Working with wire recordings was always a finicky business, and old ones can get brittle. A small kink can cause the wire to break – and mending them is not always so easy either. Once they start coming off a spool you can have a real mess on your hands. Been there – did that. Playing them back on a machine you have that is in unknown condition can also be very risky not only for the machine but for the recording. Even if it does work – the playback will be far from optimal. Years ago I worked on a project to convert a more modern machine to playback of wires and the results were very satisfactory – much better then the vintage machines they were originally recorded on.  My suggestion is to give the wires to someone who knows how to handle them – like Adrian or someone else (there are several) who are really specialists and experienced in this area. If you suspect that what is recorded may be valuable any other option is extremely risky.

 

 

it is wise  if the unit has been in storage long to bring the voltage up slowly as there are  power supply filter capacitors that will either be bad or need reforming

Give me a call and I'll try to talk you through it. It's kind of
difficult just talking about it over e-mail. But I have helped people out
with these baby's over the phone.

Adrian Cosentini
212-563-1999 (ext135)
718-506-5893


On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 18:43:19 +0000 Holly Mills <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
> While we're on the subject of antique recording devices, I'd like to
> mention my current situation...
>
> Yesterday a gentleman brought me a recording device that he believes
> belonged to his wife's parents.  He came across it in cleaning out
> the house (to move into smaller quarters).  He couldn't tell me much
> about it except he thinks that his deceased wife's parents
> originally owned it.
>
> Yes, this is one of those wire recorders.  Comes with a small
> collection of wire reels, a few of which are labeled and may have
> recordings on them.  Today a local gentleman helped me with
> reattaching the wires that go to the headphones.  Everything appears
> to be in order, the lights come on when plugged in, and the
> play/playback/rewind switch clearly works.  I just can't figure out
> how to put the wire in/through it.  (Actually, I'm making the
> dangerous assumption that one does put the wire through it.)
>
> There's no brand name or model number that I can find.  But except
> for having to reattach the headphone to its cord, it seems to be in
> mint condition.
>
> Now what?  We're all dying (okay, maybe not quite, but definitely
> anxious) to listen to this stuff.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Holly Mills
> Amherst, VA
>
> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by
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> For the terms of participation, please refer to
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>

Thanks,

Ed Sharpe, Archivist for SMECC

See the Museum's Web Site at  www.smecc.org

We are always looking for items to add to the museum's display and ref. library  - please advise if you have anything we can use.

Coury House / SMECC
5802 W. Palmaire Ave.                          Phone    623-435-1522
Glendale Az 85301  USA




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