=
The Reels Are Back
Ballfinger Tonbandmaschine M 063

When thinking of German design company Ballfinger, most people usually picture its well-known 360-degree adjustable desk lamp and square-shaped watch. After years of trial and error, the company has now brought us another extraordinary new production, released at the Norddeutsch HiFi-Tage in Hamburg. The Tonbandmaschine M 063 is a reel-to-reel tape recorder with a minimalistic and stark look, combined with the warm sound of the 1960s.

The project started four years ago when Roland Schneider, the designer in charge, felt that the transmission of sound was irreversibly heading into the digital age and he would like more people to appreciate the preciousness of the classic tape music format. It’s worth noting that the project is not just a nostalgic trip, though. Schneider has paid great attention to every single detail. Every component of the aluminium and wood tape recorder is manually assembled to exacting specifications. The modular design is driven by three motors, and the tape runs at 7.5 or 15 inches per second, while the tape recorder can be operated vertically or horizontally. Tonbandmaschine M 063 is expected to be put into mass production in the next couple of months.