The recordograph

[big band heaven]

Here is something I haven't seen before or even heard of. I came across this excellent website last week and it details a machine that records onto camera film. Not in the way you would expect though as instead of doing it optically it instead cuts a groove into the film itself. Not sure what the quality would of been like - but I thought a novel method of sound recording.

Here is a link to the website with photos of the machine and diagrams showing how it records onto the film. Has anyone ever seen one of these machines? Or even heard of them before?

The recordograph

Additional technical information:

Recordgraph - additional technical information

[Aerodyne]

I did one come across some information that implied the use of film stock for radio programme recording. Radio Luxembourg was said to use such a method in the late 1940s. I assumede at the time that the film was used to record in the optical manner, the main advantage to a broadcasting station being the long time period available for recording when compared to the usual disk method. It might be that the recordpgraph was the system used, however. I wonder what happened to it?
Good thread, this!
-Tony

[Paula A]

To my knowledge these machines survived up until 1969. I have an LP which mentions on the notes that it was recorded live, 3 tracks simultaneously onto a film camera but with no pictures.

[big band heaven]

I have found a you tube video of a similar type of system. It shows it in action and the sound quality is surprisingly good.

It is a bit distracting when the person filming the machine starts to sway the camera in time with the music! But the video show the workings and the pick up head tracking the groove. Very interesting I thought. I want one!

[tiv48]

i like the retro fited new ceramic cart i wonder if this is a playback only m/c and did people make prerecorded cartridges rob t

[Brianc]

Hi Rob. I have a Tefifon like the radio shown. I bought it in Germany many years ago. There was no record facility on the Tefi but there was quite a large catalogue of pre-recorded cartridges available but most were "Ump pah pah" music which is great if that's what you like . The linear speed of the tape is 7.5 ips (19cm/s) and the quality is pretty good with surprisingly little surface noise. The cartridges were available in 30, 60 and 90 minutes playing time which, in the 1950s, the time of these machines, was extremely good and led to them being used in "kneipen" or bars and cafes. Very good little machines and there was even a wired remote control which enable tracks to be jumped or repeated!