Equipment - Object, Soundscriber dictaphone, 1945-1960

Historical information

The Sound Scriber Dictaphone allowed recordings to be imprinted into a soft disk that could then be replayed later. This was useful for blind stenographers who could transcribe the audio recording. The lid contains a speaker into which sounds are made, the front knob is allows for 'Talk' or 'Listen' and three other dials on the device allow for the tubes to be turned on/off, starting/stopping the turntable and the recording volume to be 'Dictation' or 'Conf". There are two measuring tapes placed near the recording head and the Listen head, which show the minutes in the recording. The large disk that is placed on this machine has been stopped at the 12 minute mark.
At the rear of the device are two plugs, one of which is for electrical supply. This model of dicta phone remained popular until magnetic tapes.

Physical description

1 hinged leather case over a metal and wood machine

Inscriptions & markings

Sound Scriber

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