The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

cuttercollector · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 317 Location: San Jose, CA

My friend just picked this up. Anybody ever seen one before or know something about this. I speculate because it came from the L.A. area in the 40s, and says "Reference Recorder" it had something to do with the film industry. Perhaps to provide instant playback as a dialog check for soundtracks recorded to optical film machines? That way they could see if the dialog was clear, nobody said their lines wrong, outside noises etc. They could not play back the optical tracks untill they developed them, and this was pre-magnetic tape recorders. I have no idea why they made it non standard constant groove velocity. Ahead of it's time really. It appears to record inside out and the GLASS! platter is driven from the bottom by a wheel that moves with the lathe leadscrew so it goes faster at the center start and slower toward the edge end, 30 minutes a side!
I think this one has been modified. I am sure the 50s record player playback arm does not belong there.

diamone · Joined: 09 Aug 2008 Posts: 21 Location: Silicon Valley

See my post under Grey Audograph for the answer to this.

It's resin based discs, same as the Audograph, just 12 in. across, with a normal center hole and drive hole. Any ordinary person would think the discs were the clear coating to a normal recording blank, but they were indeed a Constant Linear Velocity disc based recording when every other analog disc-based recording was Constant Angular Velocity.

A lot of radio airchecks ended up on here and I mean a LOT. A lot of the supposed `lost' episodes of Classic Radio were remastered off these, especially when the alternative was either raggedyass old beat up acetates or tape from the period that was flaking off.

I know where some discs can be found if you would like some
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2 Kinds of Men/Records: Low Noise & Wide Range. LN is mod. fidelity, cheap, & easy. WR is High Fidelity & Abrasive to its' Environment. Remember that when you encounter a Grumpy Engineer. ( Very Happy

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