Posted 7 years ago
gregsfinds
(9 items)
Ok here we go again here is some type of recording device from the 1960s or early seventies it looks like it records on an eight track tape but it isn't eight track possibly 4 track or some other audio format it it has a really cool fen-tone microphone model #md-145 made in japan which according to the internet doesn't exist it has a rotary phone dial a channel a and b setting and a three way switch with play record and tone settings this is in pristine condition powers on and the tape roller moves in the play and record position this is in a heavy duty metal case seems like it is some kind of surveillance equipment or some sort of spy device very strange I have another item posted and nobody can figure out what that is yet maybe I will have better luck with this device
That's ok as long as you can tell me what it is I am fine with that LOL
What an interesting device, no matter what it really is?!!
I havta wonder if it isn't some early form of commercial "this call may be recorded for quality control purposes" machine? Seems to me like, years ago, businesses that wanted to randomly record their telephone conversations were required to disclose their doing so by introducing a 'beep tone' every so often while recording was in progress -- thus maybe explaining that otherwise puzzling "tone" position on its LH switch.
Also, for whatever its worth, its case looks awfully similar to the way that IBM (at least?) used to package many of their 'commercial/industrial electronic devices', of whatever particular type.
Thanks for trying to help kind of makes sense except for the rotary dials function ?
will hopefully get someone who knows exactly what it is
Thanks for trying but the rotary dial is internal no phone hook-up anywhere
Does this device have *any* place where 'other stuff' might hook up or connect to it? Interesting indeed that it doesn't have a telephone line connection.
Nothing imprinted anywhere as to marker or patent number?? What is on the microphone label.....anything on the back of it?
Could the dial just select where in the tape the operator would like to start? Track 1, 2, 3....
Thanks for responding only has the microphone jack no other place to hook anything else up but the power cord no markings anywhere except a small round sticker with a t01 microphone label says fen-tone MD-145 dynamic microphone japan 50 k with the ohm symbol I even removed the 2 screws on the face and lifted the panel to see if anything was inside but I could only see electronics but I could not remove the whole panel as something is holding it on the rear of the unit and I cant figure out what it is
I was able to remove the plastic shroud on the tape recorder and it exposed the last screw holding the unit in the box I removed it turned it over and took a photo and replaced the last photo with the new photo in the post take a look
The hole you see is where the screws go that hold it in the case the wires from the rotary dial go from the dial to the switch on the left of the panel that says play record and tone unless a phone line came through the top like the power cord and hooked to the rotary dial terminals its possible but would be a bad design compared to the rest of the unit
I dunno -- Maybe contact these people and see IF they have any ideas.
http://museumofmagneticsoundrecording.org/Stories3MWollensak.html
As someone pointed out maybe a phone line went through the top of the unit like the power cord and wired directly to the rotary dial block terminal green and red wire and then maybe when you switched to the tone position you would hear a dial tone and you could dial out and as soon as someone answered you would turn the switch to record and position the mic in such a way close to the speaker and it would record the conversation on the tape when you were done you could play the tape but there is no rewind feature and the channel a and channel b switch is still puzzling