About the Company
Proton was a European reel‑to‑reel tape recorder brand active in the late 1950s through the early 1960s, known for producing consumer‑oriented magnetic tape recorders rather than high‑end studio decks. The products are now rare vintage curiosities and generally appear only in collector references.
Brand: Proton
Origin: Belgium (associated with manufacturing in Brussels) and possibly Norway through related units seen under the Proton sub‑brand of Radionette.
Era: 1958–1963 (roughly)
Market: Consumer tape recorder market — not mainstream professional or broadcast.
Electronics: Initially tube‑based, later transitioning to solid‑state designs in some units.
Track Format: Generally 2‑track units available in different mains voltages (220–240 V & 110–120 V).
Production History & Context
Brand Origins & Manufacture
According to historic reel‑to‑reel listings, Proton’s tape recorders were produced from about 1958 to 1963 in Belgium, and the brand may have been tied to Siemens (or labeled as such on some machines manufactured in Brussels).
Some Proton models — especially the Type 9 — are identified in sales and auction listings as being manufactured for or marketed by the Norwegian company Radionette, suggesting Proton was used as a sub‑brand in certain markets or that the same hardware was distributed under multiple names around Europe. The Type 9 specifies production between 1958–1963, with tube electronics, and was offered in multiple tape speeds (4.75/9.5/19 cm/s) and multi‑voltage support.
This mixed Belgian/Norwegian connection suggests Proton products may have been assembled or branded differently in Europe depending on local distributors.
Documented Proton Models
Proton Type 8
Brand: Proton
Category: Consumer vintage reel‑to‑reel tape recorder
Electronics: Tube‑based
Track: Half‑track stereo (1/2 Rec/PB)
Tape Speeds: 7½ ips — typical for consumer decks of the era
Reel Size: Up to 7″
Head Composition: Permalloy
Voltage: 220–240 V (European mains)
This represents the simpler Belgian‑made consumer end of the Proton line.
Proton Type 9
Brand: Proton (sub‑brand used by Radionette)
Era: 1958–1963
Country of Manufacture: Often listed as Norway (Radionette connection)
Electronics: Valve/tube design
Tracks: 2 mono tracks
Tape Speeds: 4.75 / 9.5 / 19 cm/s (equivalent to ~1⅞, 3¾, 7½ ips)
Reel Size: Up to 18 cm spaul diameter
Voltage: Multi‑voltage (110–220 V)
The Type 9 appears to have been a higher‑feature consumer magnetophon compared with basic models — with multiple speeds, external mic and pickup inputs, and broader mains compatibility.
Technical & Market Characteristics
Basic Consumer Orientation
Proton machines were solid transport units with tube electronics, typical of late 1950s reel decks aimed at general home recording and playback.
They were less sophisticated than contemporary hi‑fi or professional brands (like Revox or Tandberg) and were typically slower and simpler machines, reflecting their consumer focus.
Multiple Voltage Support
At least some models — like the Type 9 — supported a broad set of mains voltages, allowing their use across European markets.
Transition Electronics
Early models such as the Type 8 used tube circuitry, while later units in the period approaching the 1960s may have featured solid‑state components as the industry shifted.
Legacy & Position
Proton was a modest European reel‑to‑reel brand notable for consumer tape decks in the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly in Belgium and Norway. Its machines:
Were accessible consumer recorders — more affordable and less complex than higher‑end hi‑fi or studio decks.
Were produced during a transitional era that spanned vacuum tube electronics to early solid‑state designs.
Are rare and mainly of interest to collectors and vintage audio historians today.