[ARSCLIST] WALKIE-RECORDALL {Re: [ARSCLIST] Beginner's question RE: digital recordings}

[Mwcpc6@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 8/4/2006 1:57:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rjhodge@xxxxxxx 
writes:
You're right in that they don't turn up very often. Besides yours,
Steves and mine are the only other examples I've seen. I've never
undertook a restoration of mine although it came with one band.

Bob Hodge 
**************************

I have one in good working condition and a supply of sonobands and so does 
another AWA member nearby. One was up for auction on Ebay a while ago. 
(http://cgi.ebay.com/WALKIE-RECORDALL-VINTAGE-WIRE-TAPPER-RECORDER-MILES-CO_W0QQitemZ150
016426193QQihZ005QQcategoryZ395QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

When I got it I thought it was practically unique, but according to the Ebay 
listing they were relatively widely used. Mine is like the one pictured in the 
Field Museum site; the one on Ebay is apparently much older. 

The unit has a very wide range gain and tone controls which supposedly were 
designed to enhance speech recording. While intelligibility can be good, it 
certainly isn't high fidelity and there is considerable surface noise if you try 
to extend the bandwidth.

When were they first available and how widely were they actually used?

Mike Csontos