GrumpyTim | Retro Tech - 1964 IBM 214 Portable Dictation Machine - Restoration & Demo @GrumpyTim | Uploaded 4 years ago | Updated 1 hour ago
In this retro tech / vintage tech video we'll take a look at a 1964 IBM Model 214 portable dictation machine, also known as an "IBM 214 Executary". The 214 uses a 4 inch wide magnetic belt (or magnabelt) as it's recording medium.

When this IBM 214 first arrived, it didn't work, the rubber drive belt from the motor had stretched and was slipping, and all you got when you turned it on was white noise.

In the video you'll see my progress as I try to fix the faults using my "solution by substitution" method, which on this occasion turned out to be a slightly long winded approach, but we got there in the end with a bit of help from another YouTuber - CuriousMarc - you can view his channel at:
youtube.com/user/mverdiell

Skip to 7:58 to see how I made a replacement drive belt.
Skip to 15:00 for the demonstration of the finished machine.


Intro music:
"As Yet Untitled"
by GrumpyTim (available to download from GrumpyTim's Bandcamp page)
grumpytim.bandcamp.com

Additional music:
"Acoustic Typewriter"
by GrumpyTim (available to download from GrumpyTim's Bandcamp page)
grumpytim.bandcamp.com

Website:
http://www.grumpytim.com