About the Company
Loewe‑Opta was the consumer electronics division of Loewe, a historic German manufacturer of radios and other electronics founded in 1923. After World War II, the company continued producing consumer products under the Loewe and Opta names in West Germany, later becoming Loewe‑Opta AG. The firm is better known for radios, televisions and later Hi‑Fi gear but also built reel‑to‑reel tape recorders primarily for the consumer market.
Reel‑to‑Reel Tape Recorder Production
1958–1968: The Open‑Reel Era
Loewe‑Opta’s reel‑to‑reel activity occurred mainly between 1958 and 1968, during the peak decades for consumer tape recorders before cassette formats became dominant. These machines were manufactured in Germany and designed primarily for home users rather than professional studios.
Key Models & Technical Evolution
1958–Early 1960s: Tube‑Based Machines
Optacord 400 (1958–1961) – One of the earliest Loewe‑Opta reel recorders. A tube‑based two‑track mono unit with a single tape speed (3¾ ips) and up to ~7″ reel capacity — typical of late‑1950s consumer recorders.
Optacord 403 (1960–1962) – A larger two‑track mono recorder with multiple inputs (mic, radio, phono), two speeds (4.75 & 9.5 cm/s), and classic tube electronics.
Loewe‑Opta 409 (c. 1961–1962) – A small portable solid‑state/early hybrid model with stereo playback and battery operation (illustrating the transition era).
These early decks reflect the transition from valve (tube) technology to early transistorized components in consumer tape recorders.
Mid‑1960s: Solid‑State Portable Units
Optacord 408 (c. 1964–1967) – A solid‑state half‑track mono deck with a single standard speed and efficient motor control.
Optacord 416 (1965–1968) – A portable half‑track recorder with two speeds (1 7⁄8 & 3 3⁄4 ips), offered with battery or mains power, indicating improved flexibility and transistor technology.
Optacord 466 – A basic solid‑state consumer deck capable of the common two speeds and 7″ reels, representing the later phase of Loewe‑Opta’s reel lineup.
These units were typically half‑track mono, used permalloy heads, and were simple in feature set compared with higher‑end tape decks from other manufacturers of the era.
Market Position & Use
Target Market: Loewe‑Opta reel‑to‑reel recorders were aimed at general consumers — home recordings, radio broadcasts, voice capture, and music playback — rather than professional studios.
Competition: The brand competed with other European consumer tape recorder names of the period (e.g., Grundig, Telefunken) but tended toward affordable domestic hardware rather than high‑performance prosumer decks.
Design Features: Most units featured two heads, basic controls, and moderate specs typical of mid‑century open‑reel consumer recorders. They usually supported 3¾ ips and in later models also 1 7⁄8 ips speeds, with smaller reel sizes reflecting portability and ease of use.
End of Production & Decline of Format
By the late 1960s, the compact cassette was rising rapidly in popularity; this, combined with emerging transistor Hi‑Fi gear and the company’s broader focus on televisions and radios, saw Loewe‑Opta’s reel‑to‑reel line fade out around 1968.
The company subsequently emphasized other consumer electronics, and while Loewe itself continued into the 21st century in audio/TV sectors, its presence in tape decks (both reel and cassette) diminished.
Legacy
Loewe‑Opta’s open‑reel recorders are today vintage collectibles, valued as examples of German domestic audio technology from the transitional period between tubes and transistors. Though not “high‑end” compared to professional decks, they illustrate how major consumer electronics makers of the post‑war era diversified into magnetic recording formats for the home market.