[78-L] AEG Magnetophon (was: Lacquer Discs recorded at 80 rpm)

[goldenbough at arcor.de]

An  AEG Magnetophon K2  was offered at auction about a year ago on eBay Germany, 
including amplifier and loudspeakers.  The lot, offerend separately in 3 different auctions (!) 
went for a total of about 20,000 euros ($30,000), if I remember well.  
Don't remember if they all went to the same buyer! 

Yes, the K2 dates from 1936. The K1 dates from 1935. 
And the even earlier K0 (unofficial name) was produced from 1932 to 1934. 

See these links about historical tape recorders (in German): 
http://www.tonbandmuseum.info/aeg-k1.html 
http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/aeg_magnetophon.html 

However, there were earlier tape machines in Germany. 
The problem was the 16mm paper tape which ripped ever too often. 
The magnetic recording system was invented in 1921 (and used for several German full length sound films in 1921 and 1922)

The magnetic paper tape was invented in 1922, but it took until 1928 when the inventor, 
Fritz Pfleumer, could present a workable machine and impress the public so that AEG bought his patent. 
Same year, 1928: Karl Bauer's first magnetic cassette recorder (used mainly for taping phone conversations) 

1933: the 'Texophon' by C.Lorenz Gesellschaft, Berlin (for radio remote recording) 
1935: The C.Lorenz Gesellschaft, Berlin, introduces the 'Stahltonmaschine', also for remote recording
AEG then developed the plastic tape (1935). From then on things were really functioning. 

Benno