[78-L] Speaking of portable equipment/cutter back in 1940?

[Michael Biel]

Milan P Milovanovic wrote:
> Now, my question is: what, way back then 1940. was portable equipment? Were 
> those cutter machines/lathes designed for 16" blank inserts? "Audiodisc" 
> sample as shown on photograph - was it amateurish or pro? If it was 
> professional disc, how come that it was used on portable equipment?
>
>   
Many companies, especially Presto and Fairchild, manufactured both 
amateur and professional recording machines as well as studio machines.  
Inexpensive home machines like Wilcox-Gay Recordio could only record up 
to a 10-inch disc, and some of the Presto semi-pro machines could record 
up to a 12-inch disc.  Since the disc shown is a 16-incher, it means 
that the machine (or machines) was a professional grade machine.  
Portables were actually more common than studio machines since they 
could do double duty.  Many studios used portable pro-machines.  Now, 
these were portable only insofar as they were in a case with a 
detachable lid and handles.  You generally needed a crew of at least two 
or three, or a gorilla.  The cutting turntable and lathe was in a 
separate case from the amplifier.  If you google Presto Recording you 
will find oodles of sites with pictures, ads, manuals, and plenty of 
other info.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com