R2R History

The principle of magnetic recording was first devised in 1878 by the American mechanical engineer, Oberlin Smith, who later published his findings in the journal 'Electrical World' (1888). The major leap in its development took place in the 1930s when AEG and IG Farben cooperated to produce the Magnetophone using magnetisable acetate and PVC tape. This tape recorder is one of a series of recorders which were manufactured for semi-professional applications such as for schools, rescue brigades and broadcasting.

How things have moved on

I would have posted this in the R2R section but ! :)

For those interested in the history and evolution of magnetic recording an interesting article here about John Mullin who was Bing Crosby's engineer later to become the principle designer of the now legendary M23 Isoloop recorders.




http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.o...47_9_PG776.pdf