Tape recorders "Legend": history, features, review of models

Cassette portable tape recorders "Legenda-401" have been produced in the Soviet Union since 1972 and very quickly, indeed, have become a legend. Everyone wanted to buy them, but the capacity of the Arzamas instrument-making plant was not enough to meet the growing demand. A logical continuation in the history of the release was the updated version of the Legenda-404 cassette player, released for the first time in 1977. For those who were a happy owner of Soviet technology or are interested in rarities, we will tell you more about the "Legend" from the past.

In the early 70s of the last century, military enterprises were given the task of organizing the production of consumer goods in order to cover their deficit. In this regard, in 1971, at the Arzamas Instrument-Making Plant named after the 50th anniversary of the USSR, it was decided to organize the production of a small-sized cassette tape recorder. During this period, young people actively switched from listening to records to using cassettes, and the release of new technology was very relevant.

The release was set up promptly, less than a year passed from the formulation of the question to the release of the product itself. In March 1972, the first Legend-401 appeared. Its prototype was a domestic tape recorder. Sputnik-401, which also did not appear from scratch. The basis of his device was used model "Desna", released three years before the events mentioned, in 1969. Desna became the product of borrowing imported Philips EL-3300 technology and several other 1967 products.

The excitement around the "Legend" began from the first days of sales. The number of manufactured products grew from year to year, but still they were sorely lacking:

• 1972 - 38,000 pieces;
• 1973 - 50,000 pieces;
• 1975 - 100,000 pieces.

These figures, impressive for the plant's capabilities, were a drop in the ocean for the powerful human resource of the Soviet Union. Everyone knew about the Legend, but few held it in their hands. The popularity and large shortage of the product prompted the organizers of the All-Russian Money and Clothing Lottery to include it in the list of desirable gifts. And the workers of the Nizhny Novgorod radio and television broadcasting used the "Legend-401" for their professional activities.

Without making any special changes, the company successfully continued the production of tape recorders of this brand until 1980. Today the legendary equipment is kept in the Museum of the History of the Arzamas Instrument-Making Plant. Visitors are offered not only to get acquainted with the appearance, but also to evaluate the sound of the device, since the rare items are in excellent condition.

"Legenda-401" became the basis for an even more popular model - "Legenda-404", the release of which began in 1981. The equipment was twice awarded the State Quality Mark.

The Legend tape recorders were pleasantly surprised by their compact dimensions. Despite the portability, the technique was endowed with additional capabilities.

1. In addition to recording and reproducing functions, the device worked as a radio receiver. And judging by the user reviews collected in the Museum of the History of the APZ, it coped well with its additional task. For this, a special removable unit (radio cassette) was included with the tape recorder, and it served as a long-wave radio receiver.
2. Despite its everyday use, the tape recorder had reporter capabilities, and therefore it came to the liking of the employees of Nizhny Novgorod television, who used the products almost until the 2000s.... The device was equipped with a self-powered MD-64A microphone with a remote control button. In addition, reporters praised its light weight, small size, durable "indestructible" polystyrene casing and leather case with a comfortable shoulder strap.

The Arzamas Instrument-Making Plant named after the 50th anniversary of the USSR has produced several modifications of the famous Legend tape recorder.

The model was produced from 1972 to 1980. Sputnik-401 became the prototype of this domestic technology, therefore there was a similarity in the placement of microcircuits, batteries and other main components. But case design was noticeably different... It was decorated with a cover made of translucent plastic, as well as a spectacular special element that hides the loudspeaker.

The release of a class IV portable tape recorder took place at the Arzamas instrument-making plant from 1977 to 1989. It was a cassette model with a universal power supply. Speech and music were recorded on an MK60 cassette device. The equipment was powered by a mains connection and an A-343 battery. It had an output power from 0.6 to 0.9 W, the radio unit operated in the range of long or medium waves.

In 1989, "Legend-404", having undergone some changes, became known as "Legend M-404", and its release lasted until 1994. The case and circuits appeared in a new capacity, the tape recorder now had two speeds, but the radio cassette connector was completely absent. And although the new model was no longer marked with the State Quality Mark, its working versions are still found in museums and among collectors of old equipment.

During its release, the Legend portable tape recorder has gone through several modifications. The models have been improved taking into account the current time, the internal structure and the exterior of the case have changed. But it all started with the parameters and the principle of operation, which are given below, they refer to the source of the Arzamas "Legend".

The tape recorder had parameters of 265x175x85 mm and a total weight of 2.5 kg. It was supplied with power from the mains and from the battery А343 "Salyut-1", the capacity of which was enough for 10 hours of continuous operation. The device had several tracks of sound recording, their speeds were:

1. 4.74 cm / s;
2. 2.40 cm / s.

The recording was carried out in the working range from 60 to 10000 Hz. The sound on two tracks of the MK-60 cassette was:

1. using basic speed - 60 minutes;
2. using additional speed - 120 minutes.

The working process of the device did not stop at temperatures from -10 to +40 degrees Celsius.

Today, the capabilities of the Soviet tape recorder "Legend" are outdated long ago, but the quality with which these products were produced allows it to work even now.

For information on the features of the "Legend" tape recorders, see the next video.