About the Company
EAB (likely standing for Elektroakustische Bauelemente or a similar designation, possibly linked to Elektro Apparatenbau München) was a specialized German manufacturer active primarily in the mid-20th century, focusing on professional broadcast and studio audio equipment rather than mass-market consumer products.
Unlike major consumer reel-to-reel brands such as Grundig, Telefunken, Uher, Revox, or Studer, EAB produced high-end, often custom or niche gear for radio stations (Rundfunkanstalten, or RA), particularly in Germany. They were known as a supplier (Zulieferer) to German broadcasters, including special orders for items like mixing consoles, faders, and specialized tape machines.
Key Products and Reel-to-Reel Related History
EAB's reel-to-reel (or Tonbandgerät) offerings were typically professional broadcast-oriented devices, often featuring robust tube-based (valve) designs and high reliability for studio use. Notable examples include:
EAB R52 — A rare, high-quality tape loop (Endlosbandschleife) player/module from around the 1960s, used for jingles, effects, or continuous playback in broadcasting. It has a design aesthetic reminiscent of Maihak, Siemens, or Telefunken equipment. These are now sought-after vintage items in the pro audio market.
Other models like the EAB V65c (tube console) or related passive faders (e.g., W66a, sometimes associated with Maihak/EAB collaborations).
Mixing consoles such as the EAB Geiling / Telefunken V65C style valve consoles, used in modern analog mastering setups for their warm sound.
Production appears to have been concentrated in the 1950s–1970s, with emphasis on custom and semi-custom builds rather than large-scale consumer production. They are listed among historical tape deck manufacturers in vintage audio archives, but details on exact founding dates, factory locations, or total output are scarce — EAB was not a mainstream high-volume producer like Grundig or Telefunken.