How It Works - Ross Mark 400 Rim Drive Tape Recorder

This video is about how a simple rim drive portable tape recorder works. This Ross Mark 400 tape recorder sold for about $15 new in the early 1960s.

As audio equipment, the tape recorder might be dismissed as unimportant due to its simple rim drive and small 4-transistor DC biased amplifier, resulting in poor recording and playback performance for critical work, such as music. But that view may be short sighted in terms of historical significance.

Looking at consumer audio technology of the early 1960s, we can see that transistor equipment was very new (transistor radios had been available for a few years), and tape recorders were available, but they were mostly large and very expensive, making them out of reach for many people. Until the invention of little portable transistor tape recorders like the Ross Mark 400. It is BECAUSE of its cheap construction and limitations that the price was kept low enough to make it available to many people. Thus, consumers were introduced to and could learn about tape recording technology.

It is therefore historically important to document the way tape recorders, like the Ross Mark 400 were built.

This video is intended to do just that.

----------------------------------------

Special THANKS!

This Ross Mark 400 tape recorder was given to Clydesight by YouTuber, Amberola1b. https://www.youtube.com/user/amberola1b. Amberola1b has a collection of tape recorders, and very early phonographs displayed on his YouTube channel. Thanks, Amberola1b for the near mint condition Ross Mark 400 tape recorder.

*********

Copyright Disclaimer:

This is an educational video, a critique, and report on vintage audio electronic equipment, a reel to reel tape recorder that is no longer manufactured or sold in stores. It is covered by the Fair Use Section of U.S. Copyright Law:

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Видео How It Works - Ross Mark 400 Rim Drive Tape Recorder канала clydesight