Wire recorders

[stetam]

While I know it's a little outside the realm of things usually discussed here I thought maybe someone would have some knowledge to help me on a potential purchase. Today while visiting the VA hospital I ran into an old patient of mine who told me he was moving to Texas and had his parents Silvertone Wire recorder with 65 reels he would sell me for $100. Working condition, good shape with wood case, phonograph and radio. After checking them out on YouTube I was quite impressed. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these?

SteveM

[AmberolaAndy]

All I know is just be careful when you’re rewinding one of these, the wire can snag and get easily tangled and you’ll have a real mess on your hands.

[phonojim]

You probably want to post that on the Antique Radio Forum - https://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=2 The subject is discussed now and then. I have had experience with a few of those in the past and personally, I wouldn't have one of the things around. Think of your worst day with an 8 track tape and you'll get the idea.

Jim

[grampaphone]

Hi, I have one of these, quite an interesting piece of equipment from 1947. I bought it because we had a floor model like it when I was growing up, but we never could get the wire to record. Serious tangles. The 65 spools are interesting and could lead to many hours of listening to home made recordings. Sometimes folks recorded from radio and you might have something not recorded in any archive. I have an example of mine at https://sites.google.com/site/grampapho ... e-recorder. The Chattanooga WDXV Jr Disc Jockey competition is a hoot, the young fellow was rather good. The $100 price is very good; these spools go for roughly $5 each on Ebay and more if the content is of interest. Once you learn how to handle the wire, it is not much of a problem. If it gets tangled though, the knotted piece must be cut out and the ends spliced which sometimes works and sometimes does not. The wire moves a really fast pace, so it can be unforgiving. Good luck.
JT

[pianolist]

I purchased my first wire recorder, a Webcor, back in the ‘60s when I was a teenager. They are fun. I recorded a lot of music on mine; many wires with the Beatles and the like. The wire will occasionally foul but sniping out the tangled part and tying a good square knot always worked for me. Since the wire moves so fast, the contend lost in a splice really isn’t that much. I have several wire recorders now and always look for wires. Fun to listen to what people recorded 60 or 70 years ago. Lots of speeches being practiced but sometimes radio shows and fun stuff. The Silvertones work well, I have one that matches the description of yours. Enjoy.

[Phototone]

Just be aware that wire recorders have the fidelity of a table radio. Not hifi.

[edisonphonoworks]

Our local museum has a collection of wire recordings from Bill Lamb who was a projectionist at the local theater. He owned semi-professional 35mm movie cameras, and in the late 1940's he would make professional shorts, of local news and such. One is the Eureka IL, Pumpkin festival, and it has an associated wire recording with the 35mm film and has Ronald Regan co-starring on the film, and wire. So yes interesting and historic people and events can be on them.

[stetam]

Wow, thanks for all the informative replies! The one they are bring for me is a floor model and I am looking forward to getting it.

SteveM

[Chuck]

What is the speed of the wire as it
travels past the head of the machine?

[Wolfe]

Just be aware that wire recorders have the fidelity of a table radio. Not hifi.

The medium at it's best could edge up to high fidelity frequency response. Most of the machines made for home use, like home disc recorders, were not hi-fi.