RESTORING A 1940'S WIRE RECORDER

[@shango066]

I have one of those that exact one with a bunch of reels I'm going to have to watch this and get mine working now

[@dimitridekoning]

Please do a video Shango :)

[@cardboardboxification]

shango066 maybe play them reels and no copyright issue !!!!

[@chetpomeroy1399]

@@cardboardboxification Glenn Miller and his Orchestra would sound really good on one of those!

[@cardboardboxification]

Chet Pomeroy it would be interesting to test its frequency response... check what the mic, speaker, electronics will do..

[@tarstarkusz]

Just sit and marvel at the build quality of this thing. There's more metal in it than the average Chevy!

[@whjr1688]

I don't understand why this channel isn't blowing up with subscribers and likes.

[@Monty-wy3kv]

I just cleaned and recapped mine. I have a 181-R1, it's cube shaped and not in a portable case, but otherwise quite similar. I'm having a ball listening to 60-70 year old recordings of my father's family, recordings they made for him while he was in Japan right after the war as part of the occupation government. The wires I have span from '44 to 62. One Silvertone can has a Sears Roebuck price tag on it, 06-07-57, $3.95, so they were a little spendy back in the day. Thanks for posting, it was fun to watch.

[@donjohnson24]

Stunning ! When it bursts into life I bet every person who watches this lets out a 'Yipeeee!' to echo your own, and sits there with a great big soppy grin on their face. This took me back about 65 years to when I was around 14 in 1954, when my next door neighbour called me in to his home to show off his wonder new acquisition - a wire tape recorder! He knew I played around with crystal sets, and may even have been into making 'one-valvers', but I can recall being amazed by this avante-garde electronics. However, I don't remember it being as clear as your recordings, both old and new. Perhaps to amuse you, I once tried in every tobacconists along the High Road to London for several miles, trying to get an empty cigar box in which to build a crystal set - using one of the new-fangled diodes in place of a cats-whisker - but none were available. One shop owner took pity on me and offered a very large Old Holborn tobacco tin instead. I could just about squeeze all the components inside (paxolin variable capacitor), but despite connecting to a long aerial on poles in the garden and to a substantial earth, all I got on my headphones was absolute silence - not even a whisper! It took me ages to realise that unlike a wooden cigar box it was necessary to insulate the aerial and headphone terminals from the metal of the tin!

[@richardjerrybest]

Great story!

[@greggaieck4808]

Glasslinger you do a great job fixing old electronics like radios receivers

[@brianbloom1799]

What a awesome repair Ron, Great Machine, Memory,s are a Great thing, Listening to My mother and father Playing that Music in the late 50"s when I was just a little Boy. Great Video

[@jimburns348]

I like the fact that you jump right in and get er done without trying to impress anyone with your expertise. Great vids.

[@ct6502c]

This guy has a whole library of knowledge and experience in his mind. I've been watching his other videos and it's amazing what he does...even building homemade vacuum tubes!

[@conundrum112]

Ron, I would raise my hat to you if I had one, you are an absolute genius.

[@Tawatchai0]

I am a mobile mechanic in Thailand, I am fascinated by old circuits in Thailand, no one makes clips like this, your country is a circuit I have never seen, it is very different from old Thai circuit, I watched every clip of you in 2 days. You make me fall in love with this kind of circuit.

[@michaelscottcutler3627]

I was given this Webster model, too. Haven't touched it yet. Thanks for this tutorial. Beautiful late 1940s machine.

[@flatbrokefrank6482]

Amazing quality from the 1940's cheese slicer - keep the projects coming Ron - ATB

[@PeopleAlreadyDidThis]

My dad let me tear apart his wire recorder after it died. Wish I’d had sense enough to set it aside until I had brains enough to fix it. Years before that, before I was born, a local radio station held a contest, playing songs backwards, awarding prizes to those who could identify them. As you inadvertently demonstrated, the wire recorders would play in reverse at normal speed. My dad would record the contest tunes, quickly play back a few seconds in reverse-is-now-forward, then call in and claim his prizes. I eventually wore the motor bushings out of a Webcor record changer as a kid in the 60s. Neat to see this machine run so easily.

[@budandbean1]

Nice video Ron, thank you for taking the time to post it, you really know your stuff!

[@davepike6170]

I also have a Webster Chicago model identical to this one, I have to get mine working now!😊 Seriously, great job there, thanks for sharing!

[@thermionic1234567]

That wire recorder sounds really good!!will have to play with mine some time soon!

[@dianeramakers3368]

Fantastic! I knew they existed but never saw one working.

[@kenw919]

When I was in the first grade of school our teacher brought out one of these wire recorders and each member of the class recorded a poem called "The Swing". Thanks for bringing back fond old memories. Getting old here too.

[@Super8Rescue]

I have been looking forward to your next video. I am so pleased to see this come online today, and a wire recorder too, how wonderful. Thank You! And a bonus cat shot too. what a treat

[@anandarochisha]

You are an unusual person with some SERIOUS Skills. Bravo.

[@rayone1972]

Great to see old item come back to life. A real enjoyment to see u get happy when you get something like that working. Wow. I'm 47 and will be 48 in a few hours and I had no idea this kind of audio device even existed. Hats off 2u

[@RCALivingStereo]

Nice work These are so fun You never know what’s on these

[@MrChief101]

That was extraordinary-- even among your average videos! Hearing the tape simply put out its recording with apparent ease was a real kick.

[@claesmansson9070]

Yeah extraordinary dark and too far away,and its not a tape recorder,couldn t see much.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Glass linger your vintage 1940s wire recorder is awesome my friend 😅😅😅

[@makerofthingsunique]

I'd never even heard of this technology. Great rebuild and was really surprised by the recording quality. Excellent that you got it back to working condition 👍

[@jamesketchum5047]

my cat is the same way when im trying to watch a video or play a game, i just sigh and giggle at her because who can resist the power of cat love

[@carlossesma1469]

So much fun with you..jaja.. specially when they sing..Noche de paz..you are amazing..🤔💯🎼🤹

[@albinklein7680]

I bought a webster wire recorder just like this one at an estate sale in a US-troops-housing installation here in Germany in the late 90s. It was really special, almost scary, to get it going and listen to the 50 years old recordings of a complete stranger from another continent. Felt like the tape-scene in "the evil dead"...

[@jacekkubiak4616]

Amazing video! I can't stop watching until the end. The voice recorded seams very clear and it is very easy to use. Thank You for this work. From Lyon FRANCE.

[@Pants4096]

Your shop must be an absolute museum of gorgeous, restored, technological relics! You should give paid tours! :)

[@glasslinger]

Tour coming up! It is a lot of work making THAT video! You'll see! (for free to boot!)

[@stanleygerrick6053]

Top Shelf again! I love your reactions to getting the recorder working! Priceless! You sure can tell you love electronics and that you have it in your soul!!!

[@superotterboy7937]

Absolutely amazing what can be stored on a wire when you think about it! The fact someone thought this up way back when is insane but brilliant! Excellent repair work, this machine deserved it's new lease of life.

[@jockoharpo2622]

Grapevine too.. Ever heard that song Heard it through the grapevine? They used to record on grapevine fiber material.

[@FredmitZorn]

Glad I found this video. I have a late 1940's wire recorder with combination record player, radio and radio transmitter which I was going to try and upgrade to solid state but after watching this I think I might just restore to an original condition.

[@colinsmith6280]

hello Ron I am working my way through your back catalogue of U tube videos plus I have watched this one ,the work you do is brilliant to watch ,restoration is my thing as well ,keep the good work up.

[@DK-vx1zc]

wow, how clear the recording is. Thanks for preserving that piece of history! Enjoying your videos.. Thanks for sharing

[@salat]

I LOVE your videos! Why is it so entertaining watching someone doing a very good job?

[@truck9moon100]

You are very gifted Ron. Thank-You for posting this. The ball is now in shango's court.

[@metalman4141]

Well done Ron yet again another super job completed looking forward to the next one.......Matt from England.

[@nickblackburn1903]

Nice sound out of that! Well done!

[@LiLi-or2gm]

Wow, that was really cool- nice work!! Bonus fact: Webster Chicago sold products under the Webcor brand for many years.

[@ct6502c]

ooh...very interesting to know! I have an antique record player that I think is a Webcor. It's really cool, and in beautiful cosmetic condition but it has some weird mechanical problems.

[@docfoot316]

I have heard of these when i was younger ,and behold now i have seen one and heard one going ,Fantastic stuff and well done on getting it back to life,Some darn good music on the wire as well.Thanks enjoyed.

[@Wimpzilla]

Ty, it's the 1st time i saw one one these. Amazed as always, especially by how ingenious it is. Greetings.

[@thermionic1234567]

Love that Old School screwdriver!

[@OrganNLou]

Your kitty is ADORABLE!

[@ernestoterrazas3480]

Each time I see one of your videos I am More amazed and my admiration for you grows. Unfortunately I don't think that in this generation we will find somebody like you. There must be people with your skills but they didn't have the opportunity to see technology grow. Now a days everything is done and gets to us by mail sometimes I feel sorry for this generation.

[@glasslinger]

This is sadly the situation. I have tried to get younger people interested but soon as it is time to go to the beach they lose interest.

[@mUbase]

Beautiful machines.I've only ever seen a complete working one once in the flesh. Thank you for the video Sir!

I have never seem one before.and you are a genius for getting it going.

[@ricardosalesdemello4130]

Ótimo trabalho glaslinger o gravador ficou melhor do que antes

[@adrianames8590]

Nice job getting it back in working order! Certainly don't see those wire recorders very often.

[@ThePvcralph]

great video, played with one when I was just a little kid and brought back some good memories. thanks for that

[@8308776]

I am so glad you are posting content again. I enjoy watching you fix stuff...

[@waltschannel7465]

Nice work as always, Ron! Not bad fidelity! The mechanism seems like a combination of a wire feed welder, and a reel-to-reel, LOL!!!

[@jockoharpo2622]

It has welding capabilities.

[@muddysledge]

I used to have one of these years ago and it was in beautiful shape. My stepfather either gave it away or tossed it not knowing what it was. I wish I still had it. Such an interesting device.

[@clasicradiolover]

My stepfather tends to throw away things you still want, too. 87 years old and tears things up like a toddler.

[@knottreel]

This was a wonderful fix. I enjoyed this a lot. Thanks!

[@frankparsinitz5406]

Thank you so much for posting your videos. I thoroughly enjoy each and every video and look forward to your new videos.

[@mescko]

Back when I was in high school in the 80s, a friend of mine found one of these Webster Chicago Model 80-1's at the Goodwill. It turned out to have a recording on one of the spools of KXL in Portland from leap day, Feb. the 29th, 1952. Someone just placed the mic in front of a radio and let it record. It was fascinating listening to the news reports and commercials (It's a big, new Dodge!).

[@joostderidder]

I have the same machine in working order. Took me some time to adjust the neon-lamp as some tech changed some resistor-values in the circuit.

[@cyrex686]

Audio quality was better than I expected from a wire recorder.

[@JenkinsUSA]

Before the era of James Bond 😎 - thanks for sharing Ron 💪

[@wildbsc]

I love the older tech thanks for the inspiration to get fidling good job well done!

[@chb46]

That is simply amazing ! Never knew such things exsisted !

[@Reminisciences]

Always interesting work. Finally found some other folks interested in electronics but few with this kind of know-how in the analog world, thanks for posting this!

[@ct6502c]

I collect antique electronics as a hobby, and I've just recently gotten into restoring old televisions. So I'm trying to do my small part! But I need someone like this guy to teach me. These old timers have so much knowledge that we can learn from.

[@catelinncitze81]

WOW thats so cool... i want one now.. Thanks a lot for showing this!

[@jockoharpo2622]

Really enjoyed those wire recordings. Thanks! Could that also mean the saying, "I just heard it over the wire".

[@Greg-et2dp]

Glass linger you are good at restoring vintage shortwave receivers and alignment of vintage shortwave receivers my friend 😅😊😊

[@danmiller6890]

Incredible! You are a genius! What a great video - I had never heard of one of these machines.

[@joejeweller7614]

They were used in cockpits of aircraft in WW2 kinda like the black box we know of today.

[@zezefaria8908]

Wellow glasslinger wowww você é máximo! adorei ver seu vídeo novamente! adorei a Restauração que você fez no gravador de Rolo parabéns meu amigo

[@Kether23]

My family had this exact model when I was a child and my Dad made recordings of us as kids. I transferred the wires to magnetic reel-to-reel in 1968, and digitized those in 2004 or so. Great to have the memories. The cheap crystal mike you have is 1960s and not original. The Webster mike was a fancy, solid and much larger affair that looked a bit like the Warner Bros. logo.

[@jockoharpo2622]

Loved that little historical family story you told us. Thank You!

[@GaitaPonto]

Very nice! And it sounds better than I could imagine.

[@frac]

What a fantastic find. Great video as always. You're one of the very few subscriptions I have alerts enabled for.

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

We found wire at the local historical society and had the same unit, we were lucky in the fact that it still worked because the owner had recapped it (opened it up and checked it, and oiled the mechanism for the head to go up and down.) Some of the wire from the 1948 Pumpkin Festival from Eureka, IL had Ronald Regan doing announcements. Webster was the biggest name in wire recorders, then Silvertone. Pierce wire recorder, I had one, and could never find the wire cassettes for it, they enclosed the wire in an approx 4" case.

[@NigelDixon1952]

I had a 1953 Vortexion tape recorder given, way back in 1983. It's massive!, and based on the Ferograph series 1 tape deck. I tried it, it played fine but wouldn't record. Since then it's been sitting in my under stairs storage cupboard, we me saying I'm going to take it out and recap it, then fully restore it to its former glory days. I'm 72 now, so need to get a move on......... Otherwise I won't even be able lift the bloody thing up to my bench! BTW. There was a studio quality mic with it, which I sold to a 50s Rockabilly group. So at least that went to good use.

[@lomawatch6935]

Thanks for another great video!

[@RegiPavan]

Great Job great unit and lovely cat!

[@K1ZEK]

Enjoyed the peek at your electronic work bench test equipment. Also enjoyed the video...lol 73 Leo

[@wyrdo1501]

this is freaking amazing! i never knew about this wire stuff

[@glendonw8888]

You do remarkable work!!

[@fuzzwack1]

Very cool, and collectible !

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

Pretty cool item. I never even heard of a wire recorder until today.

[@nor4277]

This guy works so fast ,he needs to oil that chair,zI only seen wire recorders in pictures and when I was young my dad told me about them,when I bought my little reel to reel mini recoder In the 60,s .I love people who save our history instead of through it away ,nice job .

[@DOLRED]

Great job!! Webster Co. of Chicago so I looked it up... Their greatest years were post WWII. Their location in Chicago was a scant 1/2 mile from a Zenith Plant which made Radios/Televisions. Both the Zenith and Webster buildings still stand although Zenith's suffered major fire damage more than 10 years ago. Both companies used the same railroad lines for their operation as evident by Google Maps. Zenith closed after Webster and Webster quit in the mid 60s. Zenith had multiple locations in the Chicago area but their Austin Ave Dickens Street plant was a big one.

[@jeffreymorris1752]

I have two just like that. One is from the estate of a pioneering horror movie director (I don't remember the name) and it came with recorded wire spools. This inspires me to fix it up!

[@mikejohansson6711]

Cool! I have never seen one of these actually working, and it didn't eve sound that bad. Hard to believe the old wires still had stuff on them after all these years.

[@wilsonmachado8695]

mr you are a genius !

[@johnj.vthefamfromamsterdam4088]

Great video . Thanks for posting it.

[@esartsse]

Awesome video as always! such a fascinating piece of technology! Greetings from Sweden!

[@elinbenson]

I have read about wire recorders before. I can't believe it works as well as it does. I also didn't realize that the wire is so fine.

[@campbellmorrison8540]

Happy New Year, really like your videos, this is a very neat device, never seen one in New Zealand

[@johnbellas490]

Hello Ron! I bought a Webster Wire Recorder about 6 months ago, mine is a square, box style metal cabinet, same color scheme, in absolutely pristine condition, and it checked out on the dim bulb so tried it and it worked great, but recapped it anyway, and checked and replaced resistors as necessary. Like I said it is in pristine condition. The four recordings that I got with it were from some investigative group who went to selected companies to help trouble shoot parts failures and manufacturing fails for (then classified) Government projects with four different U.S. companies !! VERY INTERESTING INDEED!! John A Bellas ----- KC2UVN

[@mescko]

The square one was the model they made for offices for dictation, as I recall. A bit of trivia here: Al Capone's tax evasion trial was recorded on a wire recorder.

[@yardleybottles6025]

Inspiring videos from a master craftsman.

[@monelfunkawitz3966]

Ron, can you save the recordings on digital format so they get preserved?

[@nejiniisan1265]

I believe that, for digital storage, it would be better to build a better magnetic transducer to read the wire recordings, instead of recording from the old wire recorder preamp.

[@monelfunkawitz3966]

James Denney Always assume those are the only existing copy left. If they get destroyed, they are gone forever. One fire, flood, magnet, pissed off cat... they are no more. Record them, cloud them and they have a better chance of lasting many more years. Plus if he decides, they can be shared and enjoyed. Copyright is long gone on them.

[@robertgaines-tulsa]

I'd just temporarily tack on a rheostat and a properly valued capacity (to block DC) both in series with an RCA cable to the speaker terminals so it could be connected to a computer. The recording should be decent enough.

[@chadcastagana9181]

Add to the science of Archaeophony

[@excuseme5251]

I have a telephone answering machine .... answers using a 45 record and then records the incoming message on wire. Worked the last time I set it up 20 years ago or more.

[@Brokeninc]

I just started getting into learning about electronics so I can eventually fix my version 80-1 of this wire recorder. Do you have any tips or advice you can give me to help me along my path? I'm in no rush to fix mine. I just want it to be my end go I get to.

[@glasslinger]

I would use your camera to take pictures of each step you take. Before you remove a part, take a photo. It is surprising how easy it is to be unsure how something goes back together!

[@Brokeninc]

@@glasslinger O very good advice! Thank you.

[@JohnBoonBeanDutchman]

intreating and surprising the test recording sound that great. I ones did see one that restoring old stuff and uses the old capacitor shell to set in a modern capacitor inside, so all like being original as old.look. The old recording be interesting to as hear voices out of the dead

[@schelsullivan]

Just bought one at a yard sell for 5 dollars. Not sure if I can restore it. But I was just so very curious.

[@wdavem]

Very nice! That sound has some power to it, makes me wonder how good the sound gets on those. Maybe your cat thought you were working on a carcass again... but they just don't smell right!

[@gwcoty0715]

Im trying to identify the song at 31:22 any help?

[@thomashardin911]

You are so COOL, I like your fingernails, and I love cats like crazy!

[@kellerrobert80]

And to think I had access to 150+ reels from old radio shows and celebrity interviews, but lost them.

[@TheDavid77829]

I like it when the supervisor comes in

[@dennisqwertyuiop]

Great work as always