Wire Recorder [Webster-Chicago 80-1]
Maker and role
Webster-Chicago Corporation, Manufacturer
Production date
Post 1947
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1987.49
Description
Webster Wire Recorder.
Part 1: Webster wire recorder with transformer. The recorder is built into a wooden case covered in maroon vinyl. On the proper right side of the case, there is an amber coloured plastic handle attached with metal brackets. The deck is grey metal and has vertical cut outs with a red grill cloth. The front of the deck is angled and has four brown plastic dials, a power output port, and a lightbulb in the top right corner. "RECORD / LISTEN / VOLUME / INPUT / OUTPUT / TONE / OFF / OUTPUT" is printed, indicating the function of the dials. Along the top, where the deck angles downwards "WEBSTER CHICAGO" is printed in red. At the top of the unit, there is a switch with a lever that sits between two brown buttons. "RUN / STOP / REWIND" is embossed. Towards the back of the deck, there is a large circle take-up reel with a spring catch on the proper right and a smaller circular recess on the left for a removable supply reel. Between the reels there is a magnetic head to ensure even winding of the wire. At the back, there is a cavity with a two pronged connector inside it. Below this, there is a plate with "MODEL80-1 / RMA 375 / WEBSTER CHICAGO / WIRE RECORDER / THIS UNIT LICENSED UNDER ARMOUR RESEARCH FOUNDATION / PATENTS / SERIAL NO. 32874 / OPERATE ONLY ON A.C. CURRENT AT: / 105/20 VOLTS 30 CYCLES 55 WATTS / CHICAGO 39, ILL. U.S.A." embossed.
Part 2: Wooden lid for Webster wire recorder unit. The lid is covered in a maroon vinyl and lined with grey vinyl. On the back edge of the lid, there are two metal hooks which are used to create a hind when attached to the base and is designed to be removed. On the front edge of the lid, there are two latches to secure the case closed. The front of the case slopes downwards. Inside the lid, there is a compartment in the sloped part of the lid which is secured closed by a piece of leather with a dome. It is attached on metal hinges. The lid has a raised section onto which three circular holders have been mounted. Each of the holders has a brown plastic panel attached on a pivot which is used to lock the reel in place.
A red and white label is attached to the inside of the lid. "SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS / BEFORE OPERATING YOUR MODEL 88 WIRE RECORDER / READ THE FOLLOWING GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS / [...]" is printed.
Part 3: Red plastic microphone attached to a black textile cord with metal attachment at one end. The microphone is a teardrop shape and has rectangular holes with mesh in them cut into it on the front. At the front of the microphone, the Webster logo is embossed. At the back of the microphone "WEBSTER CHICAGO / MODEL MM-35 CHICAGO, U.S.A" is embossed.
Part 4: Black power cable with two pronged adaptor at one end and port at the other end.
Part 5: Grey metal supply reel with hollow centre. Wire is wound around it. On the top of the reel, "WEBSTER-CHICAGO" is printed and at the back, "1-HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. W-175 / 08249FB2" is printed in white.
Part 6: Black metal supply reel with hollow centre. Wire is wound around it. On the top of the reel, "WEBSTER-CHICAGO" is printed and at the back, "1/4 HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. 11X173" is printed in white.
Part 7: Black metal supply reel with hollow centre. Wire is wound around it. On the top of the reel, "WEBSTER-CHICAGO" is printed and "SWAN ELECT" is handwritten. At the back, "1/2 HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. 11X174" is printed in white.
Part 8: Plain metal supply reel with hollow centre. Wire is wound around it.
Part 1: Webster wire recorder with transformer. The recorder is built into a wooden case covered in maroon vinyl. On the proper right side of the case, there is an amber coloured plastic handle attached with metal brackets. The deck is grey metal and has vertical cut outs with a red grill cloth. The front of the deck is angled and has four brown plastic dials, a power output port, and a lightbulb in the top right corner. "RECORD / LISTEN / VOLUME / INPUT / OUTPUT / TONE / OFF / OUTPUT" is printed, indicating the function of the dials. Along the top, where the deck angles downwards "WEBSTER CHICAGO" is printed in red. At the top of the unit, there is a switch with a lever that sits between two brown buttons. "RUN / STOP / REWIND" is embossed. Towards the back of the deck, there is a large circle take-up reel with a spring catch on the proper right and a smaller circular recess on the left for a removable supply reel. Between the reels there is a magnetic head to ensure even winding of the wire. At the back, there is a cavity with a two pronged connector inside it. Below this, there is a plate with "MODEL80-1 / RMA 375 / WEBSTER CHICAGO / WIRE RECORDER / THIS UNIT LICENSED UNDER ARMOUR RESEARCH FOUNDATION / PATENTS / SERIAL NO. 32874 / OPERATE ONLY ON A.C. CURRENT AT: / 105/20 VOLTS 30 CYCLES 55 WATTS / CHICAGO 39, ILL. U.S.A." embossed.
Part 2: Wooden lid for Webster wire recorder unit. The lid is covered in a maroon vinyl and lined with grey vinyl. On the back edge of the lid, there are two metal hooks which are used to create a hind when attached to the base and is designed to be removed. On the front edge of the lid, there are two latches to secure the case closed. The front of the case slopes downwards. Inside the lid, there is a compartment in the sloped part of the lid which is secured closed by a piece of leather with a dome. It is attached on metal hinges. The lid has a raised section onto which three circular holders have been mounted. Each of the holders has a brown plastic panel attached on a pivot which is used to lock the reel in place.
A red and white label is attached to the inside of the lid. "SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS / BEFORE OPERATING YOUR MODEL 88 WIRE RECORDER / READ THE FOLLOWING GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS / [...]" is printed.
Part 3: Red plastic microphone attached to a black textile cord with metal attachment at one end. The microphone is a teardrop shape and has rectangular holes with mesh in them cut into it on the front. At the front of the microphone, the Webster logo is embossed. At the back of the microphone "WEBSTER CHICAGO / MODEL MM-35 CHICAGO, U.S.A" is embossed.
Part 4: Black power cable with two pronged adaptor at one end and port at the other end.
Part 5: Grey metal supply reel with hollow centre. Wire is wound around it. On the top of the reel, "WEBSTER-CHICAGO" is printed and at the back, "1-HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. W-175 / 08249FB2" is printed in white.
Part 6: Black metal supply reel with hollow centre. Wire is wound around it. On the top of the reel, "WEBSTER-CHICAGO" is printed and at the back, "1/4 HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. 11X173" is printed in white.
Part 7: Black metal supply reel with hollow centre. Wire is wound around it. On the top of the reel, "WEBSTER-CHICAGO" is printed and "SWAN ELECT" is handwritten. At the back, "1/2 HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. 11X174" is printed in white.
Part 8: Plain metal supply reel with hollow centre. Wire is wound around it.
Brief History
Wire recorders magnetically encoded data onto a thin steel wire and were the precursor technology to magnetic tape recording. The American company Webster-Chicago was a major producer of wire recorders after the Second World War. However the technology behind these devices is much older dating back to 1898 when Danish engineer Valdemar Poulsen invented the first wire recording device known as the Telegraphone.
The Webster-Chicago model 80-1 wire recorder was released around 1947. Webster-Chicago commonly marketed their devices as an electronic memory for the home. The microphone allowed users to record their own voices, music, and other sounds that the user would like to recall later. The device can record and playback audio that is magnetically encoded onto a thin steel wire. The 80-1 came mounted in its own carry case with removable lid. The lid contains storage for the microphone, power cable, and three wire spools. This device requires an AC 105-120V power supply to operate and is therefore incompatible with New Zealand’s mains power without an appropriate converter.
The Webster-Chicago model 80-1 wire recorder was released around 1947. Webster-Chicago commonly marketed their devices as an electronic memory for the home. The microphone allowed users to record their own voices, music, and other sounds that the user would like to recall later. The device can record and playback audio that is magnetically encoded onto a thin steel wire. The 80-1 came mounted in its own carry case with removable lid. The lid contains storage for the microphone, power cable, and three wire spools. This device requires an AC 105-120V power supply to operate and is therefore incompatible with New Zealand’s mains power without an appropriate converter.
Marks
RECORD / LISTEN / VOLUME / INPUT / OUTPUT / TONE / OFF / OUTPUT Printed
WEBSTER CHICAGO Printed
RUN / STOP / REWIND Embossed
MODEL80-1 / RMA 375 / WEBSTER CHICAGO / WIRE RECORDER / THIS UNIT LICENSED UNDER ARMOUR RESEARCH FOUNDATION / PATENTS / SERIAL NO. 32874 / OPERATE ONLY ON A.C. CURRENT AT: / 105/20 VOLTS 30 CYCLES 55 WATTS / CHICAGO 39, ILL. U.S.A. Embossed
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS / BEFORE OPERATING YOUR MODEL 88 WIRE RECORDER / READ THE FOLLOWING GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS / [...] Printed
WEBSTER CHICAGO / MODEL MM-35 CHICAGO, U.S.A Embossed
WEBSTER-CHICAGO Printed
1-HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. W-175 / 08249FB2 Printed
WEBSTER-CHICAGO Printed
1/4 HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. 11X173 Printed
WEBSTER-CHICAGO Printed
SWAN ELECT Hand-written
1/2 HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. 11X174 Printed
WEBSTER CHICAGO Printed
RUN / STOP / REWIND Embossed
MODEL80-1 / RMA 375 / WEBSTER CHICAGO / WIRE RECORDER / THIS UNIT LICENSED UNDER ARMOUR RESEARCH FOUNDATION / PATENTS / SERIAL NO. 32874 / OPERATE ONLY ON A.C. CURRENT AT: / 105/20 VOLTS 30 CYCLES 55 WATTS / CHICAGO 39, ILL. U.S.A. Embossed
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS / BEFORE OPERATING YOUR MODEL 88 WIRE RECORDER / READ THE FOLLOWING GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS / [...] Printed
WEBSTER CHICAGO / MODEL MM-35 CHICAGO, U.S.A Embossed
WEBSTER-CHICAGO Printed
1-HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. W-175 / 08249FB2 Printed
WEBSTER-CHICAGO Printed
1/4 HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. 11X173 Printed
WEBSTER-CHICAGO Printed
SWAN ELECT Hand-written
1/2 HOUR SPOOL / CAT. NO. 11X174 Printed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Webster-Chicago Corporation. Post 1947. Wire Recorder [Webster-Chicago 80-1], 1987.49. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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