Wire recorder.. Webster Chicago

[targeteye]

Thought you guys might get a kick out of the Youtube video I made of a Wire Recorder I just bought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeA6fg_QyZU&feature=player_embedded

Steve

 

[jan_stevns]

amazing

 

[kevzep]

Thats cool, I was aware they existed, but never seen one let alone in operation, pretty limited bandwidth, not for the audiophile at all, but an interesting historical piece of recording equipment.

Nice

 

[fortycoats]

Funny enough I was looking at a few YouTube vids of those things recently. Can you still get wire for them? I mean, I doubt if you can get 'recording' wire but presumably any spool of wire of the correct gauge will do?

 

[Jonny Ramone]

I saw some wire on E-bay, and checked out videos on you-tube awhile back; I'd read about them ages ago, and had never seen one.

 

[targeteye]

I doubt you can get wire spool new nor do I thing just any ole wire of the proper gauge would work. I could be wrong. I bought two of these things at an estate sale. That wire playing is a radio broadcast recorded in 1955. The wire that was installed on it was a Morse Code practice recording.

 

[doublebass]

hey there. i have the same wire recorder i bought about a month ago. it needs some work. i already replaced some caps and pots but it still isn't working right.

on ebay you can find spools of wire.

the one i bought came with 3 1-hour and 1 1/2 hour spool of wire. i dont really need all that. if you'd like i can sell you one of the hour long spools. but i recommend having more than one until you get the hang of loading it properly. i already messed up and tangled about 1/2 of the 1/2 hour spool, but now i have it down.

 

[fortycoats]

I doubt you can get wire spool new nor do I thing just any ole wire of the proper gauge would work. I could be wrong. I bought two of these things at an estate sale. That wire playing is a radio broadcast recorded in 1955. The wire that was installed on it was a Morse Code practice recording.

Well now you're in a position to try it :thmbsp: I'll be surprised if it's anything other than single-strand copper wire but of course that's just an invite for me to be proven wrong!

 

[doublebass]

I'll be surprised if it's anything other than single-strand copper wire but of course that's just an invite for me to be proven wrong!

i believe its stainless steel

 

[Phototone]

The wire for wire recorders is a specific stainless steel wire. Any attempt to change the type of wire used may result in the record/playback head being ruined. Copper wire is not suitable because it can't be magnetized. You have to have a wire that can be magnetized with the waveform of the audio being recorded.

 

[fortycoats]

Copper wire is not suitable because it can't be magnetized.

D'oh! Of course

 

[Bob91343]

I have one of those machines in like new condition, with extra spools of wire. I wonder if anyone would like to buy it.

 

[dr*audio]

My brother had one of those when we were kids. I was so P.O.'d at him for getting rid of it. I bet some of those spools of wire out there have interesting programs on them.

 

[Jonny Ramone]

On E-bay I saw wire spools specific to the recorders, and since it's wire, should not be as susceptible to age.

 

[koseltri]

I used to have a few, two home models and a 'professional' model (for office/ dictation use). Back in HS a friend of mine found a pristine one at GW with a recording of a Portland AM station (KXL) broadcast on Feb. 29, 1952. Someone just started recording and let it run. News, commercials ("My Big, New Dodge!"). Fascinating stuff. The wire is easily found on You-Know-Where.

 

[Robie]

I have a mint one as well complete with manuals. I've never used it.

 

[shrouded|elk]

my girlfriend bought me a Webster Chicago model 228-1 wire recorder from an antique store for our anniversary last year...best gift ever!

it needs lubed and some of the filter caps are blown so all i get is a loud EEEEHHHHHHHHHHHH, but i've already recorded the sound and plan to use it in some musical creations. opened it up to take a look at replacing them and man that thing is a rat's nest! i'm scared to even approach it, so much isn't on boards, just PTP wiring.

congrats on a working wire recorder, quite the item. i plan to get mine running and release some music on wire...obsolete formats for the win!

 

[dibmem]

I saw one of these in a thrift store about a year ago... too expensive to take on if it wasn't in working order, so I passed on it.

Really cool to see one running / working! Looks (and sounds) just like I imagined.