Cassette Recorders Of The USSR (22 Photos): Which Soviet Model Was The First? What Then Appeared Manufacturers Of Two-cassette And Single-cassette Tape Recorders?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 04:10

Every year the well-being of the Soviet people became higher. And along with it, the demands of citizens increased. Thus, at the end of the 70s of the last century, every inhabitant of the USSR was extremely necessary to have a cassette tape recorder, preferably of foreign production . Basically, young people had such a need, but their parents tended to purchase a domestic product. However, the adolescents' convictions most often prevailed and after a couple of weeks the boys were walking around the courtyards with cassette recorders on their shoulders, listening to their favorite music.

History of the first cassette recorder

Today cassette recorders are a real rarity. Young people consider this type of technology to be a relic of the past . But it was not always so. Our parents and grandparents probably remember the elitism of the cassette recorder in the Soviet era. Girls considered the guys with this device to be the most fashionable.

Boys with tape recorders in the days of the USSR can be compared with modern guys who have their own car.

The first Soviet-made tape recorders were released in 1969. The manufacturer named it "Desna". The foreign prototype "Philips EL-3300", developed in 1967, was taken as a basis . The main characteristics of the Desna cassette apparatus were the speed of the cassette tape scrolling - 4, 76 cm / sec and its weight - 1, 8 kg. An additional component of the "Gums" is a power supply unit. The cost of this tape recorder was 220 rubles.

After some time, Soviet manufacturers began to create different models of tape recorders with improved characteristics. And the cassettes themselves were constantly updated. According to citizens living in the USSR, the most popular tape recorders were Vesna 207, Karpaty-202-1, Elektronika 302, Nota and Mayak . Their price was limited to 100-200 rubles.

Which ones were produced?

Different types of cassette recorders were produced in the Soviet Union. Each of them had a lot of advantages and some disadvantages.

Cassette holders . Hand-held single-cassette mono tape recorders. In more advanced models, there was a radio. The mechanism of the device was powered by batteries; cassettes were rewound manually.

Double cassette machine . In the Soviet Union, such models were produced in a limited edition. Their design assumed the presence of two decks for placing cassettes, so that the owner of the tape recorder could rewrite the audio recording from one medium to another. However, the Soviet government did not accept the principle of copying information, which is why a ban was put on the production of two-cassette tape recorders. But society was not upset at all. Thanks to supplies from abroad, everyone could get a similar model.

Music Center . The Soviet people tried not to advertise the presence of such an expensive device in the house, because such a tape recorder was affordable only for crooks and people who received income in an illegal way.

Car recorder . Some time after the development of tape production, manufacturers thought about equipping a car with this device.

The only inconvenience - upon arrival at the place, it was necessary to completely remove the device and take it with you.

The presented designs of tape recorders were completely created at Soviet factories. However, in the houses and apartments of citizens of the USSR there were also foreign models, which were not possible to purchase in the store. They were brought by sailors.

For example, an upper class sailor went on a business trip for several months . With the money he earned, he bought goods in foreign ports, and then brought them home and sold them to dealers. Many citizens of the Soviet Union worked in a similar way. But, realizing that this activity is criminally punishable, they tried to be extremely careful.

Popular brands and models

During the Soviet era, many different types of tape recorders appeared. However, not all of them were to the taste of society. The youth made huge demands on these units. The teenagers of the 70s wanted to listen to loud music in excellent sound, without extraneous noise on portable devices . And their parents preferred to enjoy high-quality performance of their favorite works on a stationary tape recorder. Here is a rating of the best cassette recorders of the Soviet era.

Spring-201-stereo

The manufacturer of this device was the Iskra plant. The first tape recorders rolled off the assembly line in the 77th year. They were portable devices equipped with a sound recording function. Thanks to their small size and modest design, they fit well into the home environment. BUT in anticipation of the 1980 Olympic Games, these products received a different name - "Olympic Spring-201-stereo ". This change has affected the increase in the cost of tape recorders.

Electronics-302

The development of these tape recorders began in 1984. The creators of the structures were the Moscow "TochMash". The main purpose of the presented models is recording and reproduction of information on cassette tapes. The design "Electronics-301" was taken as the basis for these models . The updated version has received a number of interesting and convenient functions. For example, a volume slider.

However, it was this innovation that most often failed, which is why manufacturers replaced them with corner switches.

IZH-302

The creation of this tape recorder was the Izhevsk Motorcycle Plant. The first IZH-302 models rolled off the assembly line in 1982. The design “Elektronika-302” was taken as the basis for their creation . The main purpose of this model was to record information. In addition, these models were equipped with the ability to record data from microphones, television sets, sound amplifiers and radio transmission lines. The recording process was controlled by a special dial indicator. Quite often, newspaper reporters used this particular device to record interviews.

The presence of rechargeable batteries made it possible to use the tape recorder as a portable device for 10 hours.

Electronics-211 stereo

The production of this model was carried out by the Aliot plant. These designs are endowed with the functions of recording and reproducing information from cassettes, microphones, televisions, radios, and various types of receivers. The system provided for automatic and manual recording adjustment. Quite often "Electronics-211 stereo" was used in the professional sphere of journalists . With this device, they could interview, work in noisy areas, since the system is endowed with a noise reduction function.

A distinctive feature of this model of the tape recorder was the power supply. The equipment was powered by batteries, plugged into a power outlet or the vehicle's on-board network, so that the owner of the car could enjoy music while driving.

Electronics-311-S

This design is a sibling of the 211 Stereo model. Its release began in 1977. The product was designed to read information from standard cassettes . In the system of the presented design, there was an adjustment of the timbre of frequencies. The control was carried out automatically and manually.

A distinctive feature of this design was the presence of a temporary stop in the recording process. In addition, "Electronics-311-C" was equipped with several external speakers responsible for high-quality sound.

"Electronics-321" and "322"

These designs belonged to a unique group of tape recorders. After all, the manufacturer contained in them all the best and necessary for the exploitation of the Soviet people. Their designs were equipped with an improved drive, friction receiving units, cassette racks. The model with the number "321" had a stationary microphone.

The recording process was adjusted both automatically and manually . Power was supplied from batteries and the mains. The model numbered "322" was distinguished by the presence of a mobile microphone. Otherwise, there was no difference between the presented models.

All these tape recorders were of high quality and easily "survived" until the 90s, and some samples are still functioning.