About the Company
Astrocom — American Reel‑to‑Reel Tape Deck Brand
Brand: Astrocom (sometimes tied with “Marlux”)
Country: United States (Oneonta, NY)
Parent/Company: Astrocom‑Electronics, Inc. (founded 1961)
Tape Deck Production: 1969–1973
Market: Consumer / mid‑high‑fidelity open‑reel audio
Machines were manufactured in Japan for the U.S. brand.
Astrocom was originally an industrial electronics firm specializing in communications gear for aerospace, military, and police applications. In the late 1960s, the company made a brief foray into consumer audio — including reel‑to‑reel tape decks — before dropping the line.
Production Timeline
1961 — Company Founded
Astrocom‑Electronics, Inc. was established in Oneonta, New York by Derwood Lifgren, focused on specialized electronics design and manufacturing for government and industrial clients.
1969–1973 — Reel‑to‑Reel Era
Around 1969, Astrocom began selling reel‑to‑reel tape recorders under its own brand, often with models carrying the “Marlux” name as well — indicating a branding partnership or sub‑brand.
These tape decks were not designed or mass‑built by Astrocom in the U.S. — most were manufactured in Japan for Astrocom’s distribution, similar to many U.S. brands of the era that sourced OEM audio hardware from Japanese factories.
Post‑1973 — End of Tape Production
By 1973, Astrocom had mostly exited the consumer reel‑to‑reel market. No significant new models appear in catalogs after the early 1970s.
Notable Models
While the brand wasn’t prolific, a few Astrocom machines are documented:
• Astrocom / Marlux 407 (c. 1970–1974)
Consumer tape deck with solid‑state electronics
Stereo recording/playback, 1/4‑track
3¾ and 7½ ips speeds
4 heads, 3 motors, auto‑reverse
Good frequency response (~20–20,000 Hz at 7½ ips) and typical mid‑level performance.
Astrocom / Marlux 607S (c. 1973–1978)
Mid‑high‑fidelity consumer deck
½‑track stereo, 10.5″ reel capacity
4 heads, 3 motors, auto‑reverse playback
Solid performance ratings in enthusiast listings.
Brand Position & Legacy
Astrocom’s reel‑to‑reel lineup was brief, roughly 1969–1973, and targeted the U.S. consumer market at a time when Japanese OEM manufacturing was common for Western audio brands.
Machines were built in Japan (likely by factories making decks for multiple brands) but sold under the Astrocom/Marlux name in the U.S.
The decks are now collectible niche items among vintage reel‑to‑reel enthusiasts but did not achieve the prominence of bigger names like Akai, TEAC, or Revox.