VINTAGE HISTORY BY YEAR

We are providing the following information to give some perspective to the development of reel to reel tape recording, their manufacturers and references back to the specific equipment where we have data available.  We will correct and add information as we receive additional information.  Also included is a time line for Martin and Phantom productions.

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PLEASE NOTE: Price listings by items reflect the original "list/retail" price (from best sources available).

We have attempted to be as accurate as possible and always appreciate receiving information that will help us update and maintain this page.  Contact

Year

	Cylinder/Disc	Reel to reel	Reel to reel	Mikes, Mixers,   Headphones	History	Phantom Productions History (Martin & Chris)
1877	Edison Cylinder Phonograph Invented
1891	Phillips Electronics founded
1896
1897
1898	1898 in Denmark, when ValdemarPoulsen developed a device to record sound on a steel wire.
1899
1900 Go to ads
1901
1902
1903
1904	Edison cylinder player
1905
1906	Victor Talking Machine Company
1907
1908 Go to ads	Edison ad
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918		Matsushita Electric Devices Manufacturing Works (Panasonic Technics) established
1919		RCA created
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925		Shure founded
1926
1927		Electro Voice founded
1928		Neumann founded
1929
1930	Dual turntables				‘30s - ‘60s Scully dominated record lathe
1931		The Blattnerphone
1932
1933		Astatic incorporated Tandberg created
1934
1935		Brush Development Corp created ---- The first Tape Recorder was shown off at the Radio Exhibition 1935 in Berlin. The "Magnetophon K 1" was made by AEG
1936		Altec formed
1937	Edison VoiceWriter Universal Professional Disc recorder	The Marconi-Stille		Astatic D-104 Brush BR25 Electro Voice 630, V-2 & V-3
1938	Presto Model "D" Universal Professional Disc recorder	Presto		Bruno Velotron A Electro Voice 630, V-2 & V-3
1939 Go to ads				Shure 55 C
1940	Bruno Model "A" Presto "G,""J" & "Y" disc recorders Rek-O-Kut Speak-O-Phone			American D4-T Electro Voice 630, V-2 Electro Voice 640 Shure 55A,B &C Shure 55 C
1941				Shure 55 C	•  42 minutes on 1st tape (wire recorder used to copy phonographs) • Ampex Electric Company - Made electric motors for airplane radar systems
1942	Knight radio recorders Presto "K" Rek-O-Kut recording units & motors Wilcox-Gay Recordio "Pro" Disc recorder			Electro Voice 630, 640, V-1, V-2 Shure 55A &C Shure 55 C Shure 556B
1943				Shure 55 C Shure 556B
1944 Go to ads		AMPEX founded		Shure 55 C Shure 556B	• Tom Dowd - Worked on Manhatten project using wire recorders
1945 Go to ads	Bill Mullin with US Army Signal Corps ships 2 German Magnetophons and 50 reels of tape back to US.  Pic #1  Pic #2  Pic #3  Pic #4 Pic #5	Sennheiser Brush BK-401		Shure 55 C Shure 556B Turner 211 Turner S33D	•  Ampex Military contracts •  Magnetaphon Germans
1946		JBL created Sony established		Shure 55 C Shure 556B Turner S33D	• Bill Mullin demo in San Francisco for Crosby •  Webster Chicago Wire recorder 180
1947 Go to ads	Bing Crosby uses Mullin's recorders to record radio show. Thanks to James Reed for clip & pics Ampex Model 200A audio recorder demonstrated at Radio Center, Hollywood, Calif	Brush Sound Mirror  ad Webster Wire 80 $149.50		Shure 51 Shure 556 $49.98	• KVLF Radio Station created in Alpine, Texas
1948	Bing Crosby with early Ampex 200s	HeathKit created Studer/ReVox founded Webster Wire 78 $99.50 Webster Wire 80 $149.50 Model 83 Control Box $29.95		Electro Voice 950 Shure 51 Turner S33D	• Ampex # 1  2 - $4,000 stainless steel machined 14” reel, 30ips,
1949		Bell RecordOFone RT-65 $113 Pentron Astra Sonic  ad $149.50		Electro Voice 611 $19.11 Shure 51  ad $22.50 Shure 737 ad $20.87 Shure 55 ad $36.75 Shure 556 ad  $51.45 Turner S33D ad $15.88 Turner 22X  ad  $11.76
1950 Go to ads	Ampex 300 Concertone 401 $295 Edison Ediphone Magnecord PT63-A Magnecord PT-7 Webster Chicago 180	Bell RecordOFone RT-65 $113 Pentron Astra Sonic  ad $149.50		Shure 51 Turner S33D	• First Ampex 300 -  Sold several thousand - began using molded plastic, $2,000
1951 Go to ads	Ampex 400 Magnecord PT6-A Magnecord PT63-A Magnecord PT-7 Magnecord PT-7CC Magnecord PT6-BN $884 Stereo	Bell RecordOFone RT-65 $113 Pentron Astra Sonic  ad $149.50 Wilcoc-Gay Recordio		Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D	• Ampex 350 - many thousands made
1952 Go to ads	Magnecorder PT6J-AH $330 Magnecorder PT6-J $260 Magnecorder M30,M33 $499.95	Bell RecordOFone RT-65 $113		Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D
1953 Go to ads		Teac Founded see also Ampex 350 Bell RecordOFone RT-65 $113 Magnecorder PT6J-AH $330 Magnecorder PT6-J $260 Magnecorder M30,M33 $499.95		Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D	• Ampex - 4 track instrumentation recorder
1954 Go to ads		AKG Founded Ampex 350  $1,315 Ampex 600 Berlant Concertone 20/20 $445.00 Crown 3M Magnecorder PT6J-AH $330 Magnecorder PT6-J  $260 Magnecorder M30,M33 $499.95		American Microphone D22 Astatic DR-10 Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D	• Ampex 600 - 80,000 25 lbs $540 - specs almost same as 350
1955 Go to ads		Ampex 350  $1,315 Ampex 600 $545 Ampex 620 Berlant Concertone 20/20 Crown 3M Magnecorder PT6J-AH $330 Magnecorder PT6-J $260		Electro Voice 626 Electro Voice 911 Electro Voice 950 Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D	• Ampex - 1/2 sales telemetry to government
1956 Go to ads		Ampex 350 $1,315 Ampex 600 $545 Ampex 601  $545 Ampex 601-2 $995 Ampex 620 Berlant Concertone 20/20 $1,095 Crown 3M Magnecorder PT6J-AH $330 Magnecorder PT6-J $260 Magnecord S-36B		Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D	• Ampex - Consumer division Moved to Chicago
1957 Go to ads		Ampex 350 Ampex 600 Ampex 620 Crown 3M Magnecorder PT6J-AH Magnecorder PT6-J	Wilcox Gay Imperial 686 $269.95/$169.95	Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome $49.98 Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D		Martin became "novice" ham radio operator KN5YCJ
1958 Go to ads		American Concertone 63 $755 Ampex 351 Ampex 601 Ampex 601-2  $995 Ampex 960  $650 '58 info Crown 3M Crown Prince $480 Magnecorder PT6J-AH Magnecorder PT6-J Magnecordette Magnemite 610  $335	EkoTape HeathKit Miles Walkie Recordall $465.75  '58 Norelco "Continental" $279.50 Pentron NL-3 $269.95 Sony 555-A  $595 '58 Webcor Regent  $209.95 Wollensak T-1515  $229.50	Calrad 500C $4.95 Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome $49.98 Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D
1959 Go to ads		Ampex 350 Ampex 601 (tube) Ampex 601-2 $995 Crown 3M	Roberts 192 Sony 555-A  $595 '58	Calrad 500C $4.95 Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D		View Phantom TimeLine
1960 Go to ads		Maxell founded Ampex 350 Ampex 601 Ampex 601-2 $995	Sony 300  $399.95	Calrad 500C $4.95 Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Electro Voice 644 (gray)$110 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome$49.98 Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D	• Scully tape recorders	Martin's first recordings for Alpine, Texas band using the new Sony 300     More info about Phantom in the '60's
1961 Go to ads	Ampex purchases 40 acres in Redwood City, CA for future HQ	Ampex 350 Ampex 601 Ampex 601-2 $995 Roberts Duet 191    $289.50	Sony 300  $399.95 Sony TC-777S-4  $725 Tandberg Model 6 $498	Calrad 500C $4.95 Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Electro Voice 630  $52.50 Electro Voice 636 (Slimair)$42.63 Electro Voice 644 (gray)$110 Electro Voice 647A$48.51 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome $49.98 Electro Voice 665 $88.20 Electro Voice 666 $288 Electro Voice 911 $19.11 Shure 51 Shure 556 Turner S33D		Recordings for Alpine, Texas band using the new Sony 300     More info about Phantom in the '60's
1962 Go to ads		Ampex 350 Ampex 601	Monarch RT-200 Norelco Continental "300" $199.50 Sony 300  $399.95 Sony TC-777S-4  $725 Sony SSA-777 Amplifier & Speaker system Tandberg Model 6 $498	Calrad DM-15  $9.95 Calrad 500C $5.85 Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Electro Voice 630  $52.50 Electro Voice 644 (gray)$110 Electro Voice 647A$48.51 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome$49.98 Electro Voice 665 $88.20 Electro Voice 666 $288 Electro Voice 911 $19.11 Shure 51 Shure 556 Sony Electret Condenser Sony F-81 Sony F-87 Sony F-96 Sony SRA-2 recording amp $97.75 Sony SRA-464 $97.75 Turner S33D		Recordings for Alpine, Texas band using the new Sony 300 • Martin - Cable TV installer (Alpine, Texas) one of first wireless cable television systems in Texas     More info about Phantom in the '60's
1963 Go to ads	Ampex Moves to Redwood City, CA	Ampex 350 Ampex 601 Ampex F-44 Fine Line Ad	Norelco Continental "300"  $199.50 Roberts S903B Speakers $199.95 Sony 300  $399.95 Sony TC-777S-4  $595 Sony MX-777 Mixer Sony SSA-777 Amplifier & Speaker system	Calrad 500C $4.95 Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Electro Voice 630  $52.50 Electro Voice 644 (gray)$110 Electro Voice 647A$48.51 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome$49.98 Electro Voice 665 $88.20 Electro Voice 666 $288 Electro Voice 676  $58.80 Electro Voice 911 $19.11 Shure 51 Shure 556 Sony SRA-2 recording amp $97.75 Sony SRA-464 $97.75 Turner S33D		Recordings for Alpine, Texas band using the new Sony 300.  Martin also began recording with Lloyds and Crowncorder portables. First 7" reel recorder was a Monarch bought from the Western Auto Store in Alpine.         More info about Phantom in the '60's
1964 Go to ads		Ampex MR-70 mastering recorder Ampex F-44  4460 cat	Concertone 801 "Reverse-O-Matic" $397.46 Norelco Continental "300"  $199.50 Roberts 330 $349.50 ad Sony 263-D $117.50 Sony 500A $391 Sony 600 $449.95 Sony TC-777S-4  $595 Sony MX-777 Mixer Sony SSA-777 Amplifier & Speaker system	Calrad 500C $4.95 Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Electro Voice 630  $52.50 Electro Voice 644 (gray)$110 Electro Voice 647A$48.51 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome$49.98 Electro Voice 665 $88.20 Electro Voice 666 $288 Electro Voice 676  $58.80 Electro Voice 911 $19.11 Garrard Lab 80 $99.50, base$6.50 Shure 51 Shure 556 Sony SRA-2 recording amp $97.75 Sony SRA-464 $97.75 Tandberg Microphone Turner S33D	• Scully tape recorders 2 & 4tr	Phantom's Recording history Martin started Highland Sound Company - Alpine • Grainger Hunt & the Believers • Alpine High School Band • Sul Ross State University Band, Choir & recital recordings (including tour albums) Webcor Squire Sony 300 Webcor & Sony Calrad 500C Calrad   More info about Phantom in the '60's
1965 Go to ads		Otari created   AmpexAG440 Ampex 602 $625 Magnecord 1024 $643	Concertone 801 "Reverse-O-Matic" $468.47 Norelco Continental "300"  $199.50 Roberts 400X $799.95 Roberts 770X  $359.95 Roberts 5000X  $699.95 Roberts 6000X $299.50 Sony 260 Sony 500A $391 Sony 600 $449.95 Sony TC-777S-4  $595	Calrad 500C $4.95 Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Electro Voice 630  $52.50 Electro Voice 644 (gray)$110 Electro Voice 647A $48.51 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome$49.98 Electro Voice 665 $88.20 Electro Voice 666 $288 Electro Voice 676  $58.80 Electro Voice 911 $19.11 Garrard Lab 80 $99.50, base$6.50 Shure 51 Shure 556 Sony MX-777 Mixer Sony SSA-777 Amplifier & Speaker system		Highland Sound Company - Alpine • Sul Ross State University Band, Choir & recital recordings (including tour albums) • Used multiple Shure 556 and EV 665 on 20 foot custom made collapsible mike stands • Martin - Produced weekly radio broadcast for the Alpine Ind. School District (1965) from recording studio built into parent's home Ampex 601 & 620 Concertone 801A Sony 260 Sony 262D Sony 600 Electro Voice 665 Electro Voice 911 Shure 556 More info about Phantom in the '60's
1966 Go to ads		Ampex PR-10  $1,045 Ampex 602 $625 Ampex 602-2 $875 Crown SS 700  $895 Magnecord 1024 $643 Magnecord 1028 $1,075 Newcomb TX10 $750 ReVox G-36 $500 Teac A-4010S  $450	Ampex 2000 $499 Concertone 801 "Reverse-O-Matic" $359.50 Concertone 804 "Reverse-O-Matic" $439.95 Crown CTR-5400 Eico RP-100 $450 Knight KG-415 $249 Lafayette Criterion 1000B $189 Norelco Continental 401 $219.50 Rheem 3200 $269.95 Roberts 400X $799.95 Roberts 770X  $359.95 Roberts 770XSS  $349.95 Roberts 5000X  $699.95 Roberts 6000X $299.50 Sony 260  $239.5 Sony 263-D  $129.50 Sony 500A  $391 Sony 600 $449.95 Sony TC-777S-4  $595 Tandberg 8  $449.50 Viking 87 Super Pro with 2 amps 382.35	American D4 $18.60 Calrad 500C $4.95 Electro Voice 623/Ampex H-1390  $57.00 Electro Voice 635  $82 Electro Voice 636  $72.50 Electro Voice 644 (gray)$110 Electro Voice 647A $48.51 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome$49.98 Electro Voice 665 $88.20 Electro Voice 666 $288 Electro Voice 676  $58.80 Electro Voice 911 $19.11 Electro Voice 623 $29.50 Garrard Lab 80 $99.50, base$6.50 Shure 51 Shure 300 $89.50 Shure 556 Sony MX 6S Mixer $27.75 Sony SRA-3  $109.50 Sony SSA-905A Sony MX-777 Mixer  $175 Sony SSA-777 Amplifier & Speaker system  $175		Highland Sound Company - Alpine • Audio for film (1966) edited sound track (sync natural sounds) for Big Thicket film - enabled it to become Nat'l Preserve • Sul Ross State University Band, Choir & recital recordings (including tour albums) Used multiple Shure 556 and EV 665 on 20 foot custom made collapsible mike stands Ampex 601 & 620 Concertone 801A Sony 260 Sony 262D Sony 350 Sony 600   Electro Voice 665 Electro Voice 911 Shure 556
1967 Go to ads		Ampex AG-500  $1,581 Ampex AG 600 Solid State Ampex 600-2 (solid state) $1,010 Ampex AG 602 $625 Ampex AG-445B $2760 Ampex 960 $399 Ampex PR-10 $1,045 Crown SS 700 Teac A-4010S  $450 Teac A-4020	Akai X-300 Altec Lansing Seville $213.30 Concertone 804 "Reverse-O-Matic" $349.95 Norelco Continental "300"  $199.50 Roberts 400X $799.95 Roberts 770X  $359.95 Roberts 770XSS  $349.95 Roberts 5000X  $699.95 Roberts 6000X $299.50 Sony 230 Sony 260 Sony 600 Telmar Martel 5" recorder $89.95	Electro Voice 623  $57.00 Electro Voice 644 (gray)$110 Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome$49.98 Electro Voice 665 $88.20 Electro Voice 666 $288 Electro Voice 676  $58.80 Electro Voice 911 $19.11 Shure 51 Shure 556 Teac AX-10		Highland Sound Company - Alpine • Sul Ross State University Band, Choir & recital recordings (including tour albums) Used multiple Shure 556 and EV 665 on 20 foot custom made collapsible mike stands Ampex 601 & 620 Ampex 800 Sony 260 Sony 262D Sony 350 Sony 600   Electro Voice 665 Electro Voice 911 Shure 556   More info about Phantom in the '60's
1968 Go to ads		Ampex AG500 $1,537 Ampex 600 (solid state) $400 Ampex 600-2 (solid state) $1,010 Ampex 960 $399 Revox A77, Series I Teac TCA-40 Teac 2340 Teac 3340	Altec Lansing Seville Crowncorder CRC6250F Norelco Continental "300"  $199.50 Roberts 192 FT  $349.95 Roberts 400X $799.95 Roberts 770X  $349.95 Roberts 770XSS $399.95 Roberts 1000 Roberts 5000X  $699.95 Telmar Martel 5" recorder $79.95	Electro Voice 664 Gray Chrome$49.98 Electro Voice 665 $88.20