IZH tape recorders: about the company, features, model overview

It is customary to call a tape recorder an electromechanical device that is designed to record sound information on magnetic media and reproduce it. By the type of media used in this device, tape recorders are divided into tape (they can be reel or cassette) and wire. In the USSR, in the early 1930s, experiments with the use of magnetic recording were actively carried out. This made it possible in 1949 in Kiev to produce the first serial household tape recorder "Dnepr".

Most middle-aged people associate the name IZH with the brand of motorcycles that were produced at the IZHMASH plant in the city of Izhevsk. There is also a motorcycle factory in this city, founded in 1933 on the basis of Nikolai Berezin's arms factory. During the Great Patriotic War, 82 thousand Maxim machine guns were produced here. Later, since 1982, the Izhevsk Motorcycle Plant launched the production of household radio equipment.

In IZH tape recorders, a tape inserted into a cassette was used as an information carrier. Most often, cassettes of the "MK-60" type with a film of 3.81 mm wide were used. Almost all tape recorders of this brand were portable and stereo, but there were also monophonic ones. They belonged to devices of the third complexity group (the highest was considered the zero group, and the lowest - the fourth). The plant also produced several types of radio tape recorders.

IZH tape recorders of the Izhevsk Motorcycle Plant were represented by the following models.

This is the first tape recorder of the enterprise, released in 1982. It was a monophonic device of the 3rd complexity class with two recording tracks. In terms of its internal content, it was very similar to the "Elektronika-302" tape recorder, but had an individual external design in black and brown. With this unit, you can record from a special microphone, radio, TV, electrophone or other similar device. The recording level is controlled by a dial indicator, which also records the supply voltage. Thanks to the button for remote activation of the tape recorder located on the microphone, it can be used to record reports. The operating time from the A 343 cells is about 10 hours. Weight with cassette and elements - 3.2 kg. The parameters of the device are 90x318x225 mm.

It began to be produced in 1986, and in 1987 it became known as "IZH M-303-stereo". Was a cassette stereophonic apparatus of the 3rd class. The recording level is adjusted both manually and automatically. When the cassette tape breaks sharply or ends, the auto-stop is activated. Equipped with a film consumption counter with a memory device. The tape recorder is also equipped with pointer recording level sensors, has a noise reduction system. Produced in a beautiful silver case. Power is supplied by 6 A 343 batteries or from the mains. The dimensions of the device are 442x217x116 mm. Weight with batteries is 5 kg.

Produced from 1985 to 1987. This is a Class 3 stereo cassette portable unit. Serves for both playback and recording of audio signals. Has two loudspeakers, a device for expanding the stereo base, auto-stop, tone control and stereo balance. Powered by a network or 6 elements A 343 and has a size of 388x145x85 mm.

The release of this model began in 1990.This is a third class stereo tape recorder with 2 cassettes and 2 tape drives. One of them functions in the recording or playback mode (compartment B), the second - exclusively in the playback mode (compartment A). The device is equipped with a three-band equalizer, an internal microphone, an electronic signal level sensor, a tape meter, and indicators of the mains and low battery. Stereo telephones can be connected to the device. Model parameters - 600x160x150 mm. Weight reaches 5 kg.

See the following video for an overview of the IZH 305 stereo tape recorder.