# Reel-to-reel tape recorder **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 4, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077 "2013-11-04T18:24:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/21 "2013-11-05T17:04:27Z")
Rather than buying a machine that you may never use again, maybe you could look for a company that could convert your tapes into whatever format you require. I’m sure they’re out there. Good luck ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/22 "2013-11-05T18:16:19Z")
Musicat (and others) are right on the money about your RTR tapes - much depends on the tape media formulation and the way they were stored. I have a fairly large collection of RTR tapes (~150) recorded from the late '50’s on up including many live recordings of band rehearsals/club performances that I made in the '70’s. Almost all of them have survived the vicissitudes of their unknown storage conditions before I ‘rescued’ them (except a few of the aforementioned Ampex ‘shedders’) and I feel you might have good results. Just a suggestion: 1. Make a list of the tapes with the Tech info: (ex.) “Scotch 150” 1/4 in. x 1800 ft., silicone lubricated, 1.0 polyester backing - plus any handwritten data about any recording data/speed. 2. Go to this web-site for AudioKarma [http://www.audiokarma.org/](http://www.audiokarma.org/). (I’m a satisfied member). Go to the ‘Tape’ Forum. There you’ll find topics galore and tape experts/enthusiasts a-plenty that can advise you. You would need to register to actually ask for advice or help, so If you would rather not do that, just PM me with the above info and your approximate location and I’ll see if I can find you some ‘Karmic’ help in your neighborhood.😃 ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/23 "2013-11-05T19:34:44Z")
Given the vintage of early 1960’s, its likely to be recorded on half track and not quarter track. I would definitely go along with a recovery service. For the other posters, I would completely avoid Ampex tapes, stick with BASF and the like. The problem is that the dust gets into the reel motors and shorts them out, and you cannot get the damn stuff out due to the magnetism. I guess maybe Ampex sorted the problem out, but there will be lots of new old stock about and it really isn’t worth the risk since the only way to get replacement parts is to cannibalise - rebuilding motors is possible but totally expensive - unless you have the more widely used Studer/Revox - good luck on finding cheap parts for Nagra/Kudelski ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/24 "2013-11-05T21:33:23Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Given the vintage of early 1960’s, its likely to be recorded on half track and not quarter track. Both were used well into the 1970’s. Professional mixes used half track and half track was sent to disk mastering lathes at least until 1980, maybe longer. Consumer use, strictly quarter track. Some decks had interchangeable head blocks ([Pioneer 1011](http://www.fowlervillehistory.org/stereo/other_vintage_equipment/pioneer_rt-1011l_stereo_ree.html)). > [@](#): > > For the other posters, I would completely avoid Ampex tapes, stick with BASF and the like. The problem is that the dust gets into the reel motors and shorts them out, and you cannot get the damn stuff out due to the magnetism. Useless advice if you are talking about existing recordings where the tape has already been chosen by the originator. > [@](#): > > I guess maybe Ampex sorted the problem out, but there will be lots of new old stock about and it really isn’t worth the risk since the only way to get replacement parts is to cannibalise - rebuilding motors is possible but totally expensive - unless you have the more widely used Studer/Revox - good luck on finding cheap parts for Nagra/Kudelski. What risk? No one is talking about making new magnetic tape recordings. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/25 "2013-11-05T21:37:18Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > Given the vintage of early 1960’s, its likely to be recorded on half track and not quarter track… Nah, the Webcor and Wollensak units were 1/4". Just looked at a couple of old photos with my dad and “uncles” recording bad jokes - alcohol was involved. Complete with the [del]microphone[/del] cudgel PKBITES alluded to. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/26 "2013-11-05T21:41:34Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Both were used well into the 1970’s. Professional mixes used half track and half track was sent to disk mastering lathes at least until 1980, maybe longer. Consumer use, strictly quarter track. Some decks had interchangeable head blocks Actually, if the picture of the Wollensak recorder that the OP posted is accurate, then it is **mono** half-track, which can still be played back on a standard stereo deck, but with one channel muted ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/27 "2013-11-05T21:42:41Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Nah, the Webcor and Wollensak units were 1/4". Just looked at a couple of old photos with my dad and “uncles” recording bad jokes - alcohol was involved. Complete with the [del]microphone[/del] cudgel PKBITES alluded to. **Casdave** was referring to the track width (half track means each track used up half the width of the tape), not the tape width. There’s no question that we’re talking about 1/4" tape. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/28 "2013-11-05T22:05:41Z")
> [@Running\_with\_Scissors](#): > > Actually, if the picture of the Wollensak recorder that the OP posted is accurate, then it is **mono** half-track, which can still be played back on a standard stereo deck, but with one channel muted That popular Wollensak was modified over the years, retaining the same basic case design. I’m pretty sure the first models were half track mono, but I used a later model that was quarter track AND had a thumbwheel to allow mono, quarter track recording (besides stereo). The wheel moved the vertical head position and (I think) changed the electronics to make use of a single 1/4 track if desired. With four passes, turning the reels over each time, you could get a very long mono recording session. Another oddity about the Wollensak was the included microphone. The 1/4 inch plug was slightly shorter than standard plugs, and made contact with a different prong in the socket. I can only assume it was a different impedance, but the socket allowed for standard mics as well. It was a great design for the time. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/29 "2013-11-06T06:14:07Z")
Blah.:eek: I spoke to a couple of services that would transfer the tapes to digital or CD. I’m looking at $500 minimum, the average being upwards to $750. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/30 "2013-11-06T12:14:24Z")
How many tapes do you have? What is their length (it would say on the box if you still have the box)? ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/31 "2013-11-06T15:50:24Z")
> [@Running\_with\_Scissors](#): > > Depending on the age of the tapes, they could be made of acetate, which breaks easily. You’ll have to use extreme caution when threading/playing, and may want to invest in a splicing block. Indeed. I once tried to listen to old tapes, but they were so brittle that it was impossible to play them and they weren’t even particularly old at the time. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/32 "2013-11-06T17:19:56Z")
Does anyone make wire recorders anymore? wire would last longer than tape. What happens when the last reel of tape crumbles into dust? ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077/33 "2013-11-06T18:31:33Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Does anyone make wire recorders anymore? No, why would they? Wire has its own set of problems. > [@ralph124c](#): > > wire would last longer than tape. What happens when the last reel of tape crumbles into dust? Hopefully everything of importance would have been transferred to cloud storage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reel-to-reel-tape-recorder/673077.md?page=1)