"Phantom
Productions" is the registered trademark of Phantom Productions,
Inc. Copyright 2012 • All pictures and content on this web site are the property of Phantom Productions, Inc.
This
is a list of our vintage open reel, analog reel to reel tape recording collection for items beginning with "A." As
time permits we'll be building links to more pictures, a bit of history
about our items, catalog listings and
some recent pricing information. PLEASE
NOTE: None of the Phantom Vintage Museum pieces are for sale. This
listing is provided to reflect our collection.
Clicking on most pictures will provide a
larger picture of the item.A reminder that the prices listed are what the item originally sold for in the year it was released.
ADC
Linear Turntable
Akai Terecorder 1958 (Akai was not sold in US until 1971)
Akai Stereo Terecorder 1959
Akai produced over 100 models of reel to reel tape recorders. This is one we had not seen previously. When stereo came along, it looks like Akai created their first stereo recorder by adding a 2 track head, stereo outputs and a second smaller unit to house the second channel electronics and speaker. This unit has a switchable head to go from Full track to 2 channel Half track. Pretty cool unit. Most unusual styling.
We were recently told by a Broadcast engineer that this Akai and several others of the last high end recorders were built for Akai by Fostex...interesting.
This set of Altec speakers were acquired when Phantom (Highland Sound Co) was representing Balco Sound in Alpine in 1968. They are working well a are part of the Surround Sound system in the present studio.
Our Ampex 200-A was originally bought from Bing Crosby Enterprises, Inc. by Capitol Records in Los Angeles, California. The news clips below detail some information regarding ABC and Capitol Records decisions to acquire the new technology. Our Ampex 200-A was subsequently acquired by Leo De Gar Kulka, known in the record and recording industry as "the Baron" and remembered for his recording of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, among others. We were told that "the Baron" was always striving to keep up with the latest technology. The Ampex 200-A we acquired was upgraded to stereo using Inovonics amps. We initially were going to restore the recorder to its original state. However after learning more about the history of the unit, we have decided to work to acquire the original electronics, but will leave the unit as is for now. We also have Capitol Records detail regarding the Ampex 200-A, #33's upgrade in 1949. This upgrade to the Ampex 201 specs involved the replacing of the original head cover and installing an Ampex 300 head cover and tape lifters. View the Capitol Records documents here. They also updated this Ampex 200A in 1954 and 1955.
Go to more about Phantom's Ampex 200-A and the development history of the early Ampex recorders.
View video of the trip from Texas to California (3,585 miles in 4 - 12 to 13 hour days) to pick up the Ampex 200-A and Ampex 300.
Work began on the Ampex 300 in November, 1948. First 50 were delivered in May of 1949. The 300 reduced the size of the recorder, reels from 14" to 10.5 and the speed was reduced to 15 ips. Over 32,000 were sold and was available into the 1970's.
This
is the first "professional" recorder martin used to record University
recitals, band & choir concerts; musicals and was taken on tour from
1964 to 1968.
We
thought it interesting that this Ampex 600 and 620 were acquired
from a seller
located on
Sunset
3
blocks
from
its
intersection
with
Vine in Hollywood (this is the area
where Jack
Mullin taped the first Bing Crosby radio shows). We
contacted Ampex, however, they would not release the identity
of the original
owner based on the serial number.
This
Ampex 351 was donated to our collection by John King (brother-in-law)
who acquired it from a radio station in Dallas, Texas. This unit and its remote were restored by Phantom Productions in 2010. View movie - Win MediaQuickTime
Ampex 351/Accurate Sound 300 SS amplifier rebuilt by Accurate Sound Company of San Angelo, Texas. We were advised by the seller that Accurate Sound bought the last 250 Ampex 351 amplifiers and re-branded them.
Ampex AG-350 Solid State 1958 $1,315.00
This
Ampex 350 was donated to our collection by John King (brother-in-law)
who acquired it from a radio station in San Angelo, Texas.
1982 This was one of the first 250 Ampex Golden Reel Awards... The
inscription reads "A reel of recording
tape is unfulfilled until the magic of an artist's performance and the
creative talents of a technical and artistic team give it life."
While many Ampex and other reel tape recorders went to recording studios and broadcast stations, a large percentage went to data recording (especially Ampex & Magnecord) . We provide this Ampex/Teac PR260using 1/2" tape and running at speeds from 15/16/ to 30 ips, as an example of some of the data recorders. This is a closed loop, however we don't have much additional info. Ampex Data Brochure
Gotta love the Amplifier Corp's Magnemite field recorder capabilitiesdescription "Ideal for any expedition, heading anywhere in the world. Specifically designed to operate with suitable accessories at the North Pole,the Equator, in African Jungles or the Sahara Desert. May be used on the back of an elephant, camel, in a jeep, jet, or submarine."
"Phantom
Productions" is the registered trademark of Phantom Productions,
Inc. Copyright 2012 • All pictures and content on this web site are the property of Phantom Productions, Inc.
