About the Company
Luxor AB was a Swedish home electronics company founded in 1923 in Motala, Sweden by Axel Holstensson. It began as a radio maker and expanded into a broad range of consumer electronics — including reel‑to‑reel tape recorders, televisions, stereo systems, and other audio products.
Luxor became one of Sweden’s largest home electronics manufacturers in the mid‑20th century, later moving into computers (notably the ABC‑80 in 1978) and other markets before the brand was sold off by Nokia in the late 1990s.
Reel‑to‑Reel Tape Recorder Production
Era of Production
Luxor produced reel‑to‑reel tape recorders roughly from 1957 until the mid‑1960s, making them among the early European consumer tape decks as the format gained popularity.
Country of Manufacture
Sweden — All Luxor reel‑to‑reel recorders were manufactured in Sweden, reflecting the company’s role as a domestic electronics producer.
Product Evolution & Key Models
1957 – First Models
Luxor MP‑22 (1957–1960) – One of the first reel‑to‑reel recorders by Luxor, a portable tube‑based half‑track mono deck supporting the common 3¾ ips and 7½ ips speeds with 5″ reels.
Late 1950s – Early 1960s
Luxor MP‑363 (1958–1961) – A quarter‑track unit with tube electronics and multi‑speed operation, indicative of the company’s expanding tape recorder line.
Early to Mid‑1960s – Mid‑Range Consumer Decks
Luxor MP‑423 / MP‑424 / MP‑433 (1961–1964) – Tube‑based reel‑to‑reel decks available as stereo and mono versions, featuring features like VU meters and convenient input/output access.
Luxor MP‑411 (1963–1966) – A solid‑state recorder representing the brand’s transition from tubes to transistor‑based electronics; quarter‑track with multiple speeds and built‑in speaker capability.
Luxor MP‑410 / MP‑410A (1960s) – Four‑track consumer models designed for stereo or mono operation and offering multiple speeds with onboard playback speakers.
Mid‑1960s – Later Examples
Luxor LM‑394 (c. 1966) – A later tube‑equipped machine with four‑track mono at a single speed, reflecting continued product variety as the format matured.
Technology & Market Position
Electronics & Format Evolution
Tube Era: Early Luxor decks like the MP‑22 and MP‑363 used vacuum tube amplification, typical of 1950s consumer open‑reel machines.
Solid‑State Transition: By the early 1960s, models like the MP‑411 incorporated solid‑state circuitry, reflecting industry‑wide transistor adoption.
Tracks & Speeds
Luxor machines supported half‑track and quarter‑track formats, with tape speeds typically 1 7⁄₈, 3 3⁄₄, and 7 1⁄₂ ips, matching contemporary consumer expectations.
Target Market
Luxor tape recorders were aimed at home consumers rather than professional studios, positioned as mid‑range domestic audio gear alongside the company’s radios and hi‑fi components.
Decline of Production
As compact cassette formats grew in popularity through the late 1960s and 1970s, consumer interest in open‑reel decks declined. Luxor’s reel‑to‑reel production wound down by the mid‑1960s, with the company focusing more on other electronics categories like TVs and later computers.
Legacy
Luxor’s reel‑to‑reel recorders are now vintage collector items, valued mainly for their historical place in European tape recorder history rather than for technical prestige.
The machines illustrate the transition from tube to solid‑state electronics in consumer tape recording and reflect the broader evolution of mid‑20th‑century Swedish electronics manufacturing.