I have an old wire recorder that I am willing to sell to anyone that wants it. I have never used it so don't know if it works of not. If anyone is interested my e-mail is
Nice. I have the same unit. Please be careful, you should think about replacing the filter capacitors, and possibly subbing the 6X5 for another tube or diodes. My 6X5 had shorted, but luckily, didn't take out the power trans.
I have one of these, and it functions on all the original components, and does a darn good job! I don't think it has seen much use in the past 58 years because the most recent date on the spools was 1952, and the cord had been tied up so long all the insulation cracked off when I uncoiled it. With a new cord, it works excellently, and I transferred the recordings to a cassette so that I could re-record the wires. These are fantastic old things.
I got it recently. My Windows hard-drive broke, so I cannot upload videos anymore. Once that has been repaired, I can guarantee that there will be a video.
I've had a Webster Wire Record since I was a kid in the 1950s. They're lots of
fun, but lots of trouble too, when things go wrong. It almost seem to be alive.
With no air fan, the unit heats up giving off a rare oder of heated metal, electronics and wood. The head going up and down as the wire progresses along is hypnotic.
I wish I had taken better care of mine, although it still will play the few spools
"You mean that bloody awful singing will outlast the recordings of Callas? Damn... "
No. We have plenty of records that are nearly 120 years old, and Callas recorded when record technology had gone about as far as it was going to go. You shoulda said someone like Sarah Brightman.
But I'd sure rather listen to this little girl than that hack, so let's hope so.
Fascinating! I have seen some wire spools for sale on E-Bay. This machine sounds quite good. I found a Web site (forget where) that had a sound file, and their machine sounded terrible. This one is excellent! Thanks for the video!
Yes, as far as I can tell it is all original. I tested the tubes before first turning it on and all look to be vintage. I have not tried to record as I have no extra wire spools, only the one you hear and I do not wish to erase it.
I heard about these machines from my father. He's a teacher and he found one of those in a forgotten corner in the basement of his school. Made by Telefunken in the early 1930s. Guessing from the design this one can't be much newer. But I doubt the record is that old, the wire would surely have demagnetized over the decades, or have picked up too much induction to understand the recording anymore.
Thank you for enjoying the clip. I am right behind you at 49. I knew of these machines but never saw one. This was a gift from a friend who found it at the back of his apartment closet after moving in. Pure luck.
outlast any toher type of recording media??...until they snap...and a cylindrical wire is prone to roll when spooled, so you'll get variable frequency response, especially in the high end... as if the frequency response isn't bad enough to start with..not to mention mono sound...actually I'd take an mp3 over a wire recorder...
This machine is probably 60 years old. And most things that could go wrong with it can still be fixed with a bit of mechanical ingenuity. Do you really think your MP3 player is going to be working 60 yrs from now? Or will be repairable even 5 yrs from now? The wire can be repaired by simply tying the ends together using a simple square knot and trimming the loose end But I bet that wire will still be playable 100 years from now. Try that with your I-Pod!
Yep! Sort of makes you want to go get one on Ebay and transfer all your personal recordings to it. Unfortunately they never figured out how to make a video version! I have one just like this. Has a slight hum in the playback which I could fix if I ever get done working on all the other broken things people want fixed!
Nothing a little acetone couldn't fix...
55555scooter55555 6 days ago
240p we meet again.
GalaticTG 3 months ago
The quality of this recording reminds me of the homemade brown wax cylinder records you would find from back in the late 1890`s It sounds cool
amberola1b 5 months ago
The song sounds a lot like Liszt's Liebestraum No. 3
Geisttanzer 7 months ago
Wow. Just like in the movie "Chinatown."
way2muchsense 1 year ago
I have an old webster wire recorder that I'm willing to sell if anyone is interested, email me at powell.j@cox.net. I live in Oklahoma.
harnessbootman 1 year ago
I have an old wire recorder that I am willing to sell to anyone that wants it. I have never used it so don't know if it works of not. If anyone is interested my e-mail is
powell.j@cox.net
harnessbootman 1 year ago
Do you have any for sale?
BrunermanVideo 1 year ago
Nice. I have the same unit. Please be careful, you should think about replacing the filter capacitors, and possibly subbing the 6X5 for another tube or diodes. My 6X5 had shorted, but luckily, didn't take out the power trans.
Have fun :)
watcher818 1 year ago 3
Thank you for the tip.
Randreash 1 year ago
wow...that's a little creepy
MAP14100 1 year ago
I have one of these, and it functions on all the original components, and does a darn good job! I don't think it has seen much use in the past 58 years because the most recent date on the spools was 1952, and the cord had been tied up so long all the insulation cracked off when I uncoiled it. With a new cord, it works excellently, and I transferred the recordings to a cassette so that I could re-record the wires. These are fantastic old things.
ForgetfulCollector 2 years ago
Could you do a video of it, if you haven't already? I did have a look on your channel but couldn't find it.
CoolDudeClem 2 years ago
I got it recently. My Windows hard-drive broke, so I cannot upload videos anymore. Once that has been repaired, I can guarantee that there will be a video.
ForgetfulCollector 2 years ago
Very clear sound and stable wiretransport.
Good machine!
fredontube 2 years ago
@fredontube
I've had a Webster Wire Record since I was a kid in the 1950s. They're lots of
fun, but lots of trouble too, when things go wrong. It almost seem to be alive.
With no air fan, the unit heats up giving off a rare oder of heated metal, electronics and wood. The head going up and down as the wire progresses along is hypnotic.
I wish I had taken better care of mine, although it still will play the few spools
that came with it.
paperboxcutter 1 year ago
"You mean that bloody awful singing will outlast the recordings of Callas? Damn... "
No. We have plenty of records that are nearly 120 years old, and Callas recorded when record technology had gone about as far as it was going to go. You shoulda said someone like Sarah Brightman.
But I'd sure rather listen to this little girl than that hack, so let's hope so.
esroberto1 2 years ago
i have the very same wire recorder! it has a broken vacuum tube but i can still hear a very faint sound of a boy playing a song on a clarinet.
16mmDJ 3 years ago
that sounds like Edith Bunker
wilkes85 3 years ago 2
Fascinating! I have seen some wire spools for sale on E-Bay. This machine sounds quite good. I found a Web site (forget where) that had a sound file, and their machine sounded terrible. This one is excellent! Thanks for the video!
clydesight 3 years ago
I am getting a Webster Model 80-1 this week.
Facts about the wire recorder
-Worked on by Oberlin Smith, Valdimar Poulsen, and Marvin Camras.
- Webster- Chicago became "Webcor" in 1951.
-The Model 80 was made in 1947
PineBrookMotorLodge 3 years ago
Interesting information. Thank you very much. I know nothing about this unit.
Randreash 3 years ago
Look up the Hutman Museum of Sound on google...you will find one of these and background someday I will video it
Conrad
cbladey 4 years ago
Thank you for the info. I will look it up.
Randreash 4 years ago
WOW! Is that running off origianal parts? And does record funtion still work?
CassetteMaster 4 years ago
Yes, as far as I can tell it is all original. I tested the tubes before first turning it on and all look to be vintage. I have not tried to record as I have no extra wire spools, only the one you hear and I do not wish to erase it.
Randreash 4 years ago
This looks like a Webster 80-1, which sold for around $150 back in 1947.
CassetteMaster will be pleased to know that it has AC bias :)
Jamiep84 4 years ago
I heard about these machines from my father. He's a teacher and he found one of those in a forgotten corner in the basement of his school. Made by Telefunken in the early 1930s. Guessing from the design this one can't be much newer. But I doubt the record is that old, the wire would surely have demagnetized over the decades, or have picked up too much induction to understand the recording anymore.
Director84 4 years ago
It isn't rusty at all
WojterEXx 4 years ago
Fantastic, Iam 50 years old I have never seen such machine. Very cool. Thank you very much for sharing.
mariopica 4 years ago
Thank you for enjoying the clip. I am right behind you at 49. I knew of these machines but never saw one. This was a gift from a friend who found it at the back of his apartment closet after moving in. Pure luck.
Randreash 4 years ago
A piece of history not yet part of oblivion..so cool
Soul2burn 4 years ago
i heard wire recorders can be built so precisely that they are great for studio use.
Tussicat 4 years ago
Somewhere I have the name of a guy who modified an Ampex AG440 to playback wire recordings.
One thing about these. The recordings are on stainless steel wire that will probably outlast almost any other type of recording media.
strong1235 3 years ago
outlast any toher type of recording media??...until they snap...and a cylindrical wire is prone to roll when spooled, so you'll get variable frequency response, especially in the high end... as if the frequency response isn't bad enough to start with..not to mention mono sound...actually I'd take an mp3 over a wire recorder...
fireplace911 3 years ago
This machine is probably 60 years old. And most things that could go wrong with it can still be fixed with a bit of mechanical ingenuity. Do you really think your MP3 player is going to be working 60 yrs from now? Or will be repairable even 5 yrs from now? The wire can be repaired by simply tying the ends together using a simple square knot and trimming the loose end But I bet that wire will still be playable 100 years from now. Try that with your I-Pod!
strong1235 3 years ago 10
You mean that bloody awful singing will outlast the recordings of Callas? Damn...
ootahbootah 3 years ago
Yep! Sort of makes you want to go get one on Ebay and transfer all your personal recordings to it. Unfortunately they never figured out how to make a video version! I have one just like this. Has a slight hum in the playback which I could fix if I ever get done working on all the other broken things people want fixed!
strong1235 3 years ago