Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

slatermethuen · 21st May 2017, 10:27 am

Hi,

I found a couple of tape recorders at the back of a cupboard at my late father's house.

One is an 'Aerialite Trav-Ler'. I can't find any information about it on the Internet other than it was made by Aerialite, Hargreaves Works, Congleton, Cheshire. I guess it dates from the late '50s.

Does anyone have any more information about this model? Would it be worth trying to get it working (I haven't tried, but I imagine rubber bits would have worn out by now)?

Pictures here: https://goo.gl/photos/rEmRoUcf2winF4CU6

Andy

ms660 · 21st May 2017, 11:06 am

Not a lot on the web but found some specs in this magazine....Page 17, year 1961:

http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...UK-1961-03.pdf

Lawrence.

slatermethuen · 21st May 2017, 11:58 am

Thanks. That's the only one I found. I'm amazed it cost so much! £30 must have been at least a month's salary for my dad back then.

Paul_RK · 21st May 2017, 12:04 pm

I had a Trav-Ler long ago -don't remember it having been made by Aerialite, but probably that only signifies that the badge had dropped off. The item Lawrence gives looks equivalent to a Hi-Fi Year Book listing, so is probably as much as you would get from that source. What I do distinctly remember is that surplus examples of the machine were advertised fairly prominently in Wireless World, around 1960-'62: as three or four copies from that period came my way in '69 and I more or less learned certain of their contents by heart

They haven't quite disintegrated yet, so I might be able to look up one of the ads.

Paul

brenellic2000 · 21st May 2017, 2:43 pm

The Casian 'Trave-ler' (Train-road-aeroplane-vessel-lasting-exceptional-recording) first appeared in the UK circa autumn 1960. Its true origin is uncertain, but UK 'manufacture' and distribution passed to Aerialite in December 1960... and it disappeared soon after.

slatermethuen · 21st May 2017, 5:16 pm

Excellent information! So it must be a bit newer than I thought. I love the acronym; sounds to me like it might have originated in the states.

julie_m · 21st May 2017, 7:36 pm

I think it's an early case of making something up to match an abbreviation that had already been chosen .....

ben · 21st May 2017, 9:17 pm

Neat little unit, though I wouldn't expect much in terms of sound quality.
Don't leave that function selector in 'play', you'll make an indentation on the pinch roller!

slatermethuen · 21st May 2017, 9:27 pm

I'll change it straight away, but you may be 50 years late with that advice!

brenellic2000 · 22nd May 2017, 11:18 am

A lot of these inexpensive tape deck designs originate from Italy and were also marketed in the USA.

Likewise the respected American Steelman 'Transitape' was briefly assembled in the UK by Redifon and distributed by TelecTronic.

These 'toys' are in a world of their own as they appear under so many names! It has always surprised me that serious manufacturers became involved, but if production capacity is under utilised, any contract helps pay the bills!

Welsh Anorak · 24th May 2017, 5:48 pm

Just to complete things, the second machine is a remarkably clean 'Sound' department store special. It uses a BSR TRD2, well known in these circles. The mechanics are a bit agricultural, but they certainly last well. Belts aren't a problem but seized pivots certainly are. I see this one was left in the rewind position - it may well not revert to stop any more. Nice machine, simple electronics. and may be a more viable project for you.
Glyn

21st May 2017, 10:27 am	#1
slatermethuen Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 23	Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? Hi, I found a couple of tape recorders at the back of a cupboard at my late father's house. One is an 'Aerialite Trav-Ler'. I can't find any information about it on the Internet other than it was made by Aerialite, Hargreaves Works, Congleton, Cheshire. I guess it dates from the late '50s. Does anyone have any more information about this model? Would it be worth trying to get it working (I haven't tried, but I imagine rubber bits would have worn out by now)? Pictures here: https://goo.gl/photos/rEmRoUcf2winF4CU6 Andy

21st May 2017, 11:06 am	#2
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? Not a lot on the web but found some specs in this magazine....Page 17, year 1961: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...UK-1961-03.pdf Lawrence.

21st May 2017, 11:58 am	#3
slatermethuen Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 23	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? Thanks. That's the only one I found. I'm amazed it cost so much! £30 must have been at least a month's salary for my dad back then.

21st May 2017, 12:04 pm	#4
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? I had a Trav-Ler long ago -don't remember it having been made by Aerialite, but probably that only signifies that the badge had dropped off. The item Lawrence gives looks equivalent to a Hi-Fi Year Book listing, so is probably as much as you would get from that source. What I do distinctly remember is that surplus examples of the machine were advertised fairly prominently in Wireless World, around 1960-'62: as three or four copies from that period came my way in '69 and I more or less learned certain of their contents by heart They haven't quite disintegrated yet, so I might be able to look up one of the ads. Paul

21st May 2017, 2:43 pm	#5
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? The Casian 'Trave-ler' (Train-road-aeroplane-vessel-lasting-exceptional-recording) first appeared in the UK circa autumn 1960. Its true origin is uncertain, but UK 'manufacture' and distribution passed to Aerialite in December 1960... and it disappeared soon after.

21st May 2017, 5:16 pm	#6
slatermethuen Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 23	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? Excellent information! So it must be a bit newer than I thought. I love the acronym; sounds to me like it might have originated in the states.

21st May 2017, 7:36 pm	#7
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? I think it's an early case of making something up to match an abbreviation that had already been chosen ..... __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

21st May 2017, 9:17 pm	#8
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? Neat little unit, though I wouldn't expect much in terms of sound quality. Don't leave that function selector in 'play', you'll make an indentation on the pinch roller! __________________ Regards, Ben.

21st May 2017, 9:27 pm	#9
slatermethuen Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 23	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? I'll change it straight away, but you may be 50 years late with that advice!

22nd May 2017, 11:18 am	#10
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? A lot of these inexpensive tape deck designs originate from Italy and were also marketed in the USA. Likewise the respected American Steelman 'Transitape' was briefly assembled in the UK by Redifon and distributed by TelecTronic. These 'toys' are in a world of their own as they appear under so many names! It has always surprised me that serious manufacturers became involved, but if production capacity is under utilised, any contract helps pay the bills!

24th May 2017, 5:48 pm	#11
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,916	Re: Aerialite portable tape recorder - any information? Just to complete things, the second machine is a remarkably clean 'Sound' department store special. It uses a BSR TRD2, well known in these circles. The mechanics are a bit agricultural, but they certainly last well. Belts aren't a problem but seized pivots certainly are. I see this one was left in the rewind position - it may well not revert to stop any more. Nice machine, simple electronics. and may be a more viable project for you. Glyn