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1948 To
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Nakamichi (Fidela, Magic Tone) produced reel to reel tape recorders which were manufactured in Japan. These tape recorders targeted the consumer market. Nakamichi (Fidela, Magic Tone) tape recorders used solid state electronics. The company produced both 2 and 4 track machines available in 100v Japan voltages.
Established by by Etsuro Nakamichi in 1948 as Nakamichi Research Corporation Ltd, the company is not widely known as a manufacturer of reel to reel tape recorders. In fact they were one of the early Japanese producers (1951) and marketed 2 tape recorders branded Fidela and Magic Tone. They also began producing tape recorder heads in 1957.
This obscure Japanese website lists the Magic tone as a 1951 model and the following 15 models of Fidela reel to reel tape recorders – 11, 22, 33, 55, studio 77, studio 77D, studio 300D, studio 300DS, 720, 780, 807, Gem Sonic 807, 860, 920, 960. Maybe Gem Sonic was a 3rd brand?
Rumour has it that starting in 1967 and for a number of years, the following US companies bought electronics or complete tape recorders from Nak – Ampex (just certain models) KLH, Harman Kardon, Advent, Fisher, ELAC, Sylvania, Concord and Motorola.
Nakamichi made the electronics for the KLH Models 40 and 41, both 3 motor, 3 head machines assembled in the US and it is believed that Concord made the transports.