About the Company
Modernage (Bookcorder) refers to a small, portable reel-to-reel tape recorder sold under the Modernage brand name, typically in the 1960s era. These units are characterized by their compact size, often resembling a book when closed — hence the name Bookcorder.
Form factor: Portable reel-to-reel recorder
Typical reel size: Small reels (often about 3″)
Intended use: Consumer-level audio recording — dictation, voice, simple music recordings
Origin: Marketed as made in Japan — like many small transistorized electronics of the era.
Production & Era
1960s – Main Period of Manufacture
Approximate period: Mid to late 1960s — examples are frequently dated around the 1964–1968 period.
These machines emerged after reel-to-reel technology had matured and become affordable, serving a growing consumer market seeking portable audio recording. They fit chronologically between the dominance of large console reel recorders and the rise of compact cassette systems introduced in the early 1960s.
Despite their age and presence on vintage marketplaces, there is no record of Modernage maintaining a standalone corporate history or catalog of multiple models the way major reel-to-reel makers did — such as Sony, Akai, or TEAC.
Manufacturer Details
Brand vs. OEM
Brand identity: Modernage appears as a brand name applied to the Bookcorder units, rather than a well-documented corporate manufacturer.
OEM production: Because the units were made in Japan — and because documentation on the brand is sparse — it’s likely these were OEM-built portable tape recorders produced by a small electronics manufacturer and labeled Modernage for export or domestic sale, similar to how other obscure brands operated in the 1960s.
No formal Modernage company profile, factory location, or production figures are available in vintage electronics reference sources or collector directories.
Known Models & Variants
Book Corder 405: One documented example from vintage electronics listings shows a Model 405 with transistor amplification, battery operation, and a 3″ reel format.
Other versions: Collector photos and auction images suggest a handful of slightly different Bookcorder designs, but they all share the compact, portable form.
There is no comprehensive register of Modernage models, and dedicated reel-to-reel archive sites list Modernage only as an entry needing more information.
Market Position & Use
Consumer-level device: Designed for everyday recording — voice, simple music, or note-taking — not professional studio use. This places the Bookcorder in the same broad category as other vintage mini reel recorders aimed at casual users.
Obscure in documentation: Unlike major makers, Modernage does not show up in standard reel-to-reel manufacturer histories, enthusiast books, or comprehensive catalogs — it’s known mainly through vintage listings and hobbyist interest.
Collectibility & Legacy
Today, Modernage Bookcorder units are generally considered collectible vintage electronics with curiosity value:
They are often found listed on auction sites and photographed by collectors as examples of small Japanese portable reel recorders.
Enthusiast forums note their novelty and simplicity, but also that they are low-fidelity compared with mainstream hi-fi tape decks.
Because they are simple, lightly documented devices, they don’t normally attract the same historical treatment as larger brands — but they are emblematic of a 1960s consumer market that embraced portable sound recording before cassettes became dominant.