Sony TC-50
This is the Sony TC-50 cassette recorder. This unit came out in 1968, and was the smallest cassette machine produced at the time.
This model is famous as it was the model chosen by NASA to be taken aboard the command module of the Apollo moon missions.
There is a strong possibility this unit has actually been used by NASA, but not apparent in the pictures. The units used by the Apollo program (there was more than one) had a metal sticker on the front with operating instructions, as well as a special serial number stamped. The jacks were taped to make then unuseable. Velcro was affixed to the rear of the unit to facilitate the machine being stuck to the wall in the microgravity environment.
I have acquired two TC-50's. One was found at an estate sale back in 2007 or so. It was in very good cosmetic condition, but the motor had a problem that I made worse when trying to fix (it was my first attempt at a TC-50 repair). Later in 2013, I went to a now out-of-business place called "The Black Hole" in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
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A very nice Japanese recorder of the 1960s. This one has a nice stand-up style with the 2.5" reels at the top. The unit runs at either 3 3/4 IPS or 1 7/8 IPS, although it does not change the equalization. Sound quality is very good with this AC bias, DC erase recorder. Can run on a battery of cells or 120VAC.
IBM didn't just make computers, they even made the occasional tape recorder! This is a MINIcassette recorder (not a microcassette). This unit is likely from some time in the 1980s. Records with decent sound quality for a hand-held recorder, and pretty good for the minicassette. Bias is currently unknown, but likely DC. Works off of original parts. Runs on a single 9V PP3 battery.
