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My collection

Components of my collection, named "History (evolution) of cassette-recorder":
I will exemplify with Philips items for the following reasons:

  • (I) this company was the inventor and/or promoter of many audio & video domestic products: cassette-recorder, video-cassette-recorder, video-laserdisc, compact disc player, achieving nearly all technical variants of them, mainly with its own conception;
  • (II) some of its inventions served as models for other companies' products;e.g. Sony, Sanyo, Hitachi, General Electric, Telefunken and others;
  • (III) For about 17 years after the launching of the first cassette-recorder (1963), Philips was the world leader of this item.

a) It contains nearly all constructive variants of the cassette-recorder and its combinations (with radio, pick-up, etc), highlighting the technical progress of this item:

Development of electronic part:
  1. - portable (powered by batteries + small dimensions) - Philips EL 3300
    World's first cassette-recorder acc. specialist's opinion
    1963    , or non-portable powered by mains 110/220 V) - Philips AH 871
    Radio casetofon stereo stationar
    Philips 1976    ;
  2. - simple – Philips EL 3300
    World's first cassette-recorder acc. specialist's opinion
    1963     or in combination with other item as radio, pick-up, TV, CD, tuner, equalizer: Rosita Commander Luxus, Philips ART 20
    Combina portabila radio+casetofon+TV
    Philips 1980    , Philips FCD 585
    Combina stereo stationara
    Philips 1986    , Philips AZ 1000
    Combina portabila stereo cu casetofon, radio si CD
    Philips 1996    ;
  3. - mono – EL 3300
    World's first cassette-recorder, acc. specialist's opinion
    1963     or stereo – EL 3312
    Primul casetofon stereo din lume, cu caseta compacta
    Philips 1967    , RR 800
    the first European stereo portable radiorecorder
    Philips 1972    ;
  4. - with internal power system ( N2204
     ) or external power adaptor ( EL 3300
    World's first cassette-recorder acc. specialist's opinion    );
  5. - with valves
     (Peirce 265B
    ) or transistors
     (Minifon Attache
    );
  6. - with analog electronics (transistors, electro-mechanical commands) - EL 3300
    World's first cassette-recorder acc. specialist's opinion
    1963     or digital (integrated circuits
    , full electonics commands) – DCC 300
    Casetofon deck integral digital
    Philips 1993    ;
  7. - with own built-in amplifier ( EL 3300
    World's first cassette-recorder acc. specialist's opinion
    1963    , N 2400
     ) or deck ( N 2500
    First stereo cassette player deck
    Philips 1968    );
  8. - with noise limiter (DNL or Dolby) - N 2510
    The first Hi-Fi cassette recorder of the company
    Philips 1973    , Philips N6720;
  9. - with European/Asian/American/Profi connectors: EL 3300
    First world's "compact-cassette" recorder
    1963     AH 973
    , RR 425
    Portable radio-cassette player mono
    Philips 1976    , D 8210
    Portable radio-cassette player stereo
    Philips 1980    , Tascam DA-60 MKII

    ;
  10. - with remote control - Tascam Syncaset
    , DCC 951
     ;
  11. - as player only – N 2000
    Portable cassette player mono
    Philips 1971    ;
  12. - autoreverse (= automatically playing of the second part of the cassette) – N 2401 S
    Stereo cassette-player with autoreverse
    Philips 1969    , FC 260
    Dublu-casetofon deck de inalta fidelitate
    Philips 1990    ;
  13. - simple - EL 3300
    First world's "compact-cassette" recorder
    1963    , or double cassette-recorder – D 8078
    Portable double radio-cassette player stereo
    Philips 1987    , Sharp WQ-T238
    , ;
  14. - recording: manual – EL 3300
    First world's "compact-cassette" recorder
    1963    , automatic – N 2203
    Portable cassette player mono
    Philips 1973     or both
    Switchers for AR 664     – AR 664
    Mix recording and cueing radiorecorder
    Philips 1978    ;
  15. - HIFI according DIN 45500 standards: N 2510
    The first Hi-Fi cassette recorder of the company
    Philips 1973    , AH 973
    Combined Hi-Fi cassette-player with radio and pick-up
    Philips 1979    ;
  16. - with built-in microphone
    from Sony CF-950    : RR 523
    Portable radio-cassette player mono
    Philips 1975    ;
  17. - for recording studio (variable speed, more inputs, mixing, karaoke, amplifier for musical instruments, high characteristics): D 6550
    Studio cassette-player stereo (non-professional)
    Philips 1984    , Tascam Porta Two
    Studio Stereo cassette-player deck
    Teac 1987    , Philips PMC-100 Composer
    ;
  18. - professional (very high performances): Tascam DA-60 MK II
    Professional digital Cassette recorder
    Teac 1993?    , Alesis XT
    , portable: Marantz PMD-222
    ;
  19. - with cueing (listening during forwarding/rewinding): AR 664
    Mix recording and cueing radiorecorder
    Philips 1978    ;
  20. - with tape selector: manual-RR774, or automatic – FC 260
    High fidelity Double-deck cassette-player
    Philips 1990    ;
  21. - type “walkman” (for pocket) with/without radio: AQ 6441
    Pocket cassette-player
    Philips 1992    , Sony TPS-L2
    First walkman
    Sony 1979    ;
  22. - with R.I.F. (Radio Interference Filter) commutation: RR 522
    Portable radio-cassette player mono
    Philips 1973    ;
  23. - with monitor (listening during recording): AR 774
    Portable radio-cassette player stereo
    Philips 1977    ;
  24. - with continuous play: FC 260
    High fidelity Double-deck cassette-player
    Philips 1990    ;
  25. - with post-fading (gradual diminishing of recording level): AR 374
    Portable radio-cassette player mono
    Philips 1978    ;
  26. - two-speaker system (for high & medium freqencies): AR 664
    Mix recording and cueing radiorecorder
    Philips 1978    ;
  27. - sound-machine/boombox (over-sized speakers system): D 8444
    Pocket cassette player
    Philips 1984    ;
  28. - with 3 heads (erasing, recording, playing): Nakamichi 700 Tri Tracer
    first world's 3-head cass. deck
    Nakamichi 1974    ;
  29. - full digital: Sony DTC 690
    ;
  30. - digital deck according DTRS system: Tascam DA-38
  31. - portable hifi: walkman: Sony WM-D6 or for journalists: Sony NT-1
    ;
  32. - with electronic valves: RCA 1YC 11
    Second world's stereo Sound Tape recorder
    RCA 1960-1961    , or transistorized: EL 3300
    First world's "compact-cassette" recorder
    1963    ;
  33. - with semi-professional mechanics and electronics: Revox D 88
    Cassette deck specialized
    Studer-Revox 1981    ;
  34. - combined with other items (ex: pocket calculator): Toshiba KT 1350
    Voice recorder with calculator
    Toshiba 1983?    ;
  35. - (portable ) digital voice/micro-recorder (without tracks) - Sony NT-1
    ;
  36. - digital deck according DAT system: Sony DTC 690
    ;
  37. - portable hifi: analog walkman: Sony WM-D6C
    Sony     or digital for journalists: Sony NT-1
    First digital voice-recorder with microcassette
    Sony 1992    ;
  38. - for other various purposes: medicine - Scole Engineering
    Scole Engineering    , data storage – Sharp CE-125
    Sharp    , synchronized with slideshow - Philips N2209AV
    Philips    ; cassettes multiplicator : Telex Copiette
    Telex     ; for teaching foreign languages: Philips LCH1012
    Philips     ; for children - My first Sony CFM 2500
    Sony    ;
  39. - for cars : Mercury AP-8300
    Mercury     ; Muntz stereo Pak C-100
    ;

Mechanical part development:
  1. metal cassette with wire as magnetic medium - Peirce 265B
    ;
  2. metal chasis - EL 3300
    First world's "compact-cassette" recorder
    1963    , or plastic-RR774 or both - N 2207
    Portable cassette player mono
    Philips 1976    ;
  3. with keyboards: Grundig C 100
    Portable cassette player mono
    Grundig 1965    ;
  4. with "pause" command: N 2510
    The first Hi-Fi cassette recorder of the company
    Philips 1973    ;
  5. autoreverse: mechanic- N 2401 S
    Stereo cassette player with autoreverse
    Philips 1969     or electro-mechanic with rotative head: FC 260
    Hi-Fi double-deck cassette player
    Philips 1990    ;
  6. with automatic stop - RR 523
    Portable Radio-cassette-player mono
    Philips 1975     and/or decoupling of the heads- AR 070
    Portable Radio-cassette-player mono
    Philips 1977    ;
  7. with 38 types of audio-cassettes
    Evolution of audio-cassette
    1936-1994    , as are presented in the table of the "about cassette-recorder" section;
  8. with long-life heads- AR 060
    Portable Radio-cassette-player mono
    Philips 1977    , 070
    Portable Radio-cassette-player mono
    Philips 1977    ;
  9. with counter – Minifon Attache
    , AR 070
    Portable Radio-cassette-player mono
    Philips 1977    ;
  10. portable costruction styled "diplomatic bag" - Sanyo G 2615 N2
    Portable stereo player:radio,casetofon,pick-up
    Sanyo 1972    , Aciko ACRT 820S
    Portable player:radio, cassette, pick-up
    Aciko 1975?    ;
  11. with more motors: RR 425
    Radio casetofon portabil mono
    Philips 1976    , D 8634
    Radio-casetofon portabil stereo
    Philips 1984    ;
  12. with 3 heads: Nakamichi 700 Tri Tracer
    first world's 3-head cass. deck
    Nakamichi 1974    ;
  13. with 4 (rotating) heads: Tascam DA-60 MKII

    ;
  14. - stand-alone or rotating playing head: EL 3300
    First world's "compact-cassette" recorder
    1963    , Sony DTC 690
    Japan 1991    ;
  15. with direct front loading: N 2521
    High Fidelity cassette deck
    Philips 1977    , or indirect loading, with drawer: Philips DCC 300
    Completely digital Cassette-player deck
    Philips 1993    ;
  16. "pocket" styled, with built-in amplifier and speaker: Panasonic RQ 212
    Casetofon de buzunar (reportofon)
    Panasonic 1976    ;
  17. type “walkman” (with headphones): Sony TPS-L2
    Primul walkman din lume
    Sony 1979    ;
  18. slow opening of the cassette cover (soft eject) and/or "stop" on the same key with "eject" - D 8210
    Radio casetofon portabil stereo
    Philips 1980    , AR 580
    Radio casetofon portabil stereo
    Philips 1980    ;
  19. with command “one touch recording” - AZ 8040
    Combina portabila stereo:casetofon, radio, CD
    Philips 1995
  20. with cassettes changer: Sony MTL 10
    Casetofon deck
    Sony 1984    ;
  21. with "direct drive" transmission: D 8634
    Radio-casetofon portabil stereo
    Philips 1984    ;
  22. normal size recorder with small mechanics as is for walkman: AQ 5150
    ;
  23. with box in european/asian colours (black/brown and turquoise/yellow/red/green) and/or amusant/stylish design: RR 522
    Radio-casetofon portabil mono
    Philips 1973    , D 7162
    Radio-casetofon portabil mono
    Philips 1983    , D 8082
    Radio-casetofon portabil stereo
    Philips 1986     -Le cube, D 6608
    Casetofon de buzunar
    Philips 1983     - triangle walkman, WD 800
    Radio-casetofon stereo portabil
    Philips 1986     -The roller, My First Sony-CFM 2500, Bang & Olufsen Bang & Olufsen Beocord 4500
    Casetofon deck de inalta fidelitate
    Bang & Olufsen 1988    ;
  24. for cars : Mercury AP-8300
    Mercury     ; Muntz stereo Pak C-100
    Muntz    ;
  25. miniatural mechanics: Philips LFH0085
    ; Olympus L400
    ; Sony NT-1
    .
b) contains samples of the first cassette-recorders in the world, in different constructive variants, and their next models:
  1. first cassette recorder in specialist’s opinion: Philips EL 3300
    , 1963;
  2. first domestic recorder using a removable cartridge (with wire), in my opinion: RCA MI-12875
    , 1947
  3. first cassette-recorder using tape (but non-magnetic) : Tefifon KC-1 Ra
    , 1956;
  4. first pocket voice-recorder (w. magnetic tape) – Mohawk Midgetape
    , 2nd/3rd variant, 1956;
  5. first cassette-recorder with "direct-drive" transmission: Dictaphone Dictet
    , 1957 ;
  6. first portable radio-cassette player in the world, also adapted for car: Sabamobil
    Saba 1958    , 1958;
  7. first stand-alone cartridge recorder using magnetic tape: RCA Victor CP-1
     ;
  8. first portable with keyboard and counter: Minifon Attache

    , 1959;
  9. first portable radio-cassette player with FM: Tefifon Holiday BK-59

    , 1960 ;
  10. (probably) first car cassette made in USA: Orrtronic P-600
    , 1963-4;
  11. first palm voice-recorder in the world: Grundig EN-3
     – 1964
  12. first portable radio-cassette™ recorder – Philips 22RL962
    , 1966
  13. first transistorized stereo cassette™-recorder: Philips EL 3312
    , 1966;
  14. first car stereo cassette™ recorder: Mercury AP8300
     (Philips licensed), 1967;
  15. first deck stereo cassette-player: Philips N 2500
    , recorder: Sony TC125
    , both 1968;
  16. first portable stereo radio/cassette-recorder: Crown CSG-9350M
    , 1968
  17. first pocket styled recorder using compact-cassette™ : Sony TC-50
    , 1968 ;
  18. first palm voice-recorder using minicassette™ - Philips LFH 085
    , 1973
  19. first autoreverse cassette-recorder: Philips N 2401 S
    , 1969;
  20. first palm voice-recorder using microcassette™ - Olympus Zuiko Pearlcorder (complete set), 1969 ;
  21. first (and smallest, during ca. 12 years) portable HIFI & autoreverse cassette™-recorder: Uher CR-124
    , 1971;
  22. first and smallest portable 3 in 1 music center (radio-phono-cass): National Panasonic SG-100
     , 1971-2;
  23. first 3-head system cassette™-recorder: Nakamichi Tri Tracer 700
    , 1973;
  24. first item named walkman™ : Sony TPS-L2
    , 1979 (!! the "pocket" styled cassette™ voice-rec was launched sooner also by Sony (model TC-50
    ) and the name "walkman" was registered also by Sony, followed by "watchman™" (for miniature TV) and "discman™" (for pocket CD-players);
  25. first digital micro voice-recorder (without tracks): Sony NT-1
    , 1992;
  26. first profi deck in DTRS format of the Teac producer: Tascam DA-38
    ;
  27. smallest voice-recorders : analog: Olympus L400
    , 1983 ; digital: Sony NT-1
    , 1992 ;
c) it contents rare items, anothers than above mentioned:
  1. first audio cartridge, 2/3-rd variant: Textophon
    , ca. 1942;
  2. first cartridge recorders of the RCA Victor producer: MI-12875
    , CP-1
    ;
  3. 2nd cartridge recorder w. keyboard: Peirce 265B
    ;
  4. 3rd world’s stereo cartridge recorder.: RCA 1YC 11
    , 1960;
  5. first compact-cassette™ recorder imported in USA: Norelco 150
     (Philips EL3300), 1964;
  6. first Grundig DC Int’l cassette-recorder - model C 100
    , 1965;
  7. first Telefunken cassette-recorder: M401
    , 1965;
  8. the immediate 3 successors of the first cass™ recorder: Philips EL3301
    , 3302
    , 3303
     , 1965-1967;
  9. first Blaupunkt’ cassette™-recorder: Twen Junior
     , 1966 based on Philips EL3300;
  10. first Japanese recorder using "compact-cassette™": Sony Sony TC 12
    , 1967, based on Philips EL3300;
  11. first Matsushita (National,Panasonic, Technics brands) recorder using "compact-cassette" : National RQ-3001
     and its "brother" for export: Concord F-100
     (Philips licensed);
  12. first Japanese portable radio-recorder using compact-cassette: Concord F-103
    , 1968;
  13. 2nd and 3rd portable European radiorecorders: Philips RL 361
     , RL 673
    , 1967-68;
  14. first Sony cassette™ for export: TC-100
    , 1968;
  15. first Sony stereo cassette™-recorder: TC-124
    , 1968;
  16. first 2 pocket styled voice-rec made by Matsushita: National RQ-210S
    , RQ 212
     , 1968-70;
  17. First US cassette ™ deck : Ampex Micro 5
    , RQ 212
     (Philips licensed), 1969;
  18. First European deck stereo recorder: Philips N2503
    , 1970 ;
  19. 2nd European car cassette: Philips EL3301
    +N6705
    , 1969;
  20. 2nd world’s "continuous play" cass-rec: Denon TRC-798ED
    , 1970;
  21. third European car cassette-player: Philips N 2605
    , 1970;
  22. first cassette-rec of the UHER German producer: CR-124
    ;
  23. First European portable stereo radiorecorder: Philips RR 800
    , 1972;
  24. the 2nd deck of Matsushita: Panasonic RS-260US
    , 1972;
  25. one of first US cass-rec with compact-cassette ™– General Electric M 8430
    , (inspired by Philips EL 3300
    );
  26. first sound filter for cassette: Philips N6720, 1972;
  27. first European 3 in 1 music centre (radio-phono-cassette): Rosita Commander Luxus, ca. 1973;
  28. first HIFI of greatest European producer: Philips N 2510
    , 1973 ;
  29. 2 of first 3 in 1 audio device (radio+cass+pickup) styled as "diplomat case": Aciko ACRT 820S
    ; Sanyo G 2615 N2
    ;
  30. first soviet radio-recorder: Legenda 401
    , with built-in radio into a detachable cassette - 1974;
  31. cass-rec. with own electric power generator ("dynamo") - R 1018
     Sound
  32. first pocket cassette-recorder of the greatest European producer: Philips N 2002
    -1977;
  33. complex portable 3 in 1 items (tv + radio + cass): Philips ART 20
    , Sound;
  34. 2nd Sony’s "Elcaset™": EL-5
    , 1977;
  35. 2nd portable stereo radio-recorder of the greatest European producer – Philips AR 774
    , 1978;
  36. one of firsts multi-track cassette-recorder: Tascam Porta Two
    ;
  37. 2nd greatest portable radiorecorder: Sharp GF-777
    , 1981;
  38. Very rare types of audio cassette/cartridges: Lorenz Textophon
    3rd variant    , RCA MI-12877
    , Midgetape RL, Scotch 270, Echo-matic
    , Vity cassette, Sanyo Magazine, Grundig DeJ614, HIPAC, Sony Elcaset™, Philips LDB4401 , Nagra JBR, ADAT, as part of a total of 38 audio cassettes and their corresponding recorders – see the table in "about cassette-recorder" section ;
  39. first European full digital cassette-recorder: Philips DCC 300, 1992;
  40. the voice recorder which uses smallest cassette (microDAT
    ): Sony NT-1
    , 1992;
  41. electronic audio "jewels": Toshiba KT-RS 1
    , Fisher (PH-M 88)
    , Olympus Pearlcorder XR
    , Philips D8000
    ;
  42. last and most advanced deck of greatest European producer: Philips DCC 951
    , 1994;
  43. rare combination of the cassette-recorder: with microcassette™: Fisher PH-M77
     ; microcassette™ deck : Sanyo RD-XM1
     ;
  44. 4 in 1 audio device (radio + cass + pickup + CD changer) – Philips FCD 185
    .
  45. first romanian cass-rec (Electronica-Star MC 12
    ) and successive models - first portable radiorecorder, first cass-rec. for car, etc.
  46. unique cartridge having recording head mounted inside – Cosmos industries MX-303A
    , 1944
d) contents items with unique/artistic design: Bang & Olufsen Beocord 4500
 and Beosystem 10, Rosita Commander Luxus;

e) contains items which were head of series and/or high-end series: Philips: EL 3300
, N 2000
, N 2400
, N 2500
, AR 060
, AR 774
, CD 100
, RR 800
, N 5846
, DCC 300
, DCC 951
, AZ 1000
, Sony: Sony TC-50
, Sony TC-100
, TPS-L2
, NT-1
, Grundig C 100 L
, Matsushita Panasonic SG-100
, RQ-3001
, F-100
, Grundig C-100

f) contains most of the portable models (most sold items) made by their inventor (Philips) in the first 11 years from the lauching of the first cassette-recorder: from EL 3300
First world's "compact-cassette" recorder
1963 to RR 722
Radio casetofon portabil mono
Philips 1974;

g) contains Philips samples from 38 consecutive various type groups, such as: EL, N, RR, AR, D, F, C, and in some of them there are consecutive items , such as: N 2000
 > N 2211, AR 060
 > 090
, or samples from each subgroup, such as: RR 313
, 425
, 522
, 622
, 722
, 800
; AR 090
, 108
, 248, 374
, 499
, 580
, 664
, 774
 .

h) it contents samples of cassette-recorder’s predecessors (radio, reel-to-reel tape recorder, pick-up) and successors (video-recorder, laser video-disc, cd player): Philips 930 A
 = tube radio from 1931, Philips 204 U
Radio cu tuburi electronice
Philips 1946 = smaller tubes radio from 1946, EL 3555
Magnetofon stereo
Philips 1966 = tubes and transistors reel-to-reel tape recorder from 1966, Philips EL RK 5 L
Magnetofon portabil
Philips 1966 = portable reel-to-reel from 1966, AG 4000F
Pick-up portabil
Philips 1966 = portable pick-up from 1966, Philips VLP 700
Video disc cu laser
Philips 1980 - video disc from 1980; first CD player in the world - Philips CD 100 - 1982);

i) it contents cassette-rec made for other various goals: medicine - Scole Engineering
, data records – Sharp CE-125
, Philips D 6920
, for children – My first Sony CFM 2500
; synchronized with slideshow - Philips N2209 AV
; cassettes multiplicator: Telex Copiette
 ; for teaching foreign languages: Philips LCH1012
; for composers: Philips PMC-100 Composer
.


All the information above is based on the reading of technical guides/catalogues of main companies during 1958 - 2007, internet documentaries, electronic books and personal experience of the author from repairing some of them.