In article ,
Frank Dresser wrote:

"Gray Shockley" wrote in message
s.com...


There were magnetic tape recordings used during World War 2.

That's true. When I wrote "practically nobody had recording equipment back
then", I was refering to individuals. Of course, there was also alot of
professional disk recording equipment around in the US.

Back when I was in college, the main library there had magazines in the
stacks going back to just after WW II, mostly the Gernsback ones (what
later became Radio-Electronics). One issue, of probably Radio News,
had a feature on a field reporters sound recorder that used phonograph
type mechanical cutting on a flexible tape. About the size of a suitcase
or portable typewriter. I think the tape was continuous, threaded on a
bunch of pulleys.

Mark Zenier Washington State resident

"Mark Zenier" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Frank Dresser wrote:

"Gray Shockley" wrote in message
s.com...


There were magnetic tape recordings used during World War 2.

That's true. When I wrote "practically nobody had recording equipment back
then", I was refering to individuals. Of course, there was also alot of
professional disk recording equipment around in the US.

Back when I was in college, the main library there had magazines in the
stacks going back to just after WW II, mostly the Gernsback ones (what
later became Radio-Electronics). One issue, of probably Radio News,
had a feature on a field reporters sound recorder that used phonograph
type mechanical cutting on a flexible tape. About the size of a suitcase
or portable typewriter. I think the tape was continuous, threaded on a
bunch of pulleys.

Mark Zenier Washington State resident

There was a recording device called a "BLATNERPHONE". You might try a search
on google or other engine. k35454

On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 22:31:56 GMT, (Mark Zenier)
wrote:

In article ,
Frank Dresser wrote:

"Gray Shockley" wrote in message
ws.com...


There were magnetic tape recordings used during World War 2.
That is a bit of a stretch. They were magnetic recordings used
starting just prior to WWII, however to call them tape in the sense we
use today is a stretch. It was in fact done on a very thin metal
ribbon about 1/2 inch wide. A reel looked more like reel of metal
strapping tape today. The stuff could slice your hands up pretty
badly. I believe the BBC had several units in operation during WW II.

By any standard it is the forerunner of today's magnetic tape. The
next step was magnetic wire recorders, and they certainly were used in
WW II.