Adam Savage's Mind Blown By This Vintage Audio Player!

Sean stops by the cave to show Adam a new acquisition: a vintage music player invented and manufactured in Germany in the 1930s called the Tefifon! It's the rare piece of analog audio electronics that Adam has never encountered before--essentially a phonograph-like record housed in a cartridge form factor. Sean and Adam examine this Tefifon and hear a sample of its playback.
Learn more about the Tefifon at ‪@Techmoan‬ : • Vintage Electronics - ... and • Tefifon Part 2 - more...
Shot by Joey Fameli
Music by Jinglepunks
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Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Thanks for watching!

[@tested]

Learn more about the Tefifon at @Techmoan : kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHOxhXSjgbegi8k and kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6W3hoWodryJj6c

[@Sonnell]

Thanks for mentioning Techmoan! Would be lovely to see you two meet, perhaps Adam visiting his collection :)

[@SkageXL5]

TECHNMOAN KRU IN THE HIZZAY!

[@metern]

The Techmoan channel has already shown several videos about the Tefifon. One came out just recently 😊

[@metern]

1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHOxhXSjgbegi8k 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6W3hoWodryJj6c 3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHOxhXSjgbegi8k

[@Techmoan]

It’s very kind of you to post the links - thanks for this, it’s much appreciated.

[@hrothgar014]

I saw the thumbnail and said: ‘It’s a Tefifon.” Long live Techmoan.

[@apparentlyretrograde]

Respect for the shout out to Mat from Techmoan. An absolutely wonderful video about this product as well as one about its ill fated stereo successor can be found there.

[@mikeuk666]

TechMoan is a great channel

[@DJSubAir]

Came to comment the same thing lol thanks for doing so

[@di0__0ib]

couldn't agree more

[@writerpatrick]

@@mikeuk666 It's on my subscription list.

[@deansiracusa3966]

Excellent channel!

[@Gappasaurus]

NGL, Techmoan’s Tefi-sourced “Cuba Baion” theme music was playing in my head for this entire video 😄

[@alexdemoya2119]

I love a good crossover episode. Techmoan and Adam Savage. Transatlantic perfection

[@microbuilder]

lol Very first thing I thought of was Techmoan

[@plutoniumshore]

Agreed. Love the shoutout!

[@steveb1972]

@@microbuildersame here!

[@captainmarbles]

A link to Techmoan is a classy move in the days of so much drama.

[@ItsjustmeElisa]

Oh what a throwback I haven't seen one of those in probably going on 35 years. I'm German and my great great aunt who was born in 1899 had one of those and I used to play around with it when I was around 6 or 7 years old, she had a lot of classical music on those cartridges and that might actually have been the first time ever in my life that I heard classical music by German Composers and it was coming out of that thing. Hers did not have an amp I had to fiddle around with a jack that was also used for her radio and record player. What a fun memory, she died at the age of 93 in 1992 damn what a lifespan of turmoil and societal and technological change she lived through.

[@BrandonW2220]

Between Techmoan and Tested, these little gems are going to become more popular than they have been for 60 years.

[@fallwitch]

Check out Mr Carlson as well.

[@umbraelegios4130]

Ironically the Techmoan episode about this is on the recommendation side bar for me.

[@GroovingPict]

how is that ironic? literally how the recommendation system works

[@Mixxie67]

Audio and Hi-Fi has been my husband’s business for 36 years. He has sold and come across a lot of interesting vintage gear in that time but this is new to him.

[@tested]

Wow!

[@Mixxie67]

@@testedHe just told me he recently came across a 12 cartridge 8-track player he had seen on @techmoan. “It was pretty darn neat.” He traded it to help pay to repair a reel-to-reel.

[@writerpatrick]

Possibly because it was only sold in Germany, or at least Europe.

[@srenhaandbk7904]

Well since this is a 110v 60hz machine that sort of disproves this, unless it was somehow modded? No idea, I was also under the impression this was europe only, but now I'm not so sure. @@writerpatrick

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@writerpatrickmgebha has a comment on this video discussing how Tefi collectors in Germany already knew many models were in fact exported to the US (just not very successfully). Though apparently they didn’t know that this model ever made its way over to America

[@mgebha]

What a great find! I am a German Tefifon enthusiast and know a lot about this technology. What ist totally new to me, is that this early version the KC-1 already has been exported to the US. We already know about later devices, that have been sold under the Westrex label. So for me - and all other German Tefi-enthusiasts - this discovery is very exciting! I‘d love to find out more about Tefi in the US! Please take a closer look to the cassettes: On the underside there is stamp like „7ABj“ or similar on the sticker. The number tells the date, when the cassettes have been produced. Knowing those numbers along with the number and name of the tapes would be very valuable information!

[@mgebha]

Judging from the serial number and other signs, the KC-1 shown here most likely has been produced in 1958. This can be verified by looking at the chassis: On its underside there is a stamp similar to the one on the cassettes near the type plate. If it‘s hard to see, UV light will help.

[@mgebha]

I have found the German equivalents of the two tapes from the video: - “Dance Melodies“ is TD/S 2187 “Rhythmus ist Trumpf“ - “Famous Overtures“ is TD/S 4074 “Berühmte Ouvertüren I“ Both cassettes most likely have been produced in 1957. As stated before: A look at the stamp will tell the correct date. Also it would be interesting if the cassettes have the original identification numbers TD/S 4074 and TD/S 2187 or different ones.

[@mgebha]

Ragarding operation of the KC-1 Tefifon: Please move the top switch s-l-o-w-l-y! When switched on as fast as in the video, there is a high risk of breaking the outer sides of the tape. This is a known issue. And it would be a pity if these cassettes were damaged…

[@CworthDynamics]

I took photos of inside & will post on my socials - @CworthDynamics. If there's a collectors site I should post to, let me know.

[@CworthDynamics]

​@@mgebhagood to know!

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

I'm surprised that Adam had not seen Techmoan's video on the Tefifon prior to this encounter!

[@burner8959]

I was coming to say you're only years behind Techmoan...but it seems you've given him credit where he deserves it. Mat is the go to for interesting and cool audio gear, and some of the stuff you want to stay away from. Top chap he is.

[@twocvbloke]

And it is because of the Tefifon that many of us now have a permanent earworm, the tune called Cuba Baion, as frequently used by Mr. Techmoan in his videos... :P

[@ve2vfd]

It's been my phone's ringtone for years :)

[@AdamJRichardson]

For those that aren't familiar with Techmoan yet, boy are you in for a treat! His look at a bonkers Panasonic 20 cassette changer is a favorite

[@kenbousquet4060]

Anytime there's a Techmoan and Tested Crossover MY LITTLE NERD HEART EXPLODES!!!

[@ducomaritiem7160]

I know that machine! There's one on display at the "Museum of the 20th century" in Hoorn, the Netherlands.

[@timprussell]

I only recently saw the Techmoan on this. I never knew this existed a month ago.

[@HerrDark]

Techmoan is amazing with the electronics and media he shows, presents on his channel. Now Adam, you need to make a movie prop of it, like the Walkman model.you built.

[@jeffdlr3056]

@4:47 Sean says "great urban horror story" then almost immediately after we hear the mysterious *pop* sound in the background. oOoOoOOOooo!

[@redadamearth]

I have this exact piece. lol That's crazy. My mom went to high school in Germany in the 60's and she'd brought this back with her. heh It's an awesome player. She can't remember where she got it; she thinks she remembers her dad (who was in the army) bringing it home. She gave it to me when I was a teenager and I've kept it ever since. I've rarely used it, as I'm always afraid of breaking it.

[@tested]

So cool!

[@itechflagstaff]

Thanks for mentioning Techmoan!👍👍👍😊😊😊

[@jmalmsten]

Tefifon was the first video I saw on Techmoan. I too highly recommend that channel. He goes through so many weird formats and technologies.

[@PiotrStaszewski]

Techmoan getting proper credit is more than proper, thanks! Adam being oblivious to this whole thing-stuff is genuine too - expected even ;-) Please Adam&co preserve this oddity - you do have the means! And overall... cheer y'all!

[@Geeksmithing]

Sean himself is a gem. Please feature him more again!!

[@Lumibear.]

Great to see Adam so fascinated by this and gobsmacking to hear Techmoan get a shout out, just as he’s taking a break though lol, well, he has one heck of a back catalogue to explore, give him a try folks, he’s one hard working ’tuber.

[@russellcameronthomas2116]

Just moved to East Bay and now shopping at Urban Ore. Love it! Several times, I saw something I like that was so weird or specialized, I thought "Nobody but me would want this. I'll come back later to buy it.". Come back later, and it has been sold.

[@ryansheldonart6358]

I love techmoan! So awesome to see you guys shout him out!

[@Mr.Grimble]

Fun fact: Adam's microphone in this episode is an homage to the Tefifon 😉

[@BThings]

I was hoping to find a comment like this!

[@DUKE_of_RAMBLE]

I comically made the same note to myself. Very weird that it happened, and I noticed Shawn/Sean's mic glitched out for a second as well. Sounds like it was entering Mono mode??

[@marcusdamberger]

Yes, Adam's mic did sound rather thin here.

[@Jerbod2]

Loved the shoutout to Mat from Techmoan.

[@theultimate77]

Love Techmoen, saw his video on the stereo version a few days ago.

[@Mistahhuntah]

Techmoan is just the best for obscure audio/ video formats.

[@bigsarge2085]

Techmoan-Tested crossover!

[@woolver42]

My grandparents had a Tefifon. It must have been a portable device but sadly we don't have it anymore. One often told childhood memory from my mom is, that they took it on a vacation trip to Norway. And there was one song that she really really liked, "Mustafa" by Leo Leandros. She terrorized my grandparents by having it repeat and singing to it on and on during the car ride. It took me quite a while to have her describe the tape player in enough detail to figure out what it was. When I discovered it and saw the techmoan video I showed it to her and she confirmed that it must have been a Tefifon.

[@axel_is_gaming]

Old technology is so fascinating. The challenges engineers had to overcome in an age where communication was not instantaneous and information was hard to come by as internet did not exist.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Having been an engineer in the analog days, as well as now, that’s a subject I could speak for days on.

[@redadamearth]

We've only had the internet for barely 30 years. We were doing just fine without it. lol Most analog tech devices work better and last longer than many things made today.

[@johnturner8286]

Love the Tefifon! The method to splice the recording strip into an endless loop is genius: make a clamp that locks into the exact groove patterns at top and bottom end of the strip, leave a gap in the middle, then pour in resin to achieve a true weld. The clamp has an impression of the missing bit of the recording in the gap, so the recording plays back without a skip.

[@Crow.Author]

I love it when my favourite youtube channels talk about each other. Hearing that Adam uses Techmoan for research too is wonderful.

[@RabbitsInBlack]

So yes I seen this in Techmoan but for some reason I swear I've remembered seeing this tech in toys. Long time.

[@stringlarson1247]

Urban Ore! That was a weekly stop when I lived in the East Bay in the 80s-90s. Happy to hear it's still around.

[@zonger420]

Techmoan best channel on KZbin next to Tested!

[@ScaledCreations]

Oh the irony that Adams mic is off during an audio episode! 😅 This was a fascinating bit of tech! Love seeing this stuff.

[@nathanialm]

Techmoan has had two of these on his channel

[@Digthemadscientist]

My family is from Germany and my grandfather had one of these in his work shop and we refurbished it together. One of my favorite memories so very cool to see one again 🤘🤓🤘 Nerdcore Hardcore

[@AudioThrift]

Adam, I love how you appreciate the design elements of stuff like this. These things are pieces of art.

[@martinkoch9569]

😲I was taken by surprise seeing this video as I also have one Tefifon . Its built into an old tube Radio where you can open the top and inside is the Tefifon. There is only one cartridge and, unfortunetly, Carnival music😁. Nobody knew about a Tefifon and I did not find any other Cartriges . But havent searched for it for quite some time. I almost forgot about it until today.

[@leedesigner1977]

Yeh Matts (Techmoan) review is fantastic, as is most of his content. Nice video, Adam (o:

[@danielbear3802]

Wait until Adam sees the video on techmoan's video on the device that is recorded on wire

[@stevethepocket]

Wire recorders are a pretty well-known piece of old tech. The term "wearing a wire" (hidden recording device for espionage) comes from that era.

[@Craftlngo]

My father was Radio and Television seller and repair specialist in Germany in this era. He showed some weird Audio (and later on Video equipment) but I've never heard of Tefi or this device before.

[@tested]

Oh, WOW!

[@HelloKittyFanMan]

OH! Yeah, I heard of the Tefifon phonographic tape/ribbon player from Matt "Techmoan" Taylor too! They are so fascinating as basically a hybrid between a wax/shellac/vinyl player and an ordinary tape player! Even more fascinating than wire-recorders!

[@Mixxie67]

I’ve been playing Civ 6 obsessively for a couple of weeks and only just yesterday noticed that the quote Sean Bean narrates when you finish the Ballistics branch of the tech tree is Adam-“Let’s get on our knees and pray. I don’t know to whom. Is there a patron saint of ballistics yet?”.

[@Hykje]

Techmoan got a stereo version that was the later version of the machine, but it was impossible to find a stereo cartridge for it because they were so rare.

[@mgebha]

No worries: I am just about to send him one!

[@xgford94]

@@mgebhaYES!!!!

[@digitalrailroader]

@@mgebhayou are an MVP for doing that! Can’t wait for his video on it!

[@cindydott452]

@@mgebha Good for you!

[@cefalu63]

I love techmoan channel. It brings back lots of memories.

[@jbaby362]

The Sound of that is fabulous, what a beautiful machine

[@jimshorts6751]

Looked like the little brother to the commercial Telefunken unit. Lots of college professors, doctors, and lawyers clamored for those because wire recorders were spotty, hard to use, and wiped out the entire low end to a recording. The "cassette" wasn't originally taped shut because the cartridges were meant to be repairable. They had a short lifespan once the Struder and Sony personal recorder came out in the late, late 50s, early 60s. Great find. I've repaired those cassettes using plastic banding material. It works wunderbar !

[@utube4andydent]

Techmoan one the best! Always worth a view.

[@Ybalrid]

I like seeing the new old ILM "hardware store" in the background of this 🙂

[@SyntheticFuture]

So glad Techmoan got a shout out. Brilliant channel 👌🏻

[@paulvamos7319]

Adam seeing something for the first time and geeking out over it with someone else who shares the same passion is beautiful and fun and funny to behold! 😮😂

[@michaelkatgerman168]

Frome Holland here, 64 and love tech things. Never seen this before, Love it. LP's on a tape multi track needle

[@benjaminniemczyk]

I have seen these, it is quite an incredible design and a logical alternative to records if you want continuous music. Think stores, offices, etc. Really brilliant.

[@ansstr]

it is not really continuous, if the needle is down at the end it repeats the last loop which contains a jingle so you know the tape is still running (like a record will if you have no automatic shut of)

[@voltare2amstereo]

It's a continuous groove from top to bottom

[@metern]

The Techmoan channel has already shown several videos about the Tefifon. One came out just recently 😊

[@metern]

1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHOxhXSjgbegi8k 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6W3hoWodryJj6c 3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHOxhXSjgbegi8k❤

[@alecjahn]

Amazing how they mentioned that in the video and even provided links

[@metern]

@@alecjahn They probably saw that video, so they had to make a shoutout 😁

[@Tensen01]

@@metern He literally says in the video that he learned about it from Techmoan. Maybe watch the video.

[@metern]

@Tensen01 It's on my playlist

[@ACBMemphis]

Cool! Looks like something those watcher guys on Fringe might have used... According to the Encyclopedia of Recorded sound, the Tefifon recorded sound on "an endless band of 35mm film" and died out due to the "Inability of the firm to secure the services of major artists, who were under contract to the record labels.."

[@CworthDynamics]

Totally!

[@tadnauseum]

Techmoan!

[@drumzone5]

I too am blown away by this beautiful machine!!! I also never knew something like this was even ever made! Thank you for sharing.

[@Mazorzarch]

If this device was in an old movie or TV show, I would have chalked it up to being a kitbashed prop. Very cool piece of audio equipment.

[@Bayan1905]

I remember my father having one of these when I was a kid, I have no idea where it came from but he had a thing for audio equipment and I think he got it when the plant he was working for retired it or got rid of it. I only ever remember him ever taking it out and he had it in the living room a couple of times. I know I wasn't allowed to near the darn thing. That would have been sometime around 1982-1983.

[@mrscb5303]

How amazingly cool was this discovery!!! 🧡🖤🧡

[@tested]

SO cool!

[@puffcap_]

I just saw the techmoan episode this week, so fun

[@nicksavage4763]

TECHMOAN IS AWESOME 🎉

[@suttoo85]

what a beautiful piece of old kit

[@felipearancibias.1920]

That thing is beautiful and amazing, great srtuff

[@marcberm]

So basically a phonographic Mobius strip. Neat!

[@Robothut]

Amazing. I have no idea why they would build that unit at that time when other options were avalible. But I am glad they did. So cool. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@pirobot668beta]

I saw/operated a similar device: the recording media was magnetic, but it was grooved like the TEFI. IBM dictation machines...

[@mittensfastpaw]

It really is pretty wild what got made over the years across different countries. Pretty neat to see my friend!

[@WrainTravels]

I was about to tag techmoan right as they referenced him haha good stuff

[@corrinastanley125]

Another rabbit hole for Adam to dive into. Thanks Tested team.

[@ghostbanana271]

2:54 makes it possible Blade Runner in-universe artifact

[@jerryvikla3925]

Thats the coolest find since my dad won a mystery USPS unclaimed items auction back in the 60's and there was a van de graf generator in it!

[@marcpaters0n]

Wow, how the hell I have I never heard of this? I love it! These definitely need to make a comeback.

[@kylesanders8276]

Love your new shop layout! It always feels good to reasess and rearrange according to new needs and wants. Like a hermit crab finds a new home.

[@andrewsock1608]

I can’t wait until spring when my watch is right again.

[@praveenb9048]

"Bauhaus" springs to mind.

[@SkogKniv]

That player looks right out of a Wes Anderson film.

[@randbradbury]

There are quite a few long play audio devices from the 50's. They were often used in grocery stores, department stores and train stations.

[@kvo866]

Adam keep up the good work. Love every video of u. Greets from the Netherlands.

[@leemarsh3569]

I love the things Sean comes up with! What a cool bit of kit 😊

[@KimmoJaskari]

I had to look at the German Ebay and immediately found an expensive one in all wood, that looks luxurious.

[@taloowa5800]

That's amazing! What a great device.

[@Tenneseejosh]

I love this channel insomuch as it introduces and opens our eyes to contraptions heretofore unknown to most of us, even the well-traveled. Great episode!

[@jackstraw79]

Won't find those cassettes at a truck stop! Beautiful piece of history.

[@BulletWilliam]

This is fascinating! I love seeing sorta in-between technology.

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

adam, there were different types of tapes for the Tefifon from half an hour up to 4 hours of playtime. in Europe, it's easier to find the tapes than the playing device but if you go to Germany pretty much every second-hand and thrift store will have at least one in stock; there were even tefifon players that could play these cassettes but also functioned as a wire recorder and normal record player.

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

in my phonographic museum, I have none of the Tefifon players but I have buckets of tapes I refuse to pay the high prices these tend to be online but I'm sure I will stumble on one one-day for el-cheapo.

[@SpaceEng927]

Wow.. this is an awesome engineering of the time it was invented.

[@fwaynedavis]

more like this please!

[@johnmedley5831]

beautiful device thank you for sharing

[@Lucky32Luke]

Adam, Techmoan 13 days ago showcased the stereo version. ;)

[@abundantYOUniverse]

Fantastic thanks!

[@CarboniteDreamer]

drool!!! for an audiophile like myself that is so cool!!!! i love the history of audio and my dream is to own some of these older things. i especially want an old vacuum tube radio.