Adam Savage's Nagra Spy Recorder Collection!

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Adam pops open his custom-made carrying case for his collection of Nagra vintage audio recording equipment. It's an assembly of rare audio gear that has a direct lineage to the swiss spy recorders used in the 1970s, including the iconic compact reel-to-reel Nagra recorder. Adam walks us through the collection and shows some of the recorder's notable features that have made it a favorite among tech historians.
Shot by Adam Savage
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#AdamSavage

[@JakeBiddlecome]

When I was a kid my dad had one of those mini cassette recorders (not a spy piece) that he got for his graduation. Super tiny. Apparently it was top of the line at the time. I roll played so many spy stories with that thing - it was so cool. I learned that the tapes he had given me weren't all blank and he had used them as his own personal diary for years. I learned so much about him that he doesn't know I know, so I guess it was kind of a spy kit after all.

[@anchorbait6662]

That's a great story and memory to have. Thanks for sharing

[@carolann811]

Thanks for sharing. I can just see a little boy out there, spying on what he thinks is the world and it's magnificent tales. But the real story was there all along.

[@thomashverring9484]

When my brother and I were kids, we used to tape all kinds of things. We made radio programs (my late grandmother sings on one of them), recorded music (never really stopped doing that), and my brother began discreetly spying on us all during dinner. So we have recordings (now called "Family Business #") with many family members and old friends of the family now long dead. I'm so glad that he did. He never stopped, actually, because he works with sound design and music composition for theatre, art installations, and all kinds of things all over the world, so he often needs interesting sounds. I've heard myself pop up the weirdest places X^D

[@thomashverring9484]

Oh, and I of course sent him a link to this video, because I know he'll appreciate it!

[@robertchmielewski7699]

Fun fact is : in polish language the word "nagra" literally means "It will record" :) It is probably because it's creator was polish guy Stefan Kudelski

[@LarsJacobsenDK]

Nice piece of trivia :-)

[@microbuilder]

I feel like Techmoan would like this video...

[@SDsailor7]

He would love it! We need to tell him about this video. Cheers

[@Klau5]

A man of coulter i see

[@tangyorange6509]

Love my Nagra kit

[@RÅNÇIÐ]

Hell yea, my thoughts exactly

[@JAGrossman1]

this is right up Techmoan's alley!

[@abbysharp1659]

the people deserve a period spy movie where everything is played really seriously but the spy character is just adam savage gleefully using all of this recording gear

[@pinchopaxtonsgreatestminds9591]

He fits the bill! I actually want to use him in a comic I am making.

[@lautimartinez6341]

Watch The Man from U.N.C.L.E, it pretty much exactly that lol.

[@tjthrash0143]

I love it... but then he needs to show off the build to the people he spied on.

[@righteousred723]

Sounds like a perfect movie for simps. I'll just rewatch agent 86 and you can wish for steve carrell to make weird noises pretending to be bond. You child

[@AllenCavedo]

As Adam said The Conversation is about as close as you’ll get. Also The Lives of Others is an excellent film and shows real Stasi secret police audio gear in use.

[@OC35]

When I worked for Nagra’s UK agent, we had a prototype SN to show to the UK police. It had a fault so I had the job of flying to the Swiss factory to have it repaired. I have met Stefan Kudelski and at an exhibition introduced him to Ray Dolby!

[@davidhenning6179]

The whole, "I built this myself, but I didn't film it," thing is a cover story. It's actually Jamie's recording gear case from when he was a spy. Adam just bought it off him under the condition that he wouldn't say how he actually go it. 😆

[@howardbeatman2820]

We're not supposed to blow his cover!!!

[@talon262]

Jamie's codename: "Walrus"

[@TheQuyman]

"I built this myself, but I didn't film it," could've be the name of his auto biography

[@gterpening]

Jamie would be the most conspicuous spy ever

[@TheGreatAtario]

_[Doing the fingers-mustache impression]:_ Well, now I gotta kill ya.

[@dio52]

Just watched The Conversation for the first time in maybe 15 years thanks to this. These days I have little or no interest in watching so many of the movies I bought in my twenties, but this one still holds up.

[@Tonyjwo]

Just wanted to clarify a few things about these Nagra tape recorders. I worked on these and all Nagra products from the early 1980’s to late 1990’s. I was an apprentice to a Swiss engineer who was the Service manager at Nagra in Switzerland. He emigrated to Australia in the late 70’s and I trained under him for a number of years. We had factory level Service ability including all the parts, test equipment and jigs. Firstly the lever on the LHS has 3 positions, middle off, push in play/rec, pull out and push up to lock. This pull out is for rewind and moves a small white circular reel brake near the reel to stop it moving. If you don’t pull it out and you rewind the tape, you’ll wear out the plastic. Also don’t leave it in the on position even without the batteries as the pinch roller will sit on the capstan and get a flat spot. The smaller cassette version Nagra you mentioned was called a JBR. It didn’t use 50Hz or 60Hz it had a record bias of 32KHz which is the same as a digital quartz watch. That way if it was hidden on someone it couldn’t be detected. It could only record, there was not play or erase. The Nagra SN’s versions could record 50 or 60Hz pilot tones for synchronizing with film recording. The SN and JBR were quite often gaffer taped to the lower back of under cover police when they were doing covert work, I did hear a few interesting recordings when I worked on them! As far as I remember a Nagra SN was also taken to the moon on an Apollo mission.

[@ryanrider569]

Filming what you are doing can exponentially increase the time and frustration of a project. Never feel bad about not filming something for us. While we all absolutely love to watch every minute of your content, we also want you to enjoy what you do and the projects you truly want to work on.

[@jacobgrodman]

"You can see why I was obsessed with this!" Not really, but your enthusiasm is incredibly infectious.

[@user-tb5ns7hc5i]

OMG, the satisfying solid quality click it makes when the cover is reattached effortlessly to the recorder. This might be the coolest piece yet I’ve seen on this channel.

[@davidbrownlow5245]

My film school teacher claimed to be one of the first importers of Nagra tape recorders into the US. BTY Nagra is Polish for “record”. Stephen Kudelski created the first Nagra recorders. He was originally interested in using magnetic tape for robotic memory. When building his first devices he realized they would also make a great audio recorder. His girlfriend at the time was a reporter for Swiss radio so he built her one. When other reporters saw it they all wanted one and the Nagra II was born. The first truly portable reel to reel tape recorder used for Film was the Nagra III, still a great tape recorder. Later when the company developed he built recorders for many other industries and applications. The SN was made not just for CIA but for anybody who wanted to do audio surveillance. The main feature of the SN was that it could make a good recording at super slow speed. That little reel could hold something like six hours of audio. FYI his main innovation wasn’t just the recorder it was that is was a “phase coherent” recording. Meaning the audio was truly flat across the entire human audible spectrum making for a realistic and pleasing recording.

[@igkgigoh]

Love how Adam said "RIGHT?!" just after I said "oh maaan!" 5:56 This thing is beautiful

[@tested]

Ha!

[@padraicbrady]

That's the great thing about these pieces. Before mass production, hot glue being 90% of the product, and software...old technology can be really beautiful. My favorite watch is still a mechanical with cut outs to show the mechanism running.

[@carolann811]

Oh, man. I do transcription and seeing this, I was transported to what must have been a past life experience. I know the feel and weight of the headphones on my head, the smell of the equipment, the quality of the audio. The delicate thump as the tape heads engage. I have goosebumps.

[@stagesixx]

The first time I ever opened up a Nagra recorder, I was completely blown away. The top hinges up like the hood of a car and inside is like a fine watch. Military grade electronic components, gold conductors, aerospace quality machining. I could just stare at it forever, I can’t think of anything quite impressive, not even an Arriflex camera.

[@tzisorey]

4:53 - flute music starts an upward trill. "Mr Savage, your mission, should you choose to accept it...." Man, that look takes me right back to the *original* Mission Impossible TV series.

[@martinconrad9260]

"Please be kind - rewind." ~ Blockbuster, 1990

[@thamomentum]

Holy crap. A relic of the good ol' days

[@asitu]

This is so cooool! I don't look in the mirror when I go over my collections, but I do see the light in Adam's eyes when he go over his. Love it!

[@user-tb5ns7hc5i]

These Nagra units have been featured/used in most if not all of the Mission Impossible films. Super cool tech from last century.

[@SparrowHawk183]

What a beautiful collection of industrial magic! Wow, there's such an era of industrial design that these Negra devices fall into, every detail and component designed and built to such a high level. And the tactility! Love those mechanical pieces, so good. Thanks for sharing, Adam!

[@pamdemonia]

Oh wow, that's the thing I always loved from "The Conversation" especially after dealing with the big Nagra 4.2s at the NYU film equipment checkout! Glad someone is collecting these!

[@appalachianunderground8474]

I don’t know which I enjoy the most, the content of your awesome channel or the enthusiasm that you always share with us, thanks for all the awesomeness!!!

[@SaturnCanuck]

Dude that is awesome. I love 1960s and 1970s technology, the look and craftsmanship of it all.

[@docskate4312]

You are right. The case and what's in it is absolutely Beautiful.

[@steves.4720]

I'm also Nagra-obsessed - I've got 20+ of them, all of the flavors from SN to the T Audio. The SNST-R is the one we're all trying to find - it's the 'audiophile' stereo Nagra SN that was actually made for music recording and playback. Running at 3.75ips and with freq response from 50Hz - 15kHz, it was introduced in 1999 and sold in very limited numbers. Finding one now is impossible and you'd have to give up a kidney to get one.

[@openreeltoreel]

Yes, you are!!! ;)

[@openreeltoreel]

Dream for me to get SNST-R

[@shredmaster2000]

If you ever decide to make more videos it would be sweet to see some of your nagra collection!

[@geirmyklebust]

Back in the early 70s; I was 12 years old, I held in my hands similar recorder. I was impressed of the size, and the feeling of high quality.

[@user-tb5ns7hc5i]

You have great taste Adam. I own those same Pioneer headphones and love them, but at $5k-20k for this recorder now, I will have to just admire yours. Beautiful. Thankyou for sharing your impressive collection of antiquities.

[@longwing]

What headphones are those?

[@BobHannent]

@@longwing SEL-40 about 8m30s

[@beautifulsmall]

Had five big reel to reel recorders in the 80's , jumble sales. great machines, so wonderful to listen to music from a machine that moves.

[@CaesiusX]

Those are indeed works of art! That entire set is simply gorgeous! 🤍 8:52 Taking sandpaper to the felt, thus aging it perfectly, was a brilliant idea!

[@karanash8025]

I have the same thing with collecting old cookbooks. They show the fashions of techniques and ingredients. And often show the influences of the times. Thrifty cooking is definitely a feature in WWII era recipes, so many feature unusual ingredient subs as well.

[@davewortley2293]

I am a kindred spirit, I love the history behind these beautiful pieces of equipment, they are like technological jewellery, and a privilege to own

[@keithreay]

I just started The Americans (I’m on season 2 now)... this is the universe telling me to keep doing what I’m doing... Great Show and Tell... keep up the great work.

[@AllenCavedo]

Excellent video on a terrific topic. Super nice collection you have there. I bought a Nagra 4.2 single track recorder a few years ago just to have one. As you say it is a beautiful piece of mechanical and electrical engineering. A giant Swiss watch that records and plays sound. And although it is from the 1970’s it still works perfectly. I use it to show the youngsters how sound was recorded back in the day.

[@KOVintageTech]

I finally threw the switch and picked up an SNN. It is the crown jewel of my collection. Thanks for sharing your set up!

[@ogrrecords]

Of all the cool things I've seen you work on in your shop, this just went to the top of the list. Thanks for sharing!

[@davemartin4923]

I actually used NAGRAs while working undercover for a Federal Agency in the 90s because digital recorders at the time were not generally accepted in court. Imagine having to rewind and reload this thing in a public bathroom stall while the bad guy, who would kill you if he saw it, was in the same bathroom in a different stall! I actually dropped one of the reels one time in a bathroom stall and had to wind 10 feet of tape back on the reel by hand before I could load the next tape. Fortunately the bad guy was smashing drunk that day. It's funny now, but it was sure convent to be sitting on a toilet at the time!!! Now imagine where I had to carry that brick (that's what we called a NAGRA recorder on the job) and a couple of extra tape reels so that it would not be felt during a pat down?!? I actually invented a carrying device for the NAGRA brick that is still being used for the much smaller digital recorders today because it works so well for preventing detection. No I'm not going to tell you where, but it includes some cast foam latex and creative costume construction. No Oscar or other award for good acting or costuming with that job, but you got a lead trophy if it wasn't just right! No pressure...

[@davemartin4923]

BTW Adam, you need to complete the set with a Minox. We still used those in the 90s too.

[@steveoneill8822]

25 years and 3 careers ago I studied to be a sound engineer. In the sound for film class we learned how to use a Nagra. There is 1 specific, proprietary nut on it that costs hundreds of dollars. The 1st class the instructor informed us 'DO NOT LOOSE THE NAGRA NUT!' And each subsequent quiz, test, exam the 1st question was "What's the 1st rule of using the Nagra? A. Don't loose the nagra nut, B. Don't loose the nagra nut, C. Don't loose the nagra nut or D. DON'T LOOSE THE NAGRA NUT

[@Chris-sk8zf]

those old nagra tape decks are incredible, and they sound absolutely wonderful too, i'm dying to own one. the ones they used for field sound cost about as much as a luxury car back in their day.

[@Dsschuh]

Adam, Thank you. I am fascinated by the history of almost everything! Your presentations are always fascinating! I went to the Nagra website and looked up every model. Such beauty in an amazingly small package! And, when you make a carrying/presentation case, they are also works of art. Keep up the good work, please.

[@footrotdog]

I have always a Nagra reel2reel ever since I saw one in the second episode of the original Equaliser TV show back in the 80's. It was the coolest thing ever.

[@scottimusgarrett15]

I have ALWAYS loved those little reel-to-reels. They were always the epitome of '60's "spy-cool" to me. Lovely piece of kit! I'm truly jealous!😁

[@tested]

Watch in VR on Oculus TV: ocul.us/3xo6z4t Adam's new EDC shirt (as seen in the thumbnail) is available here: cottonbureau.com/stores/savage-merchandising#/shop Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks: kzbin.info/door/iDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOAjoin

[@achuck4321]

I love these types of videos. Love seeing esoteric stuff.

[@bookon999]

@Thomas Sheridan It 's a real word, just one intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest. So maybe it's just new to you?

[@tested]

@Thomas Sheridan ? www.dictionary.com/browse/esoteric?s=t

[@jeremybecker8309]

Welcome to the NAGRA club, Adam. And you are correct. Many of us still use the larger machines, mainly the IV-S on a daily basis. And you were correct- NAGRA is built is Switzerland. FYI, in Polish (Stefan Kudelski was from Poland) the word NAGRA means "It Records".

[@WilksGRendai]

The Conversation is one of favourite all time films - I can watch it for background or meditation - those massive one-take zoom and pan shots are beautiful. The mini reel recorders are sooo cool - I'm sure fans here are all aware of audiophile and maker Fran Blanche of Franlab - she's shared a few of these great early spy recorders and they're amazing. ❤❤❤

[@WilksGRendai]

Ooh! And another great film for this type of hardware is "The Lives of Others" with Ulrich Mühe! A little more modern equipment as it's set in 80s but very cool 👍🏻

[@arimadx]

I had no idea I loved old sound equipment but now I do! Lol that is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful adam!

[@jimmysgameclips]

**Job interview at tested** Shadowy figure: "Okay, speak"

[@AGunleashed]

That is absolutely beautiful, Fantastic work Adam!!! SO NICE!!!!

[@skycow2]

The intro credits for the 1971 movie "Klute" feature a small spy reel-to-reel in a silver case, but it wasn't the beautiful Nagra. It took me years before I found out that it was the EDI model M-75B by Electro Data Inc. made around 1966-67. It was pretty much a copy of an earlier one developed for the CIA...

[@chrisplan9]

I was watching episode 4 of spycraft on netflicks and noticed at 34:51 one of these beautiful devices appear. If i hadn't just watch this video i wouldn't have appreciated the reference as much. Thanks Adam and tested peeps.

[@brianally1531]

What an incredible coincidence seeing this today. (No, i don't have any Nagra devices for you.) That's a lovely collection you have in that box. I get the appeal. It's such a pleasure to hold this kind of precision equipment. A wonderful film, too, eh? A nostalgic warning about the Haunting of America that goes on to this day.

[@mainematt1234]

You have to love the engineering and mechanical aptitude to create something like that...aah the Swiss. Super cool!

[@TypewriterChicago]

I heard you had an SN, it was shown on Tested a while back. Finally getting to see it! Such beautiful machines, absolutely ingenious. Impossible not to admire and respect the refined craftsmanship that went into making them, truly a form of fine artistry.

[@juanm.9462]

Very neat peace! I am lucky to have one of my own which is actually the SNST model. Wish I had the rest in the case. Great collection there and great presentation of the NAGRA equipment.

[@jdinnis]

Oh man, the chrome latches with the brass corners and handle are driving me nuts.....

[@joepiper6064]

I noticed that also!

[@MaxPower_Designs]

Yes thank you, I’m not the only one! Complete brushed silver equipment, chrome latches.......gold(brass) corners.....twitch.....twitch.....

[@mattsully5332]

That is an amazing kit you have there. Thank you for sharing!

[@bcostell69]

Building it is a gift to yourself without having to record it, they are stunning machines

[@TLindahl77]

I could stare at it for hours. It's maybe the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!

[@Silfverr]

I have a Nagra Kudelski as well. Absolutely gorgeous aparatus. I display it next to designs with similar 'look' for instance the Minox B spy camera.

[@BufftatJunkie]

Great to see someone so passionate about something, this is some cool stuff and the box looks good.

[@davydatwood3158]

This was a lot of fun to watch; there's nothing better than watching someone wax eloquent about something they're really, really into. Plus, you've given me ideas for something I might try to build myself! So, thank you! And... if you ever get the chance to do a cameo as "Q" - the Bond "Q," not the Star Trek one or the conspiracy one - you really should take it. :)

[@j.r.millstone]

Darmok and Jalad used a Nagra when the walls fell.

[@Battusai1984]

My dear man, they used TEN nagras.

[@anonymousaccordionist3326]

Sokath, his eyes opened!

[@microbuilder]

For some reason, I knew I'd see this quote in the comments...

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@microbuilder *geek cred confirmed*

[@aserta]

@@Battusai1984 There are ... FOUR NAGRAS!

[@groermaik]

Sometimes, I wake up in the wee hours of the morning with an idea of how to build just one piece of a project, and...17 hours later, the project is completely done and I don't know how I did that.

[@salaltschul3604]

Each time you brought something out of that case I couldn't help the, "Oh, Adam," that fell out. I adore spy stuff. I'm reading Jonna Mendez's 'Spy Dust' right now and her work with her husband (now husband) Tony was so interesting and super fascinating. Her work is definitely worth looking into. Thanks so much for sharing this, it really is a treasure.

[@Ironrav]

Thanks so much for sharing. What a great piece of kit Adam!

[@diemman70]

Beautiful little tape player. Thanks for sharing. Cool stuff.

[@RaidsEpicly]

It's easy to forget how ridiculously fast technology has improved in the last two centuries, but my god is seeing this from only 50 years ago a crazy example. It's like an entirely different world of technology even from what I was used to as a young millenial. Manual rewind! My god

[@simonhoney2050]

"I accidentally committed to buy this." We all know what that's like. No further explanation necessary.

[@f.d.6667]

The eBay "Buy Now" button is proof that free will is just an illusion!

[@TheChiefSmeg69]

Adam, you should totally create a hollow book to hide your Naga recorder in along with a microphone!

[@LarsJacobsenDK]

I second that motion!

[@user-tb5ns7hc5i]

That’s how this unit was given to Tom cruise in the last Fallout mission impossible film. Inside a hollowed out book that self destructed after he listened to the recording.

[@campkohler9131]

@Leigh Johnson To add authenticity, the book's dust jacket should be enclosed in a glassine cover with a "San Francisco City Public Library" label having the correct Dewey Decimal and other markings. Now what would be the appropriate title of the book in order not to attract undue attention?

[@zeroy]

These cost a bomb, $1500-$5000 - nice collection there Adam!

[@user-tb5ns7hc5i]

They go upwards of $20k. One on eBay right now.

[@richardsisk1770]

I like all these as well. The case is fantastic! Congratulations!

[@andyvan5692]

Great gear review, and casework, one other piece of equipment worth looking at is the "compas " camera, spy oriented design, but as here built like a Swiss watch, even had a single sheet film back for these, a marvellous example of engineering prowess and worth a look.

[@scttcmpbll]

Drooool, love Nagra stuff!

[@SDsailor7]

Yes me too!

[@klontart]

Beautiful kit! And always loved The Conversation.

[@glyph2011]

Oooooohhhh. That equipment... drool. Lovely case for it all too.

[@nottelling6598]

9:15 You have a hidden space in your spy recorder box and _you didn't put anything _*_in it?_* Who are you and what have you done with Adam Savage?

[@coyoteseattle]

Of course he put something in it. But it wouldn't be much of a secret if he went blabbing about it on the internet, would it?

[@draztiqmeshaz6226]

My dad had the exact same headphones. They're here on the healing bench back burner. Beautiful.

[@UKRacer36]

So envious! First the calculator now these Nagra items! At least I have my few Minox items (please don’t talk about them or Halda Speedpilot I still want to buy more!! The antique cool headphones are also now on my radar....

[@stevenallen512]

When I was in school (Technical Theatre Production) I remember you could hardly GIVE AWAY most reel-to-reel anything... the Nagra stuff obviously an exception. Crazy how that has changed again and it has (some) worth again. Really cool stuff, would HATE to splice reel-to-reel audio cues, I can do the work that once took a week in minutes. So So cool to see this, I am so drooling over that case and everything in it... Reminds me of the cases a lot of the equipment my grandfather had were in (he was a machinist who became head of maintenance and such at a factory that made road graders and sometimes did some aerospace stuff... Funny enough he almost moved the whole family to California when my mom was a kid to work at a factory making some then-new-gen avionics but had an issue with a typo on the visa.)

[@peterkelley6344]

Well that's more history than i thought learned in one afternoon in a long time! Thanks Adam!.

[@bennettniizawa7200]

This video will self-destruct in ten seconds...

[@raygunsforronnie847]

Cue Lalo Schifrin-composed theme music... "Good luck, Jim". Roll music.

[@Broadshore]

Wow!!!! Adam has NAGRA system.. The LAST TIME I see one.. ONE!! was at my Uncle house in the 80's.

[@modelcitizen1977]

Watching Adam go full geek is the best thing I’ll see this morning.

[@flynna]

Can we just appreciate this mans upload schedule at the moment

[@LarsJacobsenDK]

Yeah it’s quite a staggering amount of videos. Niice!

[@flynna]

@@LarsJacobsenDK it seems to be at least 1 if not 2 a day, crazy

[@ARTofTY-TV]

Just when you thought Techmoan had this angle of KZbin covered, in comes the Savage!

[@SPProps]

"I accidentally hit the Buy-It-Now button..." 😂 Yeah, that excuse didn't work for me either!

[@gymprofessor329]

As a vintage, too expensive to own tape machine freak, I about lost it at the thumbnail.

[@SDsailor7]

I have never seen one of those so i was also very exited when i saw it. What a beautiful machine. I had one ree to reel that came in a briefcase (not those big ugly ones from the fifties) i think it was from the eighties because it had the ribbon wire connectors it was mfr by atomic, i could not fix it so i donated it to a thrift store.

[@guitfidle]

That is so cool! I Love this kind of stuff, I have a really old wire recorder in a fancy wood case. It's all tube powered, and even has a magic eye tube for the signal strength when recording. It even came with a spool, and it actually all works 😍 And if that wasn't enough, I also picked up an old RCA wire recorder that uses a cassette to hold the wire spools. I did not get a cassette with it though

[@motorhearttk8360]

Old school analog technology is so friggin' cool. Great stuff

[@dragonmaid1360]

As an ex journalist in the 1990s i love this. Absolutely love it. Id love to play with it for a bit. Or maybe just investigate it. I can even imagine the weight of holding it in your hand.

[@PeterKJRichterIMHO]

You, good Sir, are a plethora of knowledge!! I still wish I had half you build skills, and half of the stuff in your "cave"! I like to tinker, mod (esp mod) stuff, etc etc ;) Just finished building my new PC rig a week ago, and over the weekend spent re-doing the cable management for the new sys - always seems to get tangled over time, esp a stereo sys as well o.0 I touched up the wire mgmt in the case, as my OCD kicked in with lone fan wires and such... Thanks for sharing, Adam!

[@ultranitro437]

Someday, I want to visit the Adam Savage Collection Museum to see all of this unique stuff up close!

[@joostvanputte]

Amazing piece of history/equipment!

[@jhota42]

Just speaking hypothetically, but I know some people who were in the intelligence game in the 1970s. And if I had had a conversation with them about what equipment they used, they might have told me their preferred headsets were Sennheiser.

[@user-tb5ns7hc5i]

I own those pioneer headphones and this model was not built for sound quality, but for materials, workmanship, and a piece of aesthetic art, they are gorgeous and very detailed quality. They match the quality of this recorder perfectly.

[@jhota42]

@@user-tb5ns7hc5i Yeah, period Sennheiser 414s are not attractive. They look kind of cheap, really. But the sound quality is still impressive.

[@user-tb5ns7hc5i]

@@jhota42 you are totally correct that Sennheisers were often used in this unit though, as Nagra makes a connection plug for them.

[@user-tb5ns7hc5i]

There’s actually a really cool video on KZbin of ABBA wearing a leather headphone model similar to this pioneer in one of their 70s music vids. The blond singer has it wrapped around her forehead like a headband to hold her hair back. Lol.

[@toggtlas7099]

I like that Adam is so humble about money despite being a multi-millionaire! That's classy! 👏

[@jakebaker4066]

A million dollars isn’t a lot of money in San Francisco

[@lordperezident]

@@jakebaker4066 that's for damn sure. San Francisco is top 3 most expensive places to live

[@toggtlas7099]

@@jakebaker4066 Keyword being "Multi". Savage is worth around 10 million USD. Going to claim "tHat iSn'T a LoT oF mOnEy iN sF" too?

[@tjthrash0143]

@@toggtlas7099 That is indeed alot of money. But when talking about "worth" its important to remember that it is not a value of cash on hand. Its everything. I would bet that all the items in his shop are half to three quarters of that.

[@stargazer7644]

@@toggtlas7099 no, it really isn’t a lot of money in sf. When you figure the shittiest little tiny place to live costs easily over a million bucks.

[@gizzymoee]

There’s a Nagra JBR (tape recorder) currently for sale on eBay. These have gone up in price recently, and ever since have been beyond my price range.

[@jessechappell2]

One of my favourite movies. I was expecting to see Harry Caul items. Thanks for sharing.

[@OC35]

I worked for the UK Nagra agents in the 60s and 70s. You pull the transport lever out to release the brake when rewinding.

[@cmb1972]

I too needed to see these as young as maybe 8 years old, when I was 11, I walked across London to a shop at Marble Arch that sold spy gadgets, just to see one.

[@NP-zl7dz]

No sweat if you can't film a project Adam, this was an amazing show & tell!

[@pablopinochet6039]

So many things I love about this object! The spy history, the connection both to films and filmmaking history, the sheer mechanical beauty of it all. I know you love the stories your objects tell so I was wondering, would you record some dialogue or field recordings on some of those reels just as a little detail for the set? To me it would be a great way to give the whole thing even more story and would be much like the stamps on your blade runner gun!

[@peterkelley6344]

Archivist: These seem to be in working order ... Coworker: I wonder if there's anything on them ??? Archivist: Only one way to find out ... Tape Recorder: "Hello. This is Adam Savage in my 'cave' on ..."

[@larsdela5906]

They were made for surveillance, but since the sound quality was so high, they were also used for film, especially documentary work. Since there were no good wireless microphones at the time, the SN could also be used for sound recording where a boom mic would be too visible. The SNN (mono, full track could make really great recordings), and the SNST (stereo) was made for recording speech, so the sound quality was not as good for "normal" use. They (shortly) made a SNST-R, which was a stereo version with really good sound quality for stereo music recording. But that one was expensive...