About the Company
Lesa (acronym for Laboratori Elettrotecnici Società Anonima) was an Italian electronics company active mainly between 1929 and 1972 that produced a range of electrical and audio products — including components, record players, hi‑fi gear, and magnetic tape recorders.
While Lesa is better known historically for pick‑ups, motors, potentiometers, and phonograph mechanisms, the company also manufactured reel‑to‑reel tape recorders, primarily for the consumer market in Italy and nearby regions.
Reel‑to‑Reel Tape Recorder Production
Era of Production
Lesa’s reel‑to‑reel recorders appear to have been produced from the late 1950s into the 1960s. The brand “Lesa” (often appearing with the product name “Renas”) was used on machines made in Italy, aimed at home audio and portable recording applications rather than high‑end professional use.
Country of Manufacture
Italy — Machines were built and marketed out of Milano (Milan), reflecting Lesa’s status as an Italian electronics maker.
Tech & Style
Electronics: Tube‑based (valve) circuitry typical of the era — solid‑state designs came later and were more common in portable/compact units.
Track Format: Generally two‑track stereo or dual‑track formats.
Tape Speeds: Common speeds such as 3¾ ips and 7½ ips were supported.
Voltage: Models were made for both 220‑240 V use (European mains) and in some cases selectable 110‑120 V, indicating export‑friendly configurations.
Representative Lesa Models
Lesa tape recorders usually carried the “Renas” model name in catalogs and collector databases:
Lesa Renas B1 (c. 1960–1963) — A table top recorder with multiple speeds and integrated loudspeakers.
Lesa Renas a/2 (c. 1961–1963) — Early stereo recorder with three valves/tubes and AC power.
Lesa Renas LR2 (c. 1961) — Portable or suitcase‑style reel recorder with three tube amplification and mechanical counter.
Lesa Renas R3 (c. 1963–1964) — Larger table recorder with external connectors and dynamic loudspeaker.
Lesa Renas C2 (1968) — A mid‑decade model with permalloy heads and stereo performance.
These machines illustrate a typical consumer‑grade European open‑reel lineup of the 1960s, offering basic recording and playback without advanced prosumer features.
Market Position & Technology
Target Market: Lesa machines were aimed at home users and hobbyists, not professional studios, offering straightforward reel‑to‑reel recording capability at consumer‑friendly prices.
Design: Mostly tube electronics, integrated speakers, and aesthetic styling typical of mid‑century Italian hi‑fi furniture.
Features: Standard tape recorder functions — built‑in playback amps and speakers, tape speed selection, stereo heads, and sometimes external mic/line inputs.
Decline & End of Production
Lesa, like many Italian electronics firms of the era, faced intense competition in the 1960s from Japanese and other European manufacturers producing transistorized designs. By the early 1970s the company was in decline, and Lesa ceased operations in 1972 as part of industry consolidation and financial troubles.
After that point, the Lesa brand disappeared from audio product lines, including reel‑to‑reel tape recorders.
Legacy
Collectibles: Lesa reel‑to‑reel machines today are vintage curiosities found mostly among regional European collectors or in old vintage audio auctions.
Historical Context: These recorders illustrate how a European electronics manufacturer diversified into magnetic tape technology during the heyday of open‑reel consumer audio, then faded with the onset of cassette and transistor‑based competition.