Telefunken 600

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     Telefunken 600.    Portable Dictating Machine.   Portable recorder (dictating machine). Made in Germany probably in the early 60's. The first known to me mentions in the press about this model belong to 1962, but the same voice recorder called Telefunken-Traveller has been known since 1959. The original design, the distinctive feature of which is an unusual type of media. In fact, this tape, but the record is not on reel, but on a magnetic disk. It is made of flexible plastic, embossed with a spiral groove width of 0.3 mm, similar to the track vinyl, and contains 10 minutes of recording. At the working surface of the disc suffered a magnetic coating. On top of it brown, like a magnetic tape, and the bottom black. Externally, the magnetic disk is very similar to ordinary flexible plate, and has a diameter of 155 mm. Hole diameter 38 mm. Also on the disc, there are two small holes for use in models without downholder.
     The front panel, switch the power indicator, volume control and the recording level, and the lever for moving the head in the right position. Beam displacement lever marked out a ruler. To move the head, you should click on the lever on the top - down and move it into position. When you click the lever to the head is lifted above the disk, and does not hinder its movement. If you move the lever to the right, and a little more forward with force, then released the catch of a magnetic disk, and you can pull out or insert.
     Working part of the magnetic head has the shape of an oblong protrusion, which moves along the guide groove in the disc. All the mechanics are German made accurately and efficiently. Friendships all made of metal, in connection with the apparatus rather than a heavy, 2,65 kg (without microphone) with dimensions of 285 x 200 x 60 mm.
     I have in my collection two more similar German dictaphones. The first - Assmann TS 10 was manufactured probably in the late 60's or early 70's. Structurally, they are very similar, but the electronics of the Assmann TS 10 are much more complicated. The second is the Olympia DG 402 probably 1974 of release, also structurally similar, but also more perfect.

Photos can be enlarged

Carrying voice recorder is a leather carrying case with handle and straps for mounting inside the vehicle and the microphone. Also in the briefcase is a leather bay charger, and a pocket for documents and disks.

   On the right side panel contains connectors for microphone control, and a telephone adapter. There is also switch the microphone - phone and power switch. The rear panel is a connector for the charger.

 The photo on the left also shows the device with permanent magnets to quickly erase the information from the disk. Also included is a pack of replacement paper lines, which are mounted on special pins. In the photo on the right see the unlocked lock magnetic disk.

In case a microphone built two switches. First - inclusion - off. The second has four provisions - record (red sector), stop (yellow), play (green). Fourth position is not fixed - the reverse rotation of the disk (Rewind). Microphone cable has a rectangular slot 8-pin. The microphone also acts as a speaker.

     The main electronics board is located above the disk. It assembles the recording and playback amplifier. It is made on 4 transistors (OC602, OC60, OC604, OC604 spez) and two transformers. There is also a relay switching modes.

Under the disk is the generator eraser and bias (on the OC604 spez transistor), as well as solenoids for switching the operating modes of the mechanism.

The engine is placed in a cast aluminum housing, and beside it is the battery pack of 6 v.

     The device came to me in good cosmetic condition, but not the workers. Mechanics was serviceable, but the record do not succeed. It turned out later proved faulty steering and power heads. Repair of the amplifier has been reduced to the replacement of dried electrolyte, and with block heads all turned out much worse. It is made in the form of boxes, drenched compound, and has the dimensions 22 x 9 x 14 mm. On each side there are contacts windings. Both, and erase, and Universal have resistance of about 3 ohms. Broken was working part of the head, made in the form of an elongated protrusion 4 x 0,25 x 1,2 mm. Repair it is not possible, and I had to make a new unit heads from the universal head to a recorder Olympus S725. She went up in size, and in her case also combines the universal and erase head. It only remained to handle it so that the working part acquired the necessary form. Doing this will have to manually, using diamond tools, as this work is very accurate. As a result, I was able to form a ledge the size of 3.3 x 0.25 x 0.8 mm. Building a new unit heads I have made from textolite.
Unfortunately I do not know how to work the recorder with the original unit heads, probably better than homemade. However, I managed to achieve a good quality recording and playback.

Block heads of the assembled and disassembled. The same unit is used in a later similar recorder Olympia DG 402

On a photo on the right in the bottom of a yellow line to finish the form of a working part of the block heads what she should be

The design of the universal magnetic head

Homemade block heads

Charger, calculated on the connection to 110-120 v

     Bundled with the device were 3 of the magnetic disk in an envelope, instruction manual, specification, charger, and a device with a permanent magnet to quickly erased from disk.
     I would add that in 1962 a similar voice recorder Telefunken 606 was worth 528 DM. More details about prices for voice recorders and accessories can be found below.

Manual and Specification Telefunken 600

Telefunken 600 ads in the newspapers. The first mention of this recorder in 1962.

Description of a similar Telefunken 606 recorder in the Telefunken catalogs