I love to see that you have such respect for these old devices... It is really nice to see a fellow enthusiast refer to them as "magical timecapsules" which they kind of are. Thanks for taking the time to share them with us. You are doing a great job! :)
@databits
7 жыл бұрын
Thank you Fromm
@smvwees
9 жыл бұрын
Never knew the sound quality was that reasonable, especially for speech! Thought it would be an noisy crackly inaudible mess like a worn 78rpm disc.
@CassetteMaster
6 жыл бұрын
Very nice wire recorder demonstration! It is amazing to hear the old recordings.
@databits
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks man, I appreciate it.
@abueloraton
5 жыл бұрын
Excellent sound quality
@frac
6 жыл бұрын
Wire recorders were very common as "black box" flight recorders, and I wouldn't be surprised if many are still in reliable service on older planes. Wire being a little more forgiving during a fire (though hardly indestructible), and reliable for many, many re-recordings.
@tonyperek7292
10 ай бұрын
I love to see those old devices restored.
@LeonMare49
3 жыл бұрын
I bought a Model 228 3 for R5.00 ZAR - Five Rand (about $0.40) when I was a radiotrician apprentice - almost qualified - in 1972. The only spool of wire jammed up beyond repair and I managed to get a box with 5 spools for R3! There is a telephone conversation on one spool and the one guy is worried about where the economy is heading... It has only one dictate and one transcribe button instead of the record/listen knobs on this one in the video at 03:15. It has a transparent dust cover with this funny inscription: "Webster-Chicago Dictation Machine with Natural Voice Playback" ;) It also has a carry case and mic. 'Remote' pause/play on mic - hard wired. It is a 60Hz 220VAC version. Should have been 50 Hz for South Africa. So it runs at the wrong speed!
@markrobinson779
9 жыл бұрын
My family had one of these. Yours is identical to ours. We had it in the early 50's and my Dad got so frustrated with wiring it all up each time. We had so many wire tangles. I so wish I knew where it was and you have piqued my interest so I will begin my search. Thank You
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
***** If you find the spools, I could convert them to CD for you! Happy searching!
@Vmartyr
7 жыл бұрын
I found 20 spools at an estate sale and coincidentally when I asked a friend who collects old radios about wire recorders - he said, "You can have mine!" The same model! I have powered it up and have yet to test it. Right away it looks like it will not rewind. As you may have seen with these spools of fine steel wire - once off the reel - oh boy! Seeing your restoration I am encouraged to attempt a minor repair. Replacing capacitors?...yikes! Thanks for your passion and sharing.
@JonPHX
10 жыл бұрын
Great video. I own a wire recorder that belonged to by Grandparents also from 1947. Was thrilled to hear my great-grandfather's voice as he died 13 years before I was born. Looking for a way to convert the recordings to digital files. I did some open air cassette recordings about 20 years ago and now hardly anyone owns cassette decks to play them! How quickly recording technologies changes! Thanks again for sharing!
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
Jon Hess - Thanks for your comments! You might want to use a smartphone voice recorder or use a handheld digital recorder to convert the recordings to digital.
@martineley1
6 жыл бұрын
Great intro, have 4 of these coming down to Australia to add to our Reel to Reel collection. Looks like a real challenge, thanks for the breakdown.
@databits
6 жыл бұрын
You're welcome, thank you for watching!
@gregorywest2029
8 жыл бұрын
Its not just copper wire, it is steel wire. Also you are lucky that you did not take out the power transformer. In old equipment always replace E-caps in power supplies FIRST or let the magic smoke out of them. Very hard to come by. good video, Greg
@juliolopez7750
9 жыл бұрын
Great video. Never saw or heard of this technology. I do love reel to reels. These machines are very impresive.
@bryan-po8dn
9 жыл бұрын
Amazing recording! Thanks for putting in the effort to restore and share this.
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
+bryan10983 You're very welcome, it was too much fun!
@m.m.radiochannel1969
3 жыл бұрын
Loved the wire player. I had seen them as a child never owned one had reel to reel player. Very nice.
@m.m.radiochannel1969
3 жыл бұрын
Preclude to the reel to reel tape player.
@bolijack
5 жыл бұрын
Heck, I had ohne and used it as a guitar amp too :-)
@More_Row
6 жыл бұрын
Wow incredible machine.
@victorcassar9193
10 жыл бұрын
A very nice restoration
@BertGrink
6 жыл бұрын
To anyone it may concern: The first, crude, wire recorder was invented by two Danish engineers, Valdemar Poulsen and Peder Oluf Pedersen, in 1898.
@ZASurvivalist
5 жыл бұрын
BertyFromDK His name was Valdemar Poulsen.. His name was Valdemar Poulsen.. His name was Valdemar Poulsen.
@JCHaywire
9 жыл бұрын
This is maybe the coolest thing I have ever seen. I ran across a wire recorder at Salvation Army on Lake St. in Minneapolis a decade or so ago, but it was overpriced so I never bought it. I am astounded at the fidelity of this recording. I haven't read all of the comments below, but have you been able to identify the recordings? I imagine if those who were recorded could hear this--or their relatives, it would be priceless.
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
JC Haywire I agree. But I have not been able to identify the persons on the recordings. The quality is very very good!
@DanOConnorTech
10 жыл бұрын
A very nice restoration with excellent results. Those young voices sound like they were taking turns reading something in school. They would probably be in their 70's now, maybe they'll hear themselves here!
@databits
10 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Dan! That audio output tube almost stumped me!
@roymiller7152
7 жыл бұрын
I have 5 1950 Webster-Chicago recordings in my possession. I am trying to find someone to transfer them to a cd so I can hear my father's voice and the voices of deceased relatives. Can you provide this service for me? I do not wish to purchase a machine since I only have 5 reels.
@databits
7 жыл бұрын
Yes, I can provide this service for you! Drop me an email at bctompkins@gmail.com with the details.
@craiggamache2211
8 жыл бұрын
I found one when i inherited my mothers home. It plays a bit but it's super crackly. It has about 10 spools with it as well. I haven't tried to fix it yet, or play most of the recordings because i'm afraid i'll wreck them.
@frankowalker4662
4 жыл бұрын
Nice restoration.
@databits
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you Franko.
@ortizramon
10 жыл бұрын
Hello and happy 2014 it's amazing how clear this recording sound on wire I notice there's another voice on this wire ..great restoration and video of this piece of history.
@Karlfalcon
10 жыл бұрын
Yes, it sounds as if these younger voices were recorded over a previous take, without properly erasing it first.
@databits
10 жыл бұрын
Karlfalcon Yes there is definitely a double recording there! Thanks for watching!
@davidestrella2495
3 жыл бұрын
Dude love the videos Ive had one of these for about 24 years i bought at thrift store for 5 bucks and the thing will still play never touched it inside and works very well has alot of spools and the mic as well but I have never attempted to record if it still can never tried its just like yours webster chicago .. Saludos amigos
@databits
3 жыл бұрын
Hi David, thank you for the compliment! Yes, these machines were built like tanks!
@michaelaaronorton4001
6 жыл бұрын
I'm very surprised at how smooth the sound is although the tone controls up a little high to bright
@GaitaPonto
6 жыл бұрын
the sound qualitiy is very good.
@lizichell2
9 жыл бұрын
surprisingly good sound
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
lizichell2 Thank you.
@SwingBandHeaven
5 жыл бұрын
I'd love to hear what a recording using this device would sound like using a dbx encoder...
@powerfarmer
5 жыл бұрын
Great technic and great mechanics: I think, that the wire-recorder-system could be used for a plain and safe century-long digital storage of the immense human knowlegde. Nowadays we have better materials for creating a better storage- wire- material and much more precise mechanics to realise this. The present stroage-methodes (HD and Chips) can NOT guarantee a centurylong storage. The wirerecorder could be the solution ( because 80 years old wires are readable now) .. Tom from Austria
@databits
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your comments!
@pythribeiro
9 жыл бұрын
Nice!
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
***** Thanks!
@JohnJThompson
6 жыл бұрын
Great video! I picked up a Webster Chicago 288-1 model wire recorder with no power supply a few years ago. I finally got a power cord - and it powers up, hums, and the light goes on. The reverse gear seems to work fine - but when I put it in PLAY gear the power turns off completely. Pop it back into neutral or reverse and the power comes back on. Any suggestions on what I should check? Or am I simply using it wrong? (Found your video when I Googled "Wire Recorder Operation" btw)
@databits
6 жыл бұрын
There's a series of blade switches on the underside of the chassis (inside of course). You can clean the contacts with light sandpaper. Although, more seriously, you're going to need to replace all of the capacitors in this unit, if not it's a fire hazard.
@gerryroberts662
7 жыл бұрын
My record cutter uses the 6sj7 and 6v6G
@kevinmcdermott5112
9 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the videos.i like the recorder so much I found one and bought it.i have some questions.what did you clean the wire head with.
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
Kevin McDermott I actually never cleaned it. Have you tried alcohol and a q-tip?
@Samos12
10 жыл бұрын
Great work! I'm about to do the same thing on a Model 7. How did you know what sizes (and types) of capacitors to use? Is it usually "less" necessary to replace the resistors? Thanks! :-)
@usvalve
8 ай бұрын
It sounds as if the wire at the start had been previously used, insufficiently erased and re-recorded. Unless what we were hearing was massive print-through. Does wire suffer from print-through like tape can?
@databits
7 ай бұрын
Yes it can, but more likely poorly erased.
@robyoung950
7 жыл бұрын
Where did you find the foam pads? They are missing in mine. I have a Webster 81-1.
@databits
7 жыл бұрын
You can use felt pads from a hardware store..the circular kind that you stick on the bottom of items to prevent scratching the surface of a table. At my Lowe's they are on the same aisle as super glue.
@jasonthejawman5442
10 жыл бұрын
Always replace capacitors filter caps I Saw vintage electronics on Radiotvphononuts KZitem channel
@edwardvarno1987
10 жыл бұрын
The local history museum I am the director of recently received a 80-1 as a donation. The 1 amp fuse was blown. Likely the symptom of a larger problem. There were 8 wire recording reels with it. Wonder what history are on them?
@databits
10 жыл бұрын
The wire reels that arrived with your 80-1 likely contain some interesting history! And the fuse is blowing likely due to dried up capacitors which need replacing. Thanks for watching!
@edwardvarno1987
10 жыл бұрын
Thanks
@edwardvarno1987
10 жыл бұрын
databits . Hi Databits: The Webster Chicago 80-1 we have been discussing obviously need electrical rehab work as yours did. It is our desire to bring it back to playable condition and use it as an artifact in our museum collection. There is an Antique Wireless Museum in our County in East Bloomfield New York who could do the work for us. In your great video you mentioned the schematics you obtained. What source did you use to acquire them? We are on Facebook (Ontario County Historical Museum) Twitter @OCHSMuseum and at www.ochs.org Any assistance you can offer in obtaining the schematics would be greatly appreciated. feel free to private message me at director@ochs.org
@databits
10 жыл бұрын
Edward Varno - I didn't receive notification of this response to comments! Sorry about that. Were you able to find a schematic for your wire recorder?
@edwardvarno1987
10 жыл бұрын
Yes. A local guy made it all happen. The wire recorder works like new. Ed Varno
@kevinmcdermott5112
9 жыл бұрын
Have you had a chance to listen to all your wire recordings?did you have any problems with play back on the speaker of the unit I haven't check the coil for the speaker but I can get sound threw the out put when I hookup an amp to it the amp has to be all the way up the caps are leaking bad.
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
Kevin McDermott Yes, I have listened to all of my recordings. I also replaced every capacitor in my player.
@kevinmcdermott5112
9 жыл бұрын
Hi I did think about that with alcohol and qu tips .wanted to see if you did something different
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
Kevin McDermott I did not. Let me know if that works for you.
@burtreynolds2969
8 жыл бұрын
Very cool! Is there a way to get the recording from the wire recorder onto another device. I see there is an output, but it looks like it needs a special plug.
@databits
8 жыл бұрын
+jason harvey - yes, the unit has a speaker output, but yes, does use a special plug. Are you wanting to transfer some wire recordings?
@burtreynolds2969
8 жыл бұрын
Thank for the reply. I located one of these in excellent condition and was thinking about adding one to my home studio just for different sounds. So I was just wondering how to get a recording from one device to the next.
@burtreynolds2969
8 жыл бұрын
databits Thanks for the reply. I located one in great shape and was thinking about getting for my home studio to mess around with for different sounds. So I was curious as how to get recordings from the wire recorder to another device.
@marmaly
6 жыл бұрын
It is not a "tape" recorder that records on a wire. It is a wire recorder.
@Za7a7aZ
5 жыл бұрын
Any idea how this tech got to be... who comes up with the idea to transfer sound on a wire like this..
@davidisabella6750
9 жыл бұрын
What was that recording on that wirespool in this video? Perhaps some kind of a newsreel recorded in the 1940's?
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
David Isabella No newsreel, just people talking.
@killiated9946
9 жыл бұрын
sounds like a school thing , speaking/listening exam ?
@davidisabella6750
7 жыл бұрын
Maybe some of them were job interviews?
@kit6041
9 жыл бұрын
Is this like a regular wire? I dont understand how you could just record on copper wire
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
+Kit Caboodle - The wire is made of steel.
@kit6041
9 жыл бұрын
Kinda looks like welding wire honestly
@benbradley93
8 жыл бұрын
+databits Hey, I've been subscribed for a while, and I just got my hands on a 70's Hi Fi system, and it came with two mics. what connector does that microphone on that thing use? My two mics have old guitar amp connectors.
@PulseonDevices
5 ай бұрын
Where did you find replacement tubes?
@lorenburns8133
7 жыл бұрын
What power cord can you use as a replacement?
@databits
7 жыл бұрын
A standard 3 prong extension cord, like you'd use with an electric weed eater.
@kevinmcdermott5112
9 жыл бұрын
Hey I found out that plain non waxed dental floss is what is recommended in the instruction manual but I did use the q tip and alcohol and that works all so .but I also think the string that is in the beginning of each wire spool does the same thing.wouldn't you agree.just as long as The string is clean on the spool of wirer.
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
Kevin McDermott Yes, I would imagine that not much cleaning is necessary. The string leader wire should be fine.
@clayrodery
8 жыл бұрын
I just bought one myself and as of right now it only emits a loud buzz in the Output 1 position. As per your advice, I'd like to replace the capacitors but was wondering what kind you would recommend? Thank you so much!
@databits
8 жыл бұрын
+clayrodery - what kind? do you mean what brand? Google "Antique Electronics Supply". Call them to place your order if you need to, their website is confusing!
@coondogtheman
8 жыл бұрын
What would music sound like on one of these?
@databits
8 жыл бұрын
+coondogtheman1234 - really good
@coondogtheman
8 жыл бұрын
databits Do you have any videos of this recorder playing music? Also that Quizno's Muzak encompass XDplayer you showed in one of your other videos, Would it be possible for you to send me one of the .MPA files from the disc?
@Naveclick
9 жыл бұрын
is possible make a home made wire record? tks
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
Nave Click Navegantes A home made wire recording? Yes.
@DoRC
7 жыл бұрын
Are they reading a book?
@johnathanchristian1360
10 жыл бұрын
Where did you get your parts from ?
@databits
10 жыл бұрын
Hey Johnathan, I got my parts from a local supplier, but a good source is www.tubesandmore.com. Are you going to restore a wire recorder?
@johnathanchristian1360
10 жыл бұрын
I am actually, same model and everything. The reels turn but all I head is static...do you know what might be wrong ?
@databits
10 жыл бұрын
Have you replaced all of the capacitors in the unit? If not, you'll need to.
@databits
10 жыл бұрын
***** Message me through Google+ if you need any pointers.
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
***** How is the repair going?
@subbookkeeper
9 жыл бұрын
People had different accent back then.
@databits
9 жыл бұрын
subbookkeeper They sure did.
@abueloraton
5 жыл бұрын
It also depends on what region of the US they're from. To me, they sound like they're from a southern state.
@jeremynv89523
3 жыл бұрын
@@databits the accent sure was different back then. (I’ve noticed it on other, non-Hollywood productions). It sounded more folksy, more “colorful”, and that’s without taking into account the Southern influence of some of the speakers. I’d guess Maryland, or Southern Pa., but only a dialectician could say for sure. By the way, this is one of the most interesting KZitem videos I’ve ever seen.
@robot797
10 жыл бұрын
aaah the webster wirerecorder mechanical almost unbreakable and wire recorders may never be compared to tape recorders becaus tape recorders are based on this my webster also had bad capasitors i sold it becaus i have 4 european wire recorders i also have 50+ spools of wire with all kinds of stuff
@databits
10 жыл бұрын
Did you make videos of your european wire recorders? Thanks for watching!
@robot797
10 жыл бұрын
i have a few of my sonofill 104 of my scaub lorenz supraphone 52 i dont have any video's yet same for my scaub konsolette and my amroh wirerecorder is almost restored so there will be a video of that within 1 month
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