in 1954. Typed hundreds of letters on a manual typewriter using one of these dictabelt machines. Letters were dictated by my boss on the dictabelt machine and transcribed by me using a type of stethosocope to listen to the recording. The recording was advanced by a foot pedal which could be backed up to relisten. Before the dictabelts, we used the wax cylinders on an Edison machine. After the typing was finished the wax cylinders were shaved and reused. The belts could be reused too.
Had a vacuum tube model of this when I was a kid that I found at a yard sale for a couple of dollars. It even worked well! I wish I still had that monster today!
Many thanks for this fascinating insight into this form of dictating machine. To my knowledge belt type Dictaphones were never sold here in Australia. ..... Technical question: Is the groove modulation method used for Dictabelts lateral (like a conventional mono disc record), or vertical (like an Edison cylinder record)? Although I'd never actually seen one, I previously assumed that the system would have cut vertical (hill and dale) grooves. This however would not allow the use of those conventional ceramic mini-cartridges for playback. (Such cartridges were branded 'PowerPoints' in Australia). If however modulation was vertical, which would allow closer grooving for longer playing time, it would mean its play head was not just a conventional stock item with trimmed stylus gaurd, but one specially designed for Dictabelt use. Alternatively, it could be the stereo version of these cartridges with the two elements in series (negative to positive), the joined ends ignored and signal taken from across the two remaining contacts. Such a wiring configuration would result in a vertically responsive play head. Also, if these belts utilise vertically modulated grooves, it would explain why your attempt to replace the original cartridge with a stock item provided a disappointing result.
i ACTUALLY HAVE A BOX OF 100 BLUE DICTABELTS THAT i GOT AT A GARAGE SALE ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO!. i NEVER FOUND THE M/C TO RUN THEM ON, BUT IF i CAN FIND THEM AMONGST MY COLLECTIONS, YOU CAN HAVE THEM IF YOU WANT THEM DATABITS.
Wow. I've never seen one of these machines. Very cool and the sound quality is pretty clear. I see you used the microcassette recorder to make the recording but I wonder if you did it directly if it would sound even clearer since you're not going through the microcassette recorder. I hope you are able to fix this machine. I'd love to hear music on this.
Anyone know an individual or company that can access information on an old Dictaphone Dictabelt? I know someone who has one and is looking to get it transcribed.
I'm surprised these stayed in production all the way up to 1980. The belt format seems like a waste of space compared to either disk or tape, a little like the old Edison cylinders. Force of habit and an installed base must have kept them in use and production.
Awesome video, your uploads are always entertaining and educational. I have a Visible 800 without the microphone, do you possibly have a spare mike or a schematic so I can adapt a microphone from my goodie box to work with the 800?
Yep, I have a Dictaphone Visible 800 on my saved list. My latest toy that is due some time next week: GRAY AUDOGRAPH!!! I already have a couple Keynoters, Time Masters AND a somewhat functional Travel Master. Check out my video clips for some of my other toys. I do JFK assassination studies and the Audograph will complete my acoustics equipment. Keep up the great work! Your channel is awesome.
I worked for Dictaphone for 22 years. When I started with the company in 1983 our service department was occasionally still repairing these Dicta-belt machines.
I worked as a secretary for many years starting in 1954. Typed hundreds of letters on a manual typewriter using one of these dictabelt machines. Letters were dictated by my boss on the dictabelt machine and transcribed by me using a type of stethosocope to listen to the recording. The recording was advanced by a foot pedal which could be backed up to relisten. Before the dictabelts, we used the wax cylinders on an Edison machine. After the typing was finished the wax cylinders were shaved and reused. The belts could be reused too.
How did you reuse the belts?
At some point I will be uploading a video of the Dictaphone Travel Master portable dictabelt machine from 1962 or 1963.
You are amazing with amazing equipment!
Had a vacuum tube model of this when I was a kid that I found at a yard sale for a couple of dollars. It even worked well! I wish I still had that monster today!
Very cool piece of kit!! I love all your videos man, especially the unique and obscure stuff like this. Keep up the phenomenal work bro! :)
I love all of my viewers too! Thanks for watching!
My brother had something similar to what you demonstrated. It worked pretty well. from what I can remember.. Thank you for sharing .
What an odd shape for a record! Nice video, thanks for making it.
Thanks for watching Mr. Robot
I remember one of these!! Played with the blue "belt" not knowing what the hell it was.
For the bad playback audio, you may have a transister or voltage regulator bad?
Many thanks for this fascinating insight into this form of dictating machine. To my knowledge belt type Dictaphones were never sold here in Australia. ..... Technical question: Is the groove modulation method used for Dictabelts lateral (like a conventional mono disc record), or vertical (like an Edison cylinder record)? Although I'd never actually seen one, I previously assumed that the system would have cut vertical (hill and dale) grooves. This however would not allow the use of those conventional ceramic mini-cartridges for playback. (Such cartridges were branded 'PowerPoints' in Australia). If however modulation was vertical, which would allow closer grooving for longer playing time, it would mean its play head was not just a conventional stock item with trimmed stylus gaurd, but one specially designed for Dictabelt use. Alternatively, it could be the stereo version of these cartridges with the two elements in series (negative to positive), the joined ends ignored and signal taken from across the two remaining contacts. Such a wiring configuration would result in a vertically responsive play head. Also, if these belts utilise vertically modulated grooves, it would explain why your attempt to replace the original cartridge with a stock item provided a disappointing result.
i ACTUALLY HAVE A BOX OF 100 BLUE DICTABELTS THAT i GOT AT A GARAGE SALE ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO!. i NEVER FOUND THE M/C TO RUN THEM ON, BUT IF i CAN FIND THEM AMONGST MY COLLECTIONS, YOU CAN HAVE THEM IF YOU WANT THEM DATABITS.
Awesome!! Send them my way!! I had to buy mine from eBay. Ugh!
+databits It would be cool to own one actually
+databits OK ill look for them and let you know
I found some old dictabelts from the late 1950's that my parents had. Where could I find a way to play them?
You can send them to me and I can transfer them for you...or you can buy a machine on ebay (sometimes).
Thanks for another great vid.
Thanks for being a great watcher!
Wow. I've never seen one of these machines. Very cool and the sound quality is pretty clear. I see you used the microcassette recorder to make the recording but I wonder if you did it directly if it would sound even clearer since you're not going through the microcassette recorder. I hope you are able to fix this machine. I'd love to hear music on this.
Your voice sounds so Fabulous 50's on this thing. Definitely, it will be cool, if you use this sometimes for your future videos.
That's because the recording quality back then was more half-assed compared to the recording quality from c. 1977 onward.
I can't imagine many of those belts surviving blank.
the beeping tone is the step motor
Anyone know an individual or company that can access information on an old Dictaphone Dictabelt? I know someone who has one and is looking to get it transcribed.
Hi Mark. I can convert the audio to digital. Email me under my channel page under ABOUT.
so the dictabelt is like the tefifon?
Yes very similar technology.
databits ok, thanks
I'm surprised these stayed in production all the way up to 1980. The belt format seems like a waste of space compared to either disk or tape, a little like the old Edison cylinders. Force of habit and an installed base must have kept them in use and production.
How can we get ahold of you to do some dictabelt transfers?
This is such a cool device. I'd love to record live punk shows with this. How much can you record on a belt?
15 minutes.
I have this exact machine, this is the only information I can find about it. Do these have any value at all? Are they worth fixing?
Wow awesome this is better than a record player, are you going to replace the solenoid that controls the cutting stylus and maybe solve the problem.
I don't think so. I'm ready to move on to the next project!
Can you flip the belt inside out and record on the other side?
i don't know were you get this stuff, but its interesting as hell.
Can a dictabelt be spliced?
kinda reminds me of a teffiphone or however you spell it
Tefifon :-)
+l4min3 thank you
Awesome video, your uploads are always entertaining and educational. I have a Visible 800 without the microphone, do you possibly have a spare mike or a schematic so I can adapt a microphone from my goodie box to work with the 800?
CJ, thanks for the comment! I don't have a spare Mic or schematic. Ebay is usually my first stop for such items.
Yep, I have a Dictaphone Visible 800 on my saved list. My latest toy that is due some time next week: GRAY AUDOGRAPH!!! I already have a couple Keynoters, Time Masters AND a somewhat functional Travel Master. Check out my video clips for some of my other toys.
I do JFK assassination studies and the Audograph will complete my acoustics equipment.
Keep up the great work! Your channel is awesome.
a very very strange one here
hey databits. this is really cool. never seen anything like it. Is there still NZoS dictabelts available? sounds really good quality
Yes I found some NOS blanks on eBay
Hey Matt, thought of you when I seen this device and there you are! :)
+Vintage Electronics Geek I've never seen anything like this before. really cool!
- Googles "Dictablet"
- Immediately gets bombarded with JFK conspiracy theories
Yes, I had the very same problem. I almost mentioned that in my video but was like, nah.
Reincarnation ideas Edison - phonograph 2.0 :)