About the Company
Geloso S.p.A. was an Italian electronics manufacturer founded in 1931 by Giovanni (John) Geloso in Milan, originally making radios and electronic components. After World War II, the company expanded into a range of consumer electronics including amplifiers, TVs, tape recorders and kits, becoming a respected brand among hobbyists and the Italian public. Production under the Geloso name continued until 1972, when the company closed due to foreign competition and financial issues.
Reel‑to‑Reel Production Timeline
1949–Early 1950s – Wire to Tape Start
1949: Geloso’s first foray into magnetic recording began with wire recorders made in collaboration with Magnetofoni Castelli, an early Italian recording mechanism maker.
Early 1950s: Models G239, G240, G241, G242 were produced — wire‑based units before full tape decks became standard.
1952–Mid‑1950s – Early Tape Decks
1952: Geloso and Castelli introduced early magnetic tape recorders with longer recording times and larger reels.
1955: The Geloso G255 became one of the most popular early Italian tape recorders. It was a tube‑based domestic deck that helped make tape recording common in Italian homes and offices.
Late 1950s – 1960s – Expanded Consumer Line
By the late 1950s and into the 1960s, Geloso offered a range of consumer‑oriented reel‑to‑reel tape recorders, many built by or with Magnetofoni Castelli under Geloso branding:
G250‑N & G252: Early mid‑1950s tape deck designs built in Italy.
G256/E (c.1959–1964): A compact portable tube recorder, with stereo heads and speeds including 1 7/8 and 3 3/4 ips — sold internationally through distributors.
G257 (1961–1965+): A mono half‑track tube recorder widely used by hobbyists; part of many Italian households during the 1960s.
G258 (c.1960–1964): A three‑speed recorder, including very slow speed useful for dictation.
Mid‑1960s – Transitional Era
G651 (1967–1968): One of the last open‑reel tape recorders by Geloso and Castelli — a solid‑state stereo recorder (operable from mains or battery), showing the shift away from tube circuits.
G600 (1968–1973): A late‑era tube‑based consumer deck with a 7½ ips speed — sold at a time when open‑reel was beginning to decline due to cassettes.
Technology & Market Position
Collaborations: Geloso’s tape decks were largely produced with or under license from Magnetofoni Castelli, a specialist Italian tape mechanism maker, which helped Geloso enter the tape market.
Target Market: Geloso focused on consumer and hobbyist machines, not the high‑fidelity or professional broadcast segment. Its decks were typically tube‑based well into the 1960s — later than many competitors — and were valued more for usability than top‑end audio performance.
Distribution: Geloso recorders were sold widely in Italy, and some models were exported to markets such as the UK (e.g., G256/E) and South America.
Decline of Production
By the late 1960s and early 1970s, compact cassette tapes and cheaper imported electronics began to dominate the consumer audio market worldwide.
Geloso S.p.A. ceased operations in 1972, ending its production of reel‑to‑reel tape recorders along with other audio products.
Summary — Geloso Tape Deck History
Geloso reel‑to‑reel timeline at a glance:
1949–Early 1950s: Wire recorders with Castelli partnership.
Early 1950s–Mid‑1950s: First magnetic tape decks (G250‑series, G255).
Late 1950s–1960s: Consumer deck expansion (G256/E, G257, G258).
Mid‑1960s: Transitional models; solid‑state hybrids (e.g., G651).
Late 1960s–1972: Final open‑reel recorders (e.g., G600) before the company’s closure