About the Company
Harmour & Heath was an Australian electronics and motion‑picture equipment company based in North Sydney, New South Wales, active in the mid‑20th century. They were involved in professional audiovisual gear such as 16 mm film sound projectors and amplifiers in the early post‑World War II period.
The company is documented as producing items like an early Harmour & Heath Type B2 16 mm sound projector around the early 1950s — typical of mid‑century film and audio gear manufactured in Australia at a time when imports were difficult, and many companies built their own devices.
Reel‑to‑Reel Tape Recorder Activity
Limited Evidence of a Tape Recorder Model
There is a listing in enthusiast archives for a Harmour & Heath reel‑to‑reel tape recorder, specifically the Dictater VFS2‑RR65 Model MK3 — suggesting they made at least one open‑reel tape recorder under their own name.
However:
No model details (specs, years of production, markets) are provided in the available database entry.
It does not appear that Harmour & Heath developed a broad line of tape decks or had an ongoing reel‑to‑reel product business like companies such as TEAC, Uher, or Akai.
The brand isn’t widely discussed in literature or collector histories of reel decks, which typically focus on more prolific manufacturers.
Most evidence around Harmour & Heath relates to film projection and audio amplifiers, not standalone tape recorders.
This pattern suggests that their reel‑to‑reel involvement was very limited — possibly a single or a handful of models — and not a major manufacturing focus.
Why There’s So Little Information
Unlike mainstream tape recorder manufacturers:
Harmour & Heath did not specialize in consumer audio; their reputation was mainly in film/projector and specialized AV equipment.
They were not a major OEM or exporter of tape technology.
There is no readily available catalog or corporate archive detailing multiple reel‑to‑reel products or a production timeline.
Enthusiast and collector databases list only the brand name with minimal details.
This contrasts with companies that have well‑documented lineups of tape decks, years of production, and specifications (e.g., Uher, Revox, Grundig).
Summary — Harmour & Heath Reel‑to‑Reel History
Brand: Harmour & Heath (Australian electronics/motion picture equipment firm)
Known Tape Deck Association:
Dictater VFS2‑RR65 Model MK3 (a reel‑to‑reel recorder recorded in enthusiast archives)
Production Context:Possibly single or very limited 모델 range with little published documentation.
The company was chiefly involved in film projection and audio gear, not massive reel deck manufacture.
Timeframe: Likely mid‑20th century, concurrent with post‑war Australian audiovisual manufacturing.
In Context
In the broader universe of reel‑to‑reel history, Harmour & Heath’s role appears minor and specific, similar to other small or regional brands that may have dabbled in tape decks but did not build large product lines. Enthusiast reference lists typically include them as a name only, with very limited model documentation compared to major audio brands.