About the Company
Nicorder was a short-lived Japanese consumer brand that produced reel-to-reel tape recorders from approximately 1962 to 1965, targeting the home market with affordable domestic decks.
Brand and manufacturing
Nicorder-branded machines were manufactured in Japan during the early solid-state transition period, using transistor electronics rather than tubes, and aimed at general family use rather than professional or hi-fi enthusiasts.
The brand appears in specialist directories as a consumer-focused maker with no evidence of studio-grade models or export beyond basic markets.
Product characteristics
These were typical mid-1960s Japanese home recorders: likely 4-track stereo or half-track mono, dual-speed (3¾/7½ ips), quarter-inch tape on 5- or 7-inch reels, with integrated amplifiers and speakers for standalone operation.
No specific model names or detailed technical specs are widely documented, indicating a very limited product range compared to larger brands like Sony or Akai.
Production timeframe and scale
Nicorder's activity was confined to 1962–1965, coinciding with the peak of Japanese consumer reel-to-reel production before compact cassettes began eroding the market; output volumes were low, leading to rarity today.
The brand vanished by the mid-1960s as the industry consolidated under stronger names.
Historical context
In reel-to-reel history, Nicorder exemplifies the numerous small Japanese OEM-style firms that briefly supplied competent entry-level home decks, contributing to the format's global popularization but without achieving lasting recognition or technical innovation.