About the Company
Hencot was an audio equipment brand based in France, associated with Henri Côté & Cie, a company that manufactured solid‑state reel‑to‑reel tape recorders in the early to mid‑1970s. These machines were positioned at the higher end of the consumer market and are now rare outside vintage audio circles.
Manufacturer: Hencot (Henri Côté & Cie)
Country: France
Production Period: Approximately 1970 – 1975
This is one of the few known French brands dedicated to reel‑to‑reel recorders rather than just a rebadged import.
Production History
1970 – 1975: Tape Recorder Era
Hencot first appears in enthusiasts’ brand directories around 1970, with references indicating the company was making reel‑to‑reel tape recorders around that time. Models from the brand show French manufacture in Bourg‑la‑Reine, a suburb of Paris.
These machines were designed for high‑fidelity consumer use and aimed at audiophiles or serious hobbyists rather than basic home recorders.
Known Models
Hencot H 67 Bc
One of the early models documented under the Hencot brand.
Specific technical details are sparse, but collector archives list it as part of the brand’s limited lineup.
Hencot H 800 (c. 1974 – 1975)
This is the best‑documented Hencot deck and represents the brand’s most advanced reel‑to‑reel offering:
Key Specs (approximate):
Category: Mid to high‑fidelity consumer tape recorder
Electronics: Solid‑state (transistor)
Track Format: Dual (1/2 Rec/Play + 1/4 Playback)
Tape Speeds: 3 3/4, 7 1/2, and 15 ips — wide speed range for hobby and serious listening
Reel Size: Up to 10.5″ / 26 cm
Heads: Four‑head design (erase, record, playback, separate monitoring)
Drive: Direct drive with multiple motors
Connectivity: RCA and DIN outputs, needle VU meters
Frequency Response: ~20 Hz – 20 kHz at 7 1/2 ips
Voltage: Multi‑voltage (110 V and 220 V)
The H 800 was relatively expensive at the time (about $1,050 USD in the mid‑1970s) and competed with higher‑end consumer or light pro decks.
Market Role & Decline
Consumer Position: Hencot’s offerings sat at the upper end of the consumer/home hi‑fi market, with features (e.g., four heads, multiple speeds) that appealed to audiophiles or advanced hobbyists rather than casual users.
Limited Production Span: References suggest the brand was active in the early‑to‑mid 1970s (about 1970–1975) and did not produce a large range of models. After this period, Hencot is no longer noted in tape recorder directories, likely due to market pressures from Japanese manufacturers and the growing dominance of cassette format and other audio formats.
French Context: Hencot is one of the few domestically made French reel‑to‑reel tape deck brands on record, giving it a niche status.
Summary
Hencot reel‑to‑reel production at a glance:
Brand: Hencot (Henri Côté & Cie), France
Era: ~1970 to ~1975
Focus: Mid‑high fidelity reel‑to‑reel tape recorders for consumer and serious hobbyist use
Notable Models: H 67 Bc and the advanced H 800
Technology: Solid‑state electronics, four heads, wide speed range
Legacy: A rare French manufacturer from a period dominated by Japanese and German deck makers — of interest mainly to vintage audio collectors today.