DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Spaceways, v. 4, issue 1, whole no. 24, December 1941

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Spaceways, v. 4, issue 1, whole no. 24, December 1941

16     SPACEWAYS

[[handwritten number 6]]SO YOU WANT TO RECORD?
by
LESLIE A. CROUTCH

Indications tend to show that the ever-increasing art of home recording is going to grow in the future, as more fans become interested in this undoubtedly fresh and very unique field, and as the price of equipment lowers--or, which is the same, fans become wealthier. This means, then, that there are going to be dozens, let us hope hundreds, who when they do decide to start recording, won't have the faintest idea where the various equipment can be obtained, what prices they may expect to pay, how to use that equipment, how to get the best possible recordings, and what sundry accessories can be obtained quite reasonably for getting various effects and otherwise improving their hobby and the quality of their recordings. With this in mind, I broached Harry Warner, Jr., about it, suggested that we break the ice and start telling the fellows all we could about this very new art that has reared its head. That Warner was quite taken with the idea is shown by the presence of this, the first of what I hope will be popular enough to grow gradually into a series of articles that will be of aid to all of you interested.
To begin--I am going to suppose that I am writing for a group of fans who wish to start at scratch and that I am going to aid them in every way possible. This, then, means you have a certain amount of ready cash, to buy for cash or to buy on time payments, to spend on this new departure from fanzines. I'm going to assume that, like most of us, you haven't a million to spend and that you want to get the utmost for your money.
Naturally, if you are buying a home recording machine, you will want one that is as fool-proof as possible, that has no frills, and that is rugged. I suggest a standard under-feed screw type, that is, the type that has above the motor panel (that on which the motor, pick-up and recording heads, and possibly sundry controls are mounted) only such essentials as have already been mentioned in parentheses. There are several types of feeds in recorders: under feed screw which is most common on home recorders; upper feed screw where the mechanism for lending the recording head across the blank is above the motor panel, and various variations of these two basic movements. This recorder you will likely purchase and which I suggest, should be self-contained. That is, it should contain in one convenient carrying case everything necessary to the art of recording on blanks and reproducing those recordings. These units will run anywhere from $31.50 up to a professional one at $625. These prices are quoted from the catalogs of two major American radio supply houses: Allied Radio, 833 Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Ill., and Lafayette Radio Corp., Wholesale Radio Service Co. Ltd., 100 Sixth Ave., New York, N. Y. These two firms will gladly send catalogs to anyone who writes in and asks.
Now that you have bought your recorder, you will find it consists of a complete electrical record player and recording instrument built into the same carrying case. Instruction will accompany it showing how to use the particular recorder that you have purchased. There should also accompany it certain necessary accessories, but in case they weren't there, you will need a stroboscope, a fairly powerful magnifying glass, and a small spirit level. You should also procure a small camel-hair brush with fairly heavy bristles, such as a largish water-coloring brush. The use of these will later on become apparent.
You will also have to purchase a quantity of recording blanks. Better buy some 6-inch ones at first. Yes, I know you will be using 10" and 12" ones later on, but first you must spoil a few blanks making practice recordings. Experience is a wonderful teacher, you know. You will find a confusing variety of these blanks, ranging anywhere from 60c for half a dozen 6" discs (these are prices quoted on the Wilcox-Gay blanks) to 40c for a single 6" disc (Presto

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16 SPACEWAYS [[handwritten number 6]]SO YOU WANT TO RECORD? by LESLIE A. CROUTCH Indications tend to show that the ever-increasing art of home recording is going to grow in the future, as more fans become interested in this undoubtedly fresh and very unique field, and as the price of equipment lowers--or, which is the same, fans become wealthier. This means, then, that there are going to be dozens, let us hope hundreds, who when they do decide to start recording, won't have the faintest idea where the various equipment can be obtained, what prices they may expect to pay, how to use that equipment, how to get the best possible recordings, and what sundry accessories can be obtained quite reasonably for getting various effects and otherwise improving their hobby and the quality of their recordings. With this in mind, I broached Harry Warner, Jr., about it, suggested that we break the ice and start telling the fellows all we could about this very new art that has reared its head. That Warner was quite taken with the idea is shown by the presence of this, the first of what I hope will be popular enough to grow gradually into a series of articles that will be of aid to all of you interested. To begin--I am going to suppose that I am writing for a group of fans who wish to start at scratch and that I am going to aid them in every way possible. This, then, means you have a certain amount of ready cash, to buy for cash or to buy on time payments, to spend on this new departure from fanzines. I'm going to assume that, like most of us, you haven't a million to spend and that you want to get the utmost for your money. Naturally, if you are buying a home recording machine, you will want one that is as fool-proof as possible, that has no frills, and that is rugged. I suggest a standard under-feed screw type, that is, the type that has above the motor panel (that on which the motor, pick-up and recording heads, and possibly sundry controls are mounted) only such essentials as have already been mentioned in parentheses. There are several types of feeds in recorders: under feed screw which is most common on home recorders; upper feed screw where the mechanism for lending the recording head across the blank is above the motor panel, and various variations of these two basic movements. This recorder you will likely purchase and which I suggest, should be self-contained. That is, it should contain in one convenient carrying case everything necessary to the art of recording on blanks and reproducing those recordings. These units will run anywhere from $31.50 up to a professional one at $625. These prices are quoted from the catalogs of two major American radio supply houses: Allied Radio, 833 Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Ill., and Lafayette Radio Corp., Wholesale Radio Service Co. Ltd., 100 Sixth Ave., New York, N. Y. These two firms will gladly send catalogs to anyone who writes in and asks. Now that you have bought your recorder, you will find it consists of a complete electrical record player and recording instrument built into the same carrying case. Instruction will accompany it showing how to use the particular recorder that you have purchased. There should also accompany it certain necessary accessories, but in case they weren't there, you will need a stroboscope, a fairly powerful magnifying glass, and a small spirit level. You should also procure a small camel-hair brush with fairly heavy bristles, such as a largish water-coloring brush. The use of these will later on become apparent. You will also have to purchase a quantity of recording blanks. Better buy some 6-inch ones at first. Yes, I know you will be using 10" and 12" ones later on, but first you must spoil a few blanks making practice recordings. Experience is a wonderful teacher, you know. You will find a confusing variety of these blanks, ranging anywhere from 60c for half a dozen 6" discs (these are prices quoted on the Wilcox-Gay blanks) to 40c for a single 6" disc (Presto