Cassette recorders of the USSR: the first model, types, overview of manufacturers

Every year the well-being of the Soviet people became higher. And along with it, the demands of citizens increased. Thus, at the end of the 70s of the last century, it was extremely necessary for every citizen of the USSR to have a cassette recorder, preferably of foreign production. Basically, young people had such a need, but their parents tended to purchase a domestic product. However, the adolescents' convictions most often prevailed and after a couple of weeks the boys were walking around the courtyards with cassette recorders on their shoulders, listening to their favorite music.

Today cassette recorders are a real rarity. Young people consider this type of technology to be a relic of the past. But it was not always so. Our parents and grandparents probably remember the elitism of the cassette recorder in the Soviet era. Girls considered the guys with this device to be the most fashionable.

The first Soviet-made tape recorders were released in 1969. The manufacturer named it "Desna". The foreign prototype "Philips EL-3300", developed in 1967, was taken as a basis. The main characteristics of the Desna cassette apparatus were the speed of the cassette tape scrolling - 4.76 cm / sec and its weight 1.8 kg. An additional component of the "Gums" is a power supply unit. The cost of this tape recorder was 220 rubles.

After some time, Soviet manufacturers began to create different models of tape recorders with improved characteristics. And the cassettes themselves were constantly updated. According to citizens living in the USSR, the most popular tape recorders were Vesna 207, Karpaty-202-1, Elektronika 302, Nota and Mayak. Their price was limited to 100-200 rubles.

Different types of cassette recorders were produced in the Soviet Union. Each of them had a lot of advantages and some disadvantages.

• Cassette holders. Hand-held single-cassette mono tape recorders. In more advanced models, there was a radio. The mechanism of the device was powered by batteries, the cassettes were rewound manually.

• Double cassette machine. In the Soviet Union, such models were produced in a limited edition. Their design assumed the presence of two decks for placing cassettes, so that the owner of the tape recorder could rewrite the audio recording from one medium to another. However, the Soviet government did not accept the principle of copying information, which is why a ban was put on the production of two-cassette tape recorders. But society was not upset at all. Thanks to supplies from abroad, everyone could get a similar model.

• Music Center. The Soviet people tried not to advertise the presence of such an expensive device in the house, because such a tape recorder was affordable only for crooks and people who received income in an illegal way.

• Car recorder. Some time after the development of tape production, manufacturers thought about equipping a car with this device.

For example, an upper class sailor went on a business trip for several months. With the money he earned, he bought goods in foreign ports, and then brought them home and sold them to dealers. Many citizens of the Soviet Union worked in a similar way. But, realizing that this activity is criminally punishable, they tried to be extremely careful.

During the Soviet era, many different types of tape recorders appeared. However, not all of them were to the taste of society. The youth made huge demands on these units. The teenagers of the 70s wanted to listen to loud music in excellent sound, without extraneous noise on portable devices. And their parents preferred to enjoy high-quality performance of their favorite works on a stationary tape recorder. Here is a rating of the best cassette recorders of the Soviet era.

The manufacturer of this device was the Iskra plant. The first tape recorders rolled off the assembly line in the 77th year. They were portable devices equipped with a sound recording function. Thanks to their small size and modest design, they fit well into the home environment. A in anticipation of the 1980 Olympic Games, these products received a different name - "Olympic Spring-201-stereo". This change has affected the increase in the cost of tape recorders.

The development of these tape recorders began in 1984. The creators of the structures were Moscow TochMash. The main purpose of the presented models is recording and reproduction of information on cassette tapes. The design "Electronics-301" was taken as the basis for these models. The updated version has received a number of interesting and convenient functions. For example, a volume slider.

The creation of this tape recorder was the Izhevsk Motorcycle Plant. The first IZH-302 models rolled off the assembly line in 1982. The design “Elektronika-302” was taken as the basis for their creation. The main purpose of this model was to record information. In addition, these models were equipped with the ability to record data from microphones, television sets, sound amplifiers and radio transmission lines. The recording process was controlled by a special dial indicator. Quite often, newspaper reporters used this particular device to record interviews.

The production of this model was carried out by the Aliot plant. These designs are endowed with the functions of recording and reproducing information from cassettes, microphones, televisions, radios, and various types of receivers. The system provided for automatic and manual recording adjustment. Quite often "Electronics-211 stereo" was used in the professional sphere of journalists. With this device, they could interview, work in noisy areas, since the system is endowed with a noise reduction function.

This design is a sibling of the 211 Stereo model. Its release began in 1977. The product was designed to read information from standard cassettes. In the system of the presented design, there was an adjustment of the timbre of frequencies. The control was carried out automatically and manually.

These designs belonged to a unique group of tape recorders. After all, the manufacturer contained in them all the best and necessary for the exploitation of the Soviet people. Their designs were equipped with an improved drive, friction receiving units, cassette racks. The model with the number "321" had a stationary microphone.

The recording process was adjusted both automatically and manually. Power was supplied from batteries and the mains. The model numbered "322" was distinguished by the presence of a mobile microphone. Otherwise, there was no difference between the presented models.

For an overview of the USSR cassette recorders, see the following video.