Comments on: Magnecord Tape Machines used for early stereo experimentation

By: Houston Brown

Houston Brown — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 20:44:36 +0000

I worked for Bert Whyte at a HiFi store in Manhasset, Long Island N.Y in 1957-1958. The store name was “House of HiFi” on Plandome road. He was proud of his Jaguar XK 150, I think that was the model. I met his wife Ruth and Dave and Ester Holister, who I think were partners of the store. I have a tape recording of a party Bert had with various guests talking and Bert doing impersonations. I was a student at Manhasset High at the time.

By: Mark Renwick

Mark Renwick — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 16:56:33 +0000

I’m dealing with some transfers of early-1950s staggered stereo tapes, from Cook Laboratories. Was there an industry standard for distance between the left and right channel heads? It looks like Cook used 1.125 (1 1/8) inches on the tapes I have inspected so far.

By: In The Studio: How The Sync Head (And The Overdub) Changed Recording Forever | Audio Technics

Sat, 17 Oct 2015 00:23:28 +0000

[…] Humorous but completely unrelated tape machine image courtesy of preservationsound.com […]

By: Roar Schaad

Roar Schaad — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 05:43:03 +0000

I had the pleasure of meeting Bert Whyte and C. Robert Fine in 1978 at the AES convention in NYC. I took a picture of them seated in the Waldorf lobby. If interested I will share it.

By: chris

chris — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:40:06 +0000

In reply to cherie.

There is no real market for these machines; the ‘value’ is whatever you can get for it in the timeframe/hassle-level that you are willing to endure. $150 – $400 seems reasonable IMO, but then again I paid $25 for mine. Good luck.

By: cherie

cherie — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:22:01 +0000

Hello
In search of assistance. I have a MAGNECORD DMT REEL TO REEL, 2 channel with remote control station (Liberty/UA Tape Duplicating INC.) I am interested in selling. I have done a bit of research and I beleive the 1024 is the twin. Any comments would be very much appreciated and info on approx. value. There is one on Ebay 4,000.00 then one for $159.00. Need help in understanding. Thanks.

By: Analogue Fan

Analogue Fan — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 10:13:31 +0000

That’s interesting. This means they could synchronise two machines so that they could record two channels simultaneously? And they could get the true stereo on playback without problems with tape speed, the phase etc.?

Great picture, great site! I’m a fan of analogue recording, too. I live in Russia, and already have got fully working, recently serviced stereo recorder STM 310, the next step is two Magnecord mike preamps, and the last step would be a pair of good 1″ mikes.

By: Tom Fine

Tom Fine — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:13:27 +0000

Chris Tarantino — yes, two first-generation tapes were made simultaneously (a practice continued in the stereo era), a set of “A” reels and “B” reels. The “A” reels were edited into master tapes from which LPs were cut. The “B” reels were saved as safeties. All Mercury Living Presence LPs were cut from first-generation masters, which was rare but not unheard of in those days. It became rarer in the stereo era because most companies would mix their multi-track first-generation tapes to a 2-channel “cutting master” and then cut LPs from that. Mercury edited 3-track “A” reels to master tapes, then a “live” 3-2 mix was done with the LPs (and later, CDs) were mastered. — Tom Fine

By: Chris Tarantino

Chris Tarantino — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:21:38 +0000

Since there were two mono machines running, was one mono master used to make the edited final version used to and the other used as a safety?
This is a great photo – would love to see other similar photos from the era if possible!

By: peter dobkin hall

peter dobkin hall — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 10:51:39 +0000

the on the photo is “Zounds! What Sounds!”

Great stuff on this page!!