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

[@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.

[@Gappasaurus]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@captainmarbles]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@ducomaritiem7160]

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

[@MorneWillemse1]

Dankie!

[@tested]

Thank you for the super chat! Very kind.

[@kenbousquet4060]

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

[@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.

[@jeffdlr3056]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@Geeksmithing]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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 :)

[@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!

[@Crow.Author]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@itechflagstaff]

Thanks for mentioning Techmoan!👍👍👍😊😊😊

[@suttoo85]

what a beautiful piece of old kit

[@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.

[@Mistahhuntah]

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

[@AudioThrift]

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

[@ryansheldonart6358]

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

[@timprussell]

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

[@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.

[@theultimate77]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@Lucky32Luke]

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

[@utube4andydent]

Techmoan one the best! Always worth a view.

[@michaelkatgerman168]

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

[@ids1024]

From the vague title, I was trying to guess which bizarre recording medium this would be about. Mainly based on Techmoan videos I've seen. Somehow I hadn't seen the video on that one. Guess I'll need to watch it.

[@SpaceEng927]

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

[@Joliie]

Love @techmoan so many weird things, its a lovely channel to expand on sound storage :)

[@ScaledCreations]

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

[@jbaby362]

The Sound of that is fabulous, what a beautiful machine

[@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!

[@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.

[@Jerbod2]

Loved the shoutout to Mat from Techmoan.

[@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?”.

[@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 !

[@SyntheticFuture]

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

[@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.

[@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)

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@mittensfastpaw]

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

[@johnmedley5831]

beautiful device thank you for sharing

[@undefined40]

Yea, when I saw the Thumbnail, my first thought was "They saw that Techmoans vid" :)

[@RabbitsInBlack]

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

[@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!

[@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! 😮😂

[@corrinastanley125]

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

[@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.

[@voltare2amstereo]

It's a continuous groove from top to bottom

[@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.

[@WrainTravels]

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

[@leedesigner1977]

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

[@bigsarge2085]

Techmoan-Tested crossover!

[@mrscb5303]

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

[@tested]

SO cool!

[@Ybalrid]

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

[@KirksAudioSanctum]

If anyone has a stereo tape for one of these TEACHMOAN would love it!!! He has one of the only stereo units. Also, I am surprised that these sound so fantastic. Really clear.

[@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

[@leemarsh3569]

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

[@elijahvincent985]

A format that MUST make a comeback. 4-hour Vinyl Record/8-Track? Come on. That's a win in my book.

[@rythemoparguy]

This thing is so bizarrely unheard of, and now I want one for that reason

[@StarkRG]

Thank you for reminding me of Urban Ore, my dad used to get all sorts of stuff there when I was growing up and I never really appreciated it. It was mostly stuff a kid wouldn't be interested in: windows, a bath tub, cabinets, etc. I never knew they had stuff like this, though so I'm gonna have to try to get there next time I'm visiting the US. I'll definitely be paying extra baggage fees on my return.

[@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.

[@matthewjbauer1990]

Shoutout to @Techmoan for showing what I believe to be one of the only remaining stereo Tefifon players. Certainly one of the the only documented "working" stereo Tefifon (probably needs a new needle). Sadly, he couldn't find any stereo Tefifon cartridges nor were there any documented anywhere. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6LJh4Zsls10qNU.

[@zonger420]

Techmoan best channel on KZbin next to Tested!

[@puffcap_]

I just saw the techmoan episode this week, so fun

[@drewryan6320]

Cool piece of kit. I find it amusing that this is a show and tell on a piece of audio gear and Adam's mic is high passed so far up.

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

Came here from Techmoan. There is a good wiki article about Tefifon. Thanks for showing this.

[@andylinton2798]

I've one of those, without the amp but in the same case. Love the `Tefifon fanfares' that play at the start and end!

[@felipearancibias.1920]

That thing is beautiful and amazing, great srtuff

[@abundantYOUniverse]

Fantastic thanks!

[@marcpaters0n]

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

[@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!

[@mwnation5686]

Love tech moan hope he gets more

[@pirobot668beta]

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

[@rays5163]

Techmoan is pretty great

[@kvo866]

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

[@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.

[@ToolsandTime]

That Urban Ore junk store sounds pretty interesting, would like to stop by there sometime! Cool video.

[@robertburgess6100]

That is just way too amazing.