About the Company
Phonotrix was a German brand of consumer‑oriented reel‑to‑reel tape recorders manufactured in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Its products were compact, portable tape decks aimed at everyday recording tasks, not professional or studio use.
Brand: Phonotrix
Country of Manufacture: Germany
Production Period: 1959–1966
Market Focus: General consumer/home recording
Electronics: Early units tube‑based, later units solid‑state transistorized
Machine Type: Mainly portable and compact reel‑to‑reel recorders
Production History & Context
1959–Early 1960s: Start of Phonotrix Machines
Phonotrix began producing tape recorders around 1959, starting with tube‑based designs typical of consumer tape decks of the era.
These were half‑track mono units with small reel capacity (often 3″) designed for portability and simple recording — such as radio, vocals, or basic music.
Early–Mid 1960s: Transition to Solid‑State
As transistor technology became more affordable and widespread, later Phonotrix models switched to solid‑state electronics with transistor amplifiers and streamlined circuitry.
These units typically ran at single low tape speeds (e.g., 1 7/8 ips on the Phonotrix 88) and preserved simple stereo or mono playback/recording functionality.
Mid‑1960s: End of Production
By around 1966, Phonotrix’s reel‑to‑reel line appears to have wound down — a common fate for many small consumer brands as compact cassette formats and hi‑fi decks dominated the market.
Known Phonotrix Models
Phonotrix 1
Era: ~1959–1962
Electronics: Tube‑based design
Track: Half‑track mono
Tape Speed: 3¾ ips
Reel Size: ~3″ max
Features: Built‑in speaker, simple controls, portable format — often exported and sold under various names.
Phonotrix 88 (or 88‑B)
Era: ~1963–1966
Electronics: Solid‑state transistor design
Track: Half‑track mono
Tape Speed: 1⅞ ips
Reel Size: ~2½–3″ capacity
Notes: Often distributed in the U.S. by third‑party companies and sometimes sold as part of ‘Packaged Sound Systems’ with external amplifiers and speakers.
Design Characteristics
Phonotrix machines were typical of small, consumer reel‑to‑reel decks of their era:
Compact Construction: Small, portable bodies with integrated speakers on some models (e.g., original Phonotrix 1).
Limited Features: Basic controls, minimal wow & flutter specs, simple head configurations — little in the way of studio‑grade performance.
Battery & AC Power: Many could run on batteries or mains power, emphasizing portability for personal recording.
Market Position & Legacy
Consumer Segment: Phonotrix reels were entry‑level consumer products, not aimed at broadcast or professional markets.
Export & Rebranding: Units were sometimes rebranded or marketed under different names (e.g., Clarion Transitape) for export markets.
Rise of Compact Cassette: As compact cassette decks took over consumer tape recording in the mid‑1960s, small reel‑to‑reel brands like Phonotrix disappeared.
Collector Interest: Today, Phonotrix decks are rare vintage curiosities — particularly the early tube‑based models — and serve as examples of early portable recorder design.