Elizabethan Auto (1965) Reel to Reel Tape Recorder

[@jazzpianoman01]

I grew up as a lad during the ‘60s/‘70s with reel to reel machines; my dad had a Phillips/Fidelity Playmaster 4 and an Elizabethan w three direct motors. Can remember recording off the radio and TV. Simpler times indeed

[@harveysvintageaudio]

About the same time I grew up 60’s and 70’s. I have an Elizabethan 3 motor machine in the loft that needs restoring at some point, can’t wait to get that one going.

[@jazzpianoman01]

@@harveysvintageaudio I think it was the Z32? Only thing wrong with it was the braking system on the rewind wasn’t working so you had to stop the reels from keeping spinning using your hands. Good recorder

[@Roland6596]

I used to have one since brand new. As soon as it starts warming up, it generates a nice smell of the rexin not because of the year but that it's usually its natural smell and that smell gets stronger as it warms up. That smell was exclusively from Elizabethan and not other brands. It was purchased at J M Goupille in Port Louis

[@harveysvintageaudio]

You're right it does have a unique smell, I love it.

[@Roland6596]

@@harveysvintageaudio . Me too

[@Super8Rescue]

I had one of these when I was a young lad in the 60's, It had a funny little square microphone from memory, which I put up against a radio speaker and recorded the opening of Radio 1. Happy memories of a nicer time.

[@harveysvintageaudio]

Hi, that's cool, it certainly was a nicer time. That must have been 1967 when Tony Blackburn opened Radio 1 with "Flower's In The Rain" by The Move. I worked for Radio 1 but much later in 1977 onwards.

[@Super8Rescue]

@@harveysvintageaudio It was a big day. Up to that point we had only the home/light service, which I lestened to on a VHF Bush radio with a big red light up tuning dial. Had to borrow my sisters bakelite mw radio to hear Radio One open.

[@harveysvintageaudio]

Very cool. I remember when my dad ysed to listen to a show called “Family Favourites” on the Home program I think on his Murphy radiogram.

[@theaylesburycyclist8756]

I used to have one of these Elizabethan tape recorders when I was a kid, and I used to record the audio from the telly back in the days before my parents got a video recorder. I can remember recording Monty Python’s Flying Circus with the external microphone in front of the TV speaker. I also used to record Top of the Pops off the telly and the Sunday charts on Radio 1.