About the Company
Berlant (and Berlant‑Concertone) — U.S. Reel‑to‑Reel Tape Deck Manufacturer
Brand: Berlant / Berlant‑Concertone
Country: United States
Founded: 1946 (Berlant Associates Inc.)
Reel‑to‑Reel Production: ~1949 – late 1960s / early 1970s
Market: Consumer and semi‑professional reel‑to‑reel recorders (home hi‑fi, broadcast/studio)
Berlant was one of the earliest American makers of open‑reel audio recorders. The company was founded by Emmanuel “Bert” Berlant, an engineer whose early work in magnetic recording helped shape consumer and pro audio tape decks in the 1950s and early 1960s. Its machines were initially built in the U.S. and later — through licensing and acquisition — connected with TEAC production in Japan toward the end of its history.
Origins & Early Years (1946–1953)
1946: Emmanuel “Bert” Berlant (1911‑1985) established Berlant Associates Inc. after WWII, leveraging his experience in hi‑fi audio design.
1948–1949: The company developed magnetic transducer heads and began manufacturing dictating machines and magnetic recording components.
1950: Berlant introduced early tape recorder models — including portable suitcase units and console recorders — under the original Berlant name.
These early units positioned Berlant as a U.S. pioneer in consumer and broadcast recording at a time when most open‑reel decks were imported German or British designs.
Expanding Into Reel‑to‑Reel Decks (1950s)
Concertone 20/20 Series (c. 1954–1958)
One of Berlant’s standout early offerings was the Concertone 20/20, designed as a high‑fidelity reel‑to‑reel tape recorder with tube electronics.
This model featured a three‑motor transport, dual speed (7½ and 15 ips), and a robust tube design that aimed at serious home and semi‑professional users.
It could compete with Ampex’s professional recorders of the era and was even used in studio and broadcasting settings due to its performance.
TRW1 & BRX‑1 (Mid‑1950s)
TRW1 (c. 1954–1957): A tube‑based mono/full‑track recorder with three heads and motors, capable of 3¾ and 7½ ips and up to 10½″ reels.
BRX‑1 (c. 1955–1958): A broadcast‑oriented deck with tube electronics, three speeds (3¾, 7½, 15 ips), and strong transport performance suited for both professional and home use.
These mid‑1950s machines solidified Berlant’s reputation for quality reel‑to‑reel decks that could hold their own against European imports.
Transition & Licensing (Late 1950s–Early 1960s)
Series 60 & Other Solid‑State Models (c. 1957–1960)
With the industry shift to transistors, Berlant introduced solid‑state decks such as the Series 60.
The Series 60 offered dual speeds (7½ & 15 ips), dual‑track operation, and two motors — typical of late‑50s hi‑fi tape recorders.
Connection With TEAC & Concertone Licensing
By around 1962, Berlant’s Concertone 505 4RK featured advanced Four‑Head “Reverse‑O‑Matic” functionality, and rights to manufacture the 505 were licensed to TEAC (Tokyo Electro Acoustic Co.).
Final assembly of some later machines was moved to Japan with TEAC transport components, though initial engineering remained U.S.‑based.
After Bert Berlant left the company in 1956, the business evolved into American Concertone, continuing tape deck production with TEAC collaboration until the late 1960s.
This crossover helped sustain the brand into the early 1970s, even as American domestic manufacturing declined and Japanese OEM production became dominant.
Models & Key Features Over Time
Concertone 20/20 1954–1958 TubeProfessional‑grade, 15 ips capable.
TRW1 1954–1957 TubeFull‑track mono, three heads.
BRX‑1 1955–1958 TubeBroadcast‑oriented, 3 speeds.
Deluxe Series 30 1956–1959 TubeStereo, 3 heads, direct drive.
Series 60 1957–1960 Solid stateDual track, dual speed.
Concertone 505 4RK ~1962 Advanced Four‑headLicensed to TEAC.
End of Production & Legacy
By the late 1960s, the Berlant/Concertone brand faded as consumer demand shifted toward cheaper Japanese hi‑fi decks and cassette formats. The Concertone name was eventually sold and appeared on related products through the late 1960s, after which the company ceased reel‑to‑reel tape deck production.
Emmanuel Berlant himself left the company in 1956, but his early innovations and pioneering work helped establish American reel‑to‑reel tape decks as viable alternatives to dominant European and later Japanese designs.
Impact in Context
Berlant was one of the earliest U.S. reel‑to‑reel recorder makers, contemporaneous with other American audio pioneers.
Its designs — especially the 20/20 series — were high‑fidelity and competitive with professional decks of the era.
The later tie‑up with TEAC illustrates how the reel‑to‑reel market moved toward globalized production in the 1960s.
Berlant (later Berlant‑Concertone) was a U.S. reel‑to‑reel tape deck manufacturer from around 1949 to the late 1960s, known for tube‑based high‑fidelity machines in the 1950s and solid‑state hi‑fi decks in the early 1960s. The brand pioneered early American magnetic recording designs and later evolved through licensing partnerships with TEAC before fading from the tape deck market.