Retro SciFi Tape Recorder - Columbia Bell & Howell Model 350 B (1955) - Part 1 - Overview

It is rare to find a working tape recorder from 1955, even rarer to find one with a vintage retro look that matches some of the designs from the sci fi moves of the time. But the Columbia Bell & Howell Model 350 is just that, a retro sci fi looking tape recorder -- and it still works! With all metal construction and three motor direct drive, it is a futuristic tape recorder similar units from TEAC and others did not appear for another 10 years!

*********

Sponsored by:

"The Wroussara Trilogy" science fiction novel from ClydeSight Productions. Not all alien encounters are abductions -- some are invitations! Your sci fi adventure begins as an ebook download on our Web pages at:

http://www.clydesight.com/wroussara

*********

This is the first of a series of videos documenting the condition and restoration of the Columbia Bell & Howell vintage reel to reel tape recorder dating from 1955. The machine currently is operational, but extremely noisy due to damage (it was apparently dropped and dented) and possible design flaws in the venting system. When it arrived from E-Bay, it could not properly fast forward or rewind because the drive motors needed to be cleaned and relubricated.

It features a three motor design, solenoid operation and almost none of the mechanical linkages that were characteristic of later reel to reel tape recorders. A monophonic machine, it has a 10 inch "full range" speaker mounted to a hinged back plate and an 8 watt, 7-tube amplifier with separate pre amp and amp sections, all entirely hand wired!

The tape recorder amplifier needs a complete "re-capping" - replacement of the 15 paper and electrolytic capacitors which are failing. While it currently does work, it is undependable and tends to "drop out" from time to time.

In Part 1, we see the machine mechanically restored (it can record and play, rewind and fast forward). It needs new dampeners on the main drive and serious re-engineering to a noise causing "vent chimney".

Future parts of this series on this vintage retro reel to reel tape recorder will show the modular construction of the tape recorder, the restoration of all three motors, the solenoid controller and other parts in what mechanically is a very simple design.

To see other parts of the series please use these links or the links posted within the video itself:

Part 2 - The Motor System at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brMBVeqjzkg

Final - Heads and Reassembly at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwOM3wjK8gs

Enjoy the video.

*********
Copyright Disclaimer:

This is an educational video, a critique, and report on an historic piece of vintage audio electronic equipment that is no longer manufactured or sold in stores. It is covered by the Fair Use Section of U.S. Copyright Law:

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

The video's music is a recording made on the Columbia Bell & Howell vintage reel to reel tape recorder of a vintage LP private recording of a performance of G.F. Handel's "Let Their Concerts All Unite", performed by New England Preparatory School Music Festival Chorus with the Cambridge Festival Orchestra, Alfred Nash Patterson Conducting - Boston Symphony Hall 1963. It is royalty free, copyright free and used with permission.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• clydesight
• vintage
• reel
• to
• tape
• recorder
• retro
• sci
• fi
• Wroussara
• novel
• ebook
• Columbia
• Bell
• Howell

[thatmuse76]

It's nice that it had a braking system. I used to have a Voice of Music machine from that era and it didn't. That tape recorder also came with a bunch of acetate tapes from the same era. Those did not last too long in those conditions. It had a cool little magic eye though.

[clydesight]

@thatmuse76

Thanks for your comment. One way to brake such a machine is to press the opposite drive button and let the motors slow it down naturally, then hit stop. That put less wear on them. Acetate tapes were so brittle, they would break in the middle of a recording or playback! So frustrating! Magic Eye tubes are very cool looking! And more useful than a blinking light!

[grape387]

I notice you don't deny that that cat is interested in conquering the world even if its not a space alien... :)

[clydesight]

@grape387 Thanks for the comment.

Ummm, I think cats have already conquered the world. Just ask their human slaves!

BTW, cats ARE space aliens! Clyde (the cat) proved it on his web site. Just google the phrase

why cats are superior to space aliens

[Clepto202]

Your cat is cool looking with them little white boots for feet and just the very, very tip of his tail white....ahhh, I have 2 cats myself..Man you got great videos....It nice to see these older machines...great explaination, as always.

[clydesight]

@Clepto202,

Thanks!

Gertie is a she cat, a real "Queen" (did you know female cats are called "Queens"?) Actually, Gertie is more of a spoiled Princess at times!

Cats are wonderful.

Be sure and check out Part 2 of the series!

[Clepto202]

I watched pt two, and wrote a comment but I didnt hit post......oops. No I dint know that about female cats.

[clydesight]

It is also possible that Columbia hired Bell & Howell to build the machine and THEY sold it under the combined name.

To make things MORE confusing, there is a label on the machine that says Three Dimension Company, a division of Bell and Howell.

AND, the mechanism has many similar characteristics to machines made by the Brush Development Company, who got their designs from Germany! In fact this machine has heads labeled "Brush".

A soap opera is easier to follow than this stuff!

[clydesight]

@Lachlant1984,

In 1955 Columbia was an American record label. SONY didn't get Columbia until 1988.

In 1955 it was American (as was B&H) and represented fine recording quality. B&H probably licensed the use of the name for their machine.

"Robby the Robot" was a character from the movie "Forbidden Planet" which premiered in 1957. He appeared in one other movie and then in several TV shows.

I have fixed the noise problem with the cooling system now.

[Lachlant1984]

You talk about Columbia Bel & Howell, isn't Columbia part of Sony Music? You also talk about Robbie the Robot, my best friend had a toy called Robbie Junior, it was a remote controlled robot made by Tandy, I think he got it in the 80's. I too had a remote controlled robot called Robbie, I got it in 1997 as a birthday gift, I have no idea who bought it for me. Very interesting tape recorder, it seems to me the cooling system is quite noisey. I also find the electronic breaking system cool.