[bg]

These photos were posted in a different news group, and the poster wanted to
know what this machine is. He said it was a 50 year old prototype.
I recognize this thing as an audio tape duplicatior, but I can't remember
any of the brand names. Magnafax, Magnatek, Lyrec, Versadyne??? something
like that? I've searched google hoping to find some old pictures but no
luck. Does anyone have pictures or know of pics on the web of a duplicator
where the slaves are stacked on a common capstan like this?
thx
bg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC1.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC2.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC3.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC4.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC5.jpg

[Richard Crowley]

"bg" wrote ...
These photos were posted in a different news group, and the poster wanted
to
know what this machine is. He said it was a 50 year old prototype.
I recognize this thing as an audio tape duplicatior, but I can't remember
any of the brand names. Magnafax, Magnatek, Lyrec, Versadyne??? something
like that? I've searched google hoping to find some old pictures but no
luck. Does anyone have pictures or know of pics on the web of a duplicator
where the slaves are stacked on a common capstan like this?
thx
bg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC1.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC2.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC3.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC4.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC5.jpg

What is that gauge of the tape? Almost looks like 1/2 inch.

[bg]

Richard Crowley wrote in message
.. .
"bg" wrote ...
These photos were posted in a different news group, and the poster wanted
to
know what this machine is. He said it was a 50 year old prototype.
I recognize this thing as an audio tape duplicatior, but I can't remember
any of the brand names. Magnafax, Magnatek, Lyrec, Versadyne??? something
like that? I've searched google hoping to find some old pictures but no
luck. Does anyone have pictures or know of pics on the web of a
duplicator
where the slaves are stacked on a common capstan like this?
thx
bg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC1.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC2.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC3.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC4.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC5.jpg

What is that gauge of the tape? Almost looks like 1/2 inch.

It looks more like 1/4 inch to me but there really isn't anything in the
photos to compare to. The only duplication equipment that I know of that
uses 1/2 inch tape would be a master, and a master most certainly wouldn't
be duplicated in this fashion.
bg

[Richard Kuschel]

On Oct 13, 10:28 am, "bg" wrote:
These photos were posted in a different news group, and the poster wanted to
know what this machine is. He said it was a 50 year old prototype.
I recognize this thing as an audio tape duplicatior, but I can't remember
any of the brand names. Magnafax, Magnatek, Lyrec, Versadyne??? something
like that? I've searched google hoping to find some old pictures but no
luck. Does anyone have pictures or know of pics on the web of a duplicator
where the slaves are stacked on a common capstan like this?
thx
bghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC1.jpghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC2.jpghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC3.jpghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC4.jpghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC5.jpg

Obviously 1/4" tape. even if those reels were 14" the tape would not
be wide enough to be 1/2 "

Don't have a clue who made it. is it possible that it is some form of
early computer equipment rather than a duplication device?

[bg]

Richard Kuschel wrote in message
...
On Oct 13, 10:28 am, "bg" wrote:
These photos were posted in a different news group, and the poster wanted
to
know what this machine is. He said it was a 50 year old prototype.
I recognize this thing as an audio tape duplicatior, but I can't remember
any of the brand names. Magnafax, Magnatek, Lyrec, Versadyne??? something
like that? I've searched google hoping to find some old pictures but no
luck. Does anyone have pictures or know of pics on the web of a
duplicator
where the slaves are stacked on a common capstan like this?
thx

bghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC1.jpghttp://www.wrightshar
dware.co.uk/other/images/MC2.jpghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/image
s/MC3.jpghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC4.jpghttp://www.wri
ghtshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC5.jpg

Obviously 1/4" tape. even if those reels were 14" the tape would not
be wide enough to be 1/2 "

Don't have a clue who made it. is it possible that it is some form of
early computer equipment rather than a duplication device?

I've worked on duplicators like this. I just can't remember who made them.
The photos show bulk tape with one flange on the bottom. That is a clue that
the tape would be processed on some kind of loader machine later. Later
duplicators did away with both flanges and used a packer arm, but if this is
fifty years old, it probably predates the packer arm. There is no sign of
record or playback electronics which is also typical of a duplicator. There
seems to be two pushbuttons and a toggle switch which would indicate that
the machine has only a run mode and a stop mode, also typical of a
duplicator. There is a lever that looks like it is used to manually engage
the pinch rollers, which I've seen on other duplicators. All the clues point
to a duplicator. I'd like to find further proof for this guy with some
pictures and hopefully a brand name.
bg

[videochas www.locoworks.com]

On Oct 14, 12:18�pm, "bg" wrote:
Richard Kuschel wrote in message

...On Oct 13, 10:28 am, "bg" wrote:
These photos were posted in a different news group, and the poster wanted
to
know what this machine is. He said it was a 50 year old prototype.
I recognize this thing as an audio tape duplicatior, but I can't remember
any of the brand names. Magnafax, Magnatek, Lyrec, Versadyne??? something
like that? I've searched google hoping to find some old pictures but no
luck. Does anyone have pictures or know of pics on the web of a
duplicator
where the slaves are stacked on a common capstan like this?
thx

bghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC1.jpghttp://www.wrigh....
dware.co.uk/other/images/MC2.jpghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/image
s/MC3.jpghttp://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC4.jpghttp://www.wri
ghtshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC5.jpg



Obviously 1/4" tape. �even if those reels were 14" the tape would not
be wide enough to be 1/2 "

Don't have a clue who made it. is it possible that it is some form of
early computer equipment rather than a duplication device?

I've worked on duplicators like this. I just can't remember who made them..
The photos show bulk tape with one flange on the bottom. That is a clue that
the tape would be processed on some kind of loader machine later. Later
duplicators did away with both flanges and used a packer arm, but if this is
fifty years old, it probably predates the packer arm. There is no sign of
record or playback electronics which is also typical of a duplicator. There
seems to be two pushbuttons and a toggle switch which would indicate that
the machine has only a run mode and a stop mode, also typical of a
duplicator. There is a lever that looks like it is used to manually engage
the pinch rollers, which I've seen on other duplicators. All the clues point
to a duplicator. I'd like to find further proof for this guy with some
pictures and hopefully a brand name.
bg

It reminds me of a sound effects device I saw in a film post
production house in Alameda, Ca. It played metal cartridges with
loops of 1/4 inch tape with atmospheric things like birdsong, wind,
waves, etc. You were meant to stack up the cartridges, which were
activated by one long capstan. Very impressive.

[Richard Crowley]

videochas wrote ...
It reminds me of a sound effects device I saw in a film post
production house in Alameda, Ca. It played metal cartridges with
loops of 1/4 inch tape with atmospheric things like birdsong, wind,
waves, etc. You were meant to stack up the cartridges, which were
activated by one long capstan. Very impressive.

Sounds like the old Mackenzie system...
Wide shot:
http://www.j-shea.com/TVCity/photo6.jpg
Transport racks:
http://www.j-shea.com/TVCity/photo22.jpg
Remote controls:
http://www.j-shea.com/TVCity/photo20.jpg

Part of a great historical page about CBS Television City
Studio 33 (The Price is Right, et.al.)
http://www.j-shea.com/TVCity/Photos.html

Some good shots of the audio booth as well as the
video operation.

[Scott Dorsey]

In article , bg wrote:
These photos were posted in a different news group, and the poster wanted to
know what this machine is. He said it was a 50 year old prototype.
I recognize this thing as an audio tape duplicatior, but I can't remember
any of the brand names. Magnafax, Magnatek, Lyrec, Versadyne??? something
like that? I've searched google hoping to find some old pictures but no
luck. Does anyone have pictures or know of pics on the web of a duplicator
where the slaves are stacked on a common capstan like this?
thx
bg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC1.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC2.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC3.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC4.jpg
http://www.wrightshardware.co.uk/other/images/MC5.jpg

I have not seen this particular machine, but Telex and Presto both
made common-shaft duplicator machines. They sounded really really awful.
I saw them in use for things like libraries and language laboratories;
the broadcast folks wouldn't touch them.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."