About the Company
A small but interesting part of Australia’s early tape recorder history.
Commonwealth Electronics — Reel-to-Reel Production History
Company: Commonwealth Electronics Pty. Ltd.
Country: Australia (Hobart, Tasmania)
Founded: 1950
Reel-to-Reel Production: 1955 – 1956
Business Focus: Audio electronics, precision turntables, and one notable tape recorder
Industry Role: Niche manufacturer, later acquired by Philips Industries
Company Background
Commonwealth Electronics Pty. Ltd. was established in Hobart, Tasmania after World War II as part of industrial redevelopment efforts that repurposed a former wartime munitions factory into peacetime manufacturing. The firm’s early core business was precision turntables and broadcast-grade audio equipment, particularly for use by radio stations and audiovisual professionals in Australia.
In addition to turntables and related products, the company built portable communication and recording equipment, tapping into the growing demand for magnetic tape technology in the mid-1950s.
The C.E.B. Tape Machine (1955–56)
Key Model: Commonwealth Electronics C.E.B. Tape Machine
Production: Circa 1955–1956
Electronics: Tube (valve) circuitry
Format: Open-reel tape recorder, portable design
Speeds: 7½ ips (7.5 inches per second)
Track: Full-track mono
Reel Size: Up to 7″
Motors: Single clockwork (spring-driven) transport
The C.E.B. Tape Machine was the only reel-to-reel recorder produced by Commonwealth Electronics. Designed as a portable, battery-powered tape recorder for field use, it incorporated several innovative features for its time:
A spring-motor clockwork transport, which eliminated the need for heavy mains motors and allowed extended use in remote or mobile applications.
A tube-based electronic amplifier using seven valves (four 1U5 and three 3V4) — typical of 1950s high-voltage audio electronics.
Ferrite heads, which were among the first used by the company to reduce power requirements, particularly important for a battery-operated unit.
Tools for professional use, such as azimuth adjustment, a level/strobe meter, and inputs for high-quality microphones.
This recorder was designed with broadcast and reporting in mind: according to period sources, C.E.B. units were used by radio journalists of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games to record interviews and on-site material.
Despite its advanced engineering, the C.E.B. was never developed into a broader reel deck line like those produced by larger Australian firms (e.g., Byer or CEI). Its price, complexity, and niche focus kept it from mass consumer adoption.
Technical and Market Notes
The C.E.B. was notable for its low wow and flutter (~0.35 %) given its spring-motor transport — impressive for the era.
Operation from two standard 67.5 V batteries with filament switching helped extend battery life significantly (up to ~50 hours).
Despite this sophistication, many consider the sound quality and reliability middling for hi-fi standards — reflective of its field-reporting rather than studio target.
Company Fate
By 1966, the company was taken over by Philips Industries, which absorbed much of its operations and redirected production away from locally manufactured tape decks. Commonwealth Electronics ceased to exist as a separate brand after this acquisition.