Eicor

About the Company

Eicor — American Reel-to-Reel Tape Deck Manufacturer

Brand: Eicor
Country: United States
Active in Reel-to-Reel Production: Late 1950s – mid-1970s
Market Focus: Consumer hi-fi and educational use
Reputation: Affordable, mechanically simple, reliable domestic tape decks

Company Background

• Eicor was a small U.S.-based electronics manufacturer active in the post-war era.

• The company primarily focused on consumer electronics and educational audio equipment, rather than professional recording gear.

• Eicor’s products were designed to be accessible, serviceable, and durable, often marketed to home users and schools.

Entry into Reel-to-Reel Production

• Eicor began producing reel-to-reel tape decks in the late 1950s, following the popularization of consumer magnetic tape.

• Early decks were tube-based, mono, and intended for speech recording, music playback, and home recording.

Typical specifications:

• 3¾ ips tape speed (sometimes 1⅞ ips for extended recording)

• 5″ or 7″ reel capacity

• Belt-driven transport mechanisms

• Integrated amplifier and speaker on console units

1960s: Transition to Solid-State Electronics

• During the 1960s, Eicor gradually shifted to solid-state designs, improving reliability and reducing heat and maintenance.

• Some decks offered stereo playback, though stereo recording was limited to higher-end units.

Features of this period:

• Two- or three-head transports

• Adjustable tape speeds (3¾ and 7½ ips)

• Simple front-panel controls suitable for home or educational users

• Mechanically robust construction to withstand frequent use

Notable Models

• Eicor 100 Series – Early tube-based mono decks for home use

• Eicor 200 / 220 Series – Solid-state transistorized models with stereo playback

• Eicor 300 Series – Larger, more refined consumer decks with three-head transport options

• Some Eicor machines were sold as part of hi-fi furniture units or rack-mounted for schools and language labs.

Market Position

• Eicor competed primarily in the budget-to-midrange consumer and educational markets.

• Main competitors included:
  Dukane
  Allied American
  Early Japanese imports like Akai and Sony (late 1960s)

• Eicor was not a professional studio manufacturer and did not compete with high-end American or European reel-to-reel brands.

Decline and End of Production

• By the mid-1970s, the introduction of compact cassette decks and high-quality Japanese hi-fi decks reduced demand for mid-range U.S. reel-to-reel machines.

• Eicor ceased production around 1975, ending its presence in the consumer tape deck market.

Legacy

• Eicor reel-to-reel decks are now:
  Rare collectors’ items
  Known for durability and simplicity
  Valued more for historical and educational significance than for audiophile performance

• Surviving units are mostly found in private collections or museums of vintage audio technology.

Summary

Eicor was an American manufacturer of reel-to-reel tape decks from the late 1950s through the mid-1970s, producing affordable, mechanically robust machines for home, educational, and light institutional use. Known for their simplicity and reliability, Eicor decks represent an important part of the mid-20th-century U.S. consumer and educational audio landscape, even though the brand did not achieve the prominence of Ampex, Teac, or Sony.