Originally published at: http://boingboing.net/2017/05/12/gallery-of-gadgets-at-the-bang.html
…
2 Likes
I came across some wire reels and a wire recorder at a junk sale but I couldn’t get them to play, the one pictured here looks like a much better design, mine was top-load and filled with years of dust and grime. As a tape generation guy I always wondered, why wire?
1 Like
You work with what’s available.
Wire was durable and didn’t require a sophisticated coating process. The technology dated back to the late 19th century. It was monophonic and had a higher Signal-to-Noise ratio than the ferrous oxide paper tapes developed in the 1930s until AC biasing was developed as a means of improving the S/N ratio.
5 Likes
Wire existed and worked, tape didn’t exist.
(You can make your own audio tape today, out of iron filings and sticky tape, but don’t expect stunning fidelity)
2 Likes
Gorgeous design, but I couldn’t help thinking that this would be the perfect “red phone” for the Trump White House. 
1 Like
This topic was automatically closed after 5 days. New replies are no longer allowed.
