Recordio Radio?

[mrflex65]

Saw this on my craigslist in the free section.....
Too big for my car though.....http://raleigh.craigslist.org/zip/3063301497.html

[mrflex65]

Some pics.....

[Electronic M]

Neat! I have the table top(with the optional legs) version of that. Mine uses the same chassis, but a different(single play/record) record mechanism. Mine even came with the original manual and some accessories! Recordio was a trade name used by the Wilcox Gay company for their recording equip. Wilcox eventually became part of the Majestic brand which eventually dropped their production lines in favor of being a importer/distributor of the German Grundig brand (I guess Grundig took over Majestic at some point in the last 45 years).

[holmesuser01]

We had a Recordio table top, too. Before I was born, my dad made recordings on it of a relative playing an Everett Orgatron electronic organ. The recording stylus head eventually burned out, and that was it. We never found one for it, and eventually it was tossed.

I've still got a load of the discs that were made with it today. I copied them to tape years ago for my dad.

[Chip Chester]

I have a couple of portables, but haven't begun the process of evaluation/repair on either. Were the discs acetate-coated aluminum, as used with (real) record lathes, or were they "something else"?

Chip

[holmesuser01]

I dont have my recordio discs out where I can look at them, but I do think they were aluminum with acetate. Some were red, and most of what I have were black. I do know they were easy to damage/bend.

[truetone36]

That's a Wilcox-Gay "Manhattan" from 1946. The cutter records on acetate coated aluminum discs, just like the professional machines of the time.

[mrflex65]

Well, were looking into getting a SUV this time around so i don't have to miss out on stuff like this anymore.......

[Phototone]

These post-war home recorders do use the same "type" of discs for making recordings, as the professional lathes use, however there were cheaper consumer grade discs available that were quite OK for home voice recording. Some were even available with a paper core, instead of aluminum. Now only the highest quality discs in large sizes for professional mastering are made.