Technics Big reels - how many Official styles?

[FAB1]

Have you noticed that Technics reels come in different variations? Don't know for sure which one was the "first" or even if certain models came with different reels but here are some pix of the ones I am familiar with.

I'm going to guess the order in which I think they might have been produced - with the slim clues available.

First, this reel I will call the "National" reel b/c of the National logo there on the left. Wasn't the company we know as Panasonic was called National many years ago? I can recall clock radios and stuff with the National brand from back in the 60's and apparently it was still in use in late 70's. I place this variation as likely to be the first produced because National is an old brand.

Here is the second variation. On this reel the National logo is gone and instead the words "By Panasonic" are printed under the Technics brand which is nicely spread out and centered compared to the National reel. This one is my personal favorite!

Last is the reel I will christen the "Plain Technics" because all other embellishment has been removed. The style of the numbers is also different on the Plain reel. I place this variation as Last simply because doesn't it seem that companies tend to give you less instead of more in a products lifespan? Lol. But that may really have nothing to do with it.

It's possible there could be some "japan/asia only" variations but I have never seen them.

Of course there are tonnes of clones out there too but in the context of this discussion they do not count because I am curious about what Technics factory produced. If you are aware of more official types than these three let us know.

 

[JimmyNeutron]

I would guess that the reel with the Technics/Panasonic logo would be the latest since I've seen many black plastic stereos from the 80's that started to encorporate this logo. The 80's would probably be the last decade these reels were made. In the 70's and early 80's the Technics name was still going very strong and I don't recall ever seeing a logo with both company affiliations like in the later years. I dunno. Just my 2 cents.

My Technics RS-1506 reel to reel has the "National" type reel. They were introduced in 1979 and the Technics logo often was paired with Matsushita. The pairing of Panasonic came later.

Jimmy

 

[SaSi]

I recall that in the late seventies, Technics units were labeled National Technics in the US and "by Panasonic" in Europe. ... Or was it the other way around? :scratch2:

And a couple years later the National and Panasonic were removed because Technics was trying to establish a high end profile and the "National" and "Panasonic" brands refered to vacum cleaners, TV sets and nighttable clocks.

So I would guess the first two reels are earlier (US/Europe) versions and the third one would be the most late vintage (perhaps late 70's - early 80's)

 

[jan_stevns]

I recall that in the late seventies, Technics units were labeled National Technics in the US and "by Panasonic" in Europe. ... Or was it the other way around? :scratch2:

Here in Scandinavia - we had both "logo versions" my receiver (SA5460) has the National logo before the TECHNICS,

 

[FAB1]

My Technics RS-1506 reel to reel has the "National" type reel. They were introduced in 1979 and the Technics logo often was paired with Matsushita. The pairing of Panasonic came later.

Jimmy

That may be good to know - I am getting another reel that was new equipment on the same deck...however, these decks were sold over a period of years into the mid 80's right? So the reel styles could have nothing to do with the machine models.

But as for pairing Technics with Panasonic...you can find the "Technics by Panasonic" branding on the earliest Technics turntable, the pro SP-10 from 1970ish. I am still trying to do some research and will report back if I find anything.

Anyone else seen a different Technics reel or even color variation?

 

[FAB1]

I would guess that the reel with the Technics/Panasonic logo would be the latest since I've seen many black plastic stereos from the 80's that started to encorporate this logo. The 80's would probably be the last decade these reels were made. In the 70's and early 80's the Technics name was still going very strong and I don't recall ever seeing a logo with both company affiliations like in the later years. I dunno. Just my 2 cents.

My Technics RS-1506 reel to reel has the "National" type reel. They were introduced in 1979 and the Technics logo often was paired with Matsushita. The pairing of Panasonic came later.

Jimmy

Here in Scandinavia - we had both "logo versions" my receiver (SA5460) has the National logo before the TECHNICS,

I got the reel from the guy who said it was original equipment that came with his Technics RS-1506 and its the "National" Technics style. I too believe the "by Panasonic" branding came later.

 

[1tumbleweed]

Unless my "rememberer" is failing me...again...

"Technics by Panasonic" was only used on early Technics products. Panasonic audio components were just plain Panasonic until the earlier '70s, when their better stuff was branded "Technics by Panasonic" to show it was a higher grade than just plain Panasonic stuff. Once the brand was well-known and established, they changed to just "Technics". My 1974 Buyer's Guide calls the brand "Technics by Panasonic"; by 1986 it has become "Technics (Divison of Panasonic)"

IIRC, National Panasonic - or just plain National - was not used very much in the US, if at all. Although it was a big brand for Matsushita elsewhere, I seem to remember a conflict with the name in America.

By the way, nobody was ever quite sure how to pronounce the name. Although most people seem to refer to it as "tekniks", which is the way it looks like it should be, factory people always called it "techniques".

In the same vein, Japanese factory folk refer to Pioneer as "Pee-oh-neer", and Sony as "Sah-ny".