Tape Recorder [Sony]
Maker and role
Sony Corporation, Manufacturer
Production date
Circa 1995
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2023.87
Maker
Description
Sony Tape Recorder.
Part 1: Black rectangular singular cassette tape recorder. "SONY" is printed along the back edge of the recorder. The top third of the recorder has small holes in it. There is a three numbered dial set to "000" with a small black button next to it and "TAPE COUNTER" embossed on the left. Below this, there is an empty compartment for a tape to be inserted. The compartment opens upward on a 45 degree angle. The top of the compartment has "SONY / FULL AUTO SHUT-OFF / CUE & REVIEW FUNCTION / CASSETTE-CORDER TCM-939" printed in grey. Underneath this, there are six buttons with symbol functions embossed on them. Their functions, "REC / PLAY / REW/REVIEW / FF/CUE / STOP/EJECT / PAUSE" is printed above the buttons in grey. The front edge of the tape recorder pulls outwards to act as a carry handle.
On the proper left side of the machine, there are three ports. "DC IN 6V EAR MIC / PLUG IN POWER" is embossed. Two stickers, one with an image of headphones and the other with the image of a mouth have been adhered above the ports. On the right side, there is a slider with "VOL" embossed above it.
At the back of the object, there is a panel that slides out to reveal the battery cavity. "OPEN" is embossed on it. Inside, there are four spaces for batteries. "R6 SIZE AA 3 x4" is embossed in one of the spaces and "ABS" is embossed on the underside of the panel. A white sticker with "SERIAL NO. / 1163179" printed in black is adhered. In the centre, a white sticker with "MOTAT" printed on it through a cog in blue is adhered. "Oral History" has been handwritten. Under this, "CASSETTE-CORDER / DC:6V BATTERY SUPPLY: 1.5VX4 / IEC, JIS R6 SIZE AA / SONY CORP. ASSEMBLED IN CHINA" is embossed.
Part 2: Black mains power cable for Sony tape recorder. Cable has robust body with two pronged New Zealand plug configuration at the back. "035" is engraved in the bottom left corner. On the front of the object, a maker's plate with "SONY / AC POWER ADAPTOR / 6V / AC-E60HG / INPUT: AC 240V~50Hz 12 W / OUTPUT: DC 6V 200mA / N/13643 / N50 / MADE IN CHINA" printed on it in green is attached. On the proper left side of the plug, a white sticker with "MOTAT" printed on it through a cog in blue is adhered. "Oral History" has been handwritten. A cord extends from the power adaptor with a yellow tipped connector at the end. "SONY" is embossed.
Part 1: Black rectangular singular cassette tape recorder. "SONY" is printed along the back edge of the recorder. The top third of the recorder has small holes in it. There is a three numbered dial set to "000" with a small black button next to it and "TAPE COUNTER" embossed on the left. Below this, there is an empty compartment for a tape to be inserted. The compartment opens upward on a 45 degree angle. The top of the compartment has "SONY / FULL AUTO SHUT-OFF / CUE & REVIEW FUNCTION / CASSETTE-CORDER TCM-939" printed in grey. Underneath this, there are six buttons with symbol functions embossed on them. Their functions, "REC / PLAY / REW/REVIEW / FF/CUE / STOP/EJECT / PAUSE" is printed above the buttons in grey. The front edge of the tape recorder pulls outwards to act as a carry handle.
On the proper left side of the machine, there are three ports. "DC IN 6V EAR MIC / PLUG IN POWER" is embossed. Two stickers, one with an image of headphones and the other with the image of a mouth have been adhered above the ports. On the right side, there is a slider with "VOL" embossed above it.
At the back of the object, there is a panel that slides out to reveal the battery cavity. "OPEN" is embossed on it. Inside, there are four spaces for batteries. "R6 SIZE AA 3 x4" is embossed in one of the spaces and "ABS" is embossed on the underside of the panel. A white sticker with "SERIAL NO. / 1163179" printed in black is adhered. In the centre, a white sticker with "MOTAT" printed on it through a cog in blue is adhered. "Oral History" has been handwritten. Under this, "CASSETTE-CORDER / DC:6V BATTERY SUPPLY: 1.5VX4 / IEC, JIS R6 SIZE AA / SONY CORP. ASSEMBLED IN CHINA" is embossed.
Part 2: Black mains power cable for Sony tape recorder. Cable has robust body with two pronged New Zealand plug configuration at the back. "035" is engraved in the bottom left corner. On the front of the object, a maker's plate with "SONY / AC POWER ADAPTOR / 6V / AC-E60HG / INPUT: AC 240V~50Hz 12 W / OUTPUT: DC 6V 200mA / N/13643 / N50 / MADE IN CHINA" printed on it in green is attached. On the proper left side of the plug, a white sticker with "MOTAT" printed on it through a cog in blue is adhered. "Oral History" has been handwritten. A cord extends from the power adaptor with a yellow tipped connector at the end. "SONY" is embossed.
Brief History
The Sony TCM-939 is a single cassette portable tape recorder/player with built-in microphone and speaker. There are jacks for connecting an external microphone and speaker/earphone. The unit can be run on mains power through the 6V power adaptor or on battery power (4xAA batteries). It is believed that this model was designed primarily for dictation and related activities. This particular unit was previously used as an oral history processing device at the Walsh Memorial Library.
Magnetic tape as a media storage format became prevalent from the late 1940s and was developed from technology acquired from Germany after the Second World War. Initially in the reel-to-reel format, magnetic tape became more accessible with the development of tape cassettes that were more compact and housed the tape entirely within a cassette or cartridge. The compact tape cassette as is used in this device was released by Philips in 1963 and became the standard medium for audio tape recording.
Magnetic tape as a media storage format became prevalent from the late 1940s and was developed from technology acquired from Germany after the Second World War. Initially in the reel-to-reel format, magnetic tape became more accessible with the development of tape cassettes that were more compact and housed the tape entirely within a cassette or cartridge. The compact tape cassette as is used in this device was released by Philips in 1963 and became the standard medium for audio tape recording.
Marks
000 Printed
TAPE COUNTER Embossed
SONY Printed
SONY / FULL AUTO SHUT-OFF / CUE & REVIEW FUNCTION / CASSETTE-CORDER TCM-939 Printed
REC / PLAY / REW/REVIEW / FF/CUE / STOP/EJECT / PAUSE Printed
DC IN 6V EAR MIC / PLUG IN POWER Embossed
VOL Embossed
OPEN Embossed
ABS Embossed
R6 SIZE AA 3 x4 Embossed
SERIAL NO. / 1163179 Embossed
MOTAT Printed
Oral History Hand-written
CASSETTE-CORDER / DC:6V BATTERY SUPPLY: 1.5VX4 / IEC, JIS R6 SIZE AA / SONY CORP. ASSEMBLED IN CHINA Embossed
035 Engraved
SONY / AC POWER ADAPTOR / 6V / AC-E60HG / INPUT: AC 240V~50Hz 12 W / OUTPUT: DC 6V 200mA / N/13643 / N50 / MADE IN CHINA Printed
MOTAT Printed
Oral History Hand-written
SONY Embossed
TAPE COUNTER Embossed
SONY Printed
SONY / FULL AUTO SHUT-OFF / CUE & REVIEW FUNCTION / CASSETTE-CORDER TCM-939 Printed
REC / PLAY / REW/REVIEW / FF/CUE / STOP/EJECT / PAUSE Printed
DC IN 6V EAR MIC / PLUG IN POWER Embossed
VOL Embossed
OPEN Embossed
ABS Embossed
R6 SIZE AA 3 x4 Embossed
SERIAL NO. / 1163179 Embossed
MOTAT Printed
Oral History Hand-written
CASSETTE-CORDER / DC:6V BATTERY SUPPLY: 1.5VX4 / IEC, JIS R6 SIZE AA / SONY CORP. ASSEMBLED IN CHINA Embossed
035 Engraved
SONY / AC POWER ADAPTOR / 6V / AC-E60HG / INPUT: AC 240V~50Hz 12 W / OUTPUT: DC 6V 200mA / N/13643 / N50 / MADE IN CHINA Printed
MOTAT Printed
Oral History Hand-written
SONY Embossed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Sony Corporation. Circa 1995. Tape Recorder [Sony], 2023.87. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
On display?
On display
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