BBC RD4/1 (EMI L2B) portable tape recorder
BBC RD4/1 (EMI L2B) portable audio tape recorder, BBC-modified (fitted with transistor electronics - originally these recorders were equipped with 7 valves). Converting the electronics from valves to transistors gave the recorder a much longer battery life. Tape rewind was still with a crank handle. This L2B machine has a capstan speed of 7.1/2 inches per second (ips). The type L2A ran at 3.3/4 ips, and L2C ran at 15 ips.
This portable tape recorder was used for news reports and other outside broadcasts. It was one of the first portable reel to reels produced by EMI, and of the three variants that existed of this device this one (L2B) was the most common.
While one reel would hold tape for recording, the other was for replay. To save battery, the recorder has a rewind handle at the top of the lid which would allow the user to manually rewind the tape rather than using power.
Details
- Category:
- Television
- Collection:
- BBC Heritage Collection
- Object Number:
- 2012-5118/191
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
- Measurements:
-
overall: 228 mm x 361 mm x 173 mm, 7 kg
- type:
- tape recorder