atkelar | Restoration Project #25: Wire Recorder, Part 1 @atkelar | Uploaded May 2021 | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.
Most people nowadays think of reel to reel tape recorders as the "oldest" or "original" form of magnetic audio recording. But before the tape technology, there was "wire recording". It is the same basic concept, but uses a thin steel wire as a medium. Because it is so thin, it can only hold so much magnetism. To get usable audio frequencies out of it, the recording speed had to be rather high and the wires would snap... there are officially suggested "knots" on how to splice the wire in such a case.
Devices are still around on e-bay, so I wouldn't consider those to be "collectors items". Since I wanted a usable and decent looking unit, I decided to refurbish it on the outside and replace all the old capacitors on the inside for starters. This turned into quite a project, so here is part one, the case, and as soon as I have the electronics/mechanics finished, I'll follow up with part two.
0:00 Intro, & Presentation
1:33 Disassembly
2:55 Cover, Storage Compartment / The "Nightmare" Nails
4:20 Removing Old Vinyl
6:15 Cleanup / Wood repair /
6:55 First Vinyl / Corners
7:45 Flat Parts
9:15 Trimming Seam
10:08 Panel Replacement
10:29 Inside Lining
11:28 Fittings vs. Wire Wheel / Fitting Paint / Panel Paint / Microphone Paint
12:52 Fitting
14:19 Summary / Credits / Outtake
Music:
My Train's A Comin'
Unicorn Heads
(YouTube Audio Library)
Tip jar: ko-fi.com/atkelar
Most people nowadays think of reel to reel tape recorders as the "oldest" or "original" form of magnetic audio recording. But before the tape technology, there was "wire recording". It is the same basic concept, but uses a thin steel wire as a medium. Because it is so thin, it can only hold so much magnetism. To get usable audio frequencies out of it, the recording speed had to be rather high and the wires would snap... there are officially suggested "knots" on how to splice the wire in such a case.
Devices are still around on e-bay, so I wouldn't consider those to be "collectors items". Since I wanted a usable and decent looking unit, I decided to refurbish it on the outside and replace all the old capacitors on the inside for starters. This turned into quite a project, so here is part one, the case, and as soon as I have the electronics/mechanics finished, I'll follow up with part two.
0:00 Intro, & Presentation
1:33 Disassembly
2:55 Cover, Storage Compartment / The "Nightmare" Nails
4:20 Removing Old Vinyl
6:15 Cleanup / Wood repair /
6:55 First Vinyl / Corners
7:45 Flat Parts
9:15 Trimming Seam
10:08 Panel Replacement
10:29 Inside Lining
11:28 Fittings vs. Wire Wheel / Fitting Paint / Panel Paint / Microphone Paint
12:52 Fitting
14:19 Summary / Credits / Outtake
Music:
My Train's A Comin'
Unicorn Heads
(YouTube Audio Library)
Tip jar: ko-fi.com/atkelar
