About the Company
Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd. (originally Meikosha, founded 1881) produced a small line of consumer reel-to-reel tape recorders in the mid-1960s, primarily portable solid-state models branded as Oki or OkiCorder for the home and export markets.
Company background
Oki, a Japanese telecommunications pioneer, briefly entered consumer audio during the reel-to-reel boom, manufacturing compact decks rather than professional studio machines.
These were transistorized designs aimed at families and portable use, competing with Sony and early Panasonic portables.
Key models and features
The Oki 333B (1965), imported to the U.S. by Chancellor Electronics, was a full-sized solid-state deck with 4-track stereo capability, dual speeds (likely 3¾/7½ ips), and quarter-inch tape on standard reels.
Portable OkiCorder models like the 111 emphasized battery operation, built-in speakers, and simple controls for voice or music recording, typical of mid-1960s Japanese consumer gear.
Production scope
Oki's reel-to-reel output was limited to 1964–1966, with low volumes focused on portables rather than console hi-fi decks; no evidence exists of multitrack, studio-grade, or long-running model evolution.
The lineup reflects Oki's brief foray into audio before refocusing on telecom, printers, and electronics.
Historical significance
Oki represents a minor Japanese contributor to the 1960s consumer reel-to-reel wave, valued today by collectors for rarity and period portability rather than audiophile performance or innovation.