About the Company
Robuk was a United Kingdom–based manufacturer and brand of reel‑to‑reel tape recorders active mainly during the 1960s. Its products were targeted at the consumer and home audio market, offering tube‑ and later solid‑state tape decks that competed with other British hobbyist recorders of the era.
Brand / Manufacturer: Robuk (produced by Robuk Electrical Industries Ltd. and Modern Techniques Ltd., owned by S. Korobuk Ltd.)
Country: United Kingdom
Production Era: 1960–1969 approx.
Market: Consumer / home audio
Technology: Tube (valve) then solid‑state electronics across different models
Track Formats: Mono half‑track and quarter‑track versions
Distribution: UK market primarily, with some export examples observed under licensing elsewhere (e.g., Australia).
The Robuk name is derived from the company’s founder, S. Korobuk, with Modern Techniques Ltd. serving as the manufacturing arm that also produced Motek tape transport mechanisms supplied to various vintage recorder brands.
Production History & Brand Development
Origins (Pre‑1960)
Robuk Electrical Industries and Modern Techniques Ltd were founded in 1951 by Samuel Korobuk and his wife Iris in Palmers Green, London. Initially, Modern Techniques made tape mechanisms (notably the Motek K‑series decks) for other brands. Competition from established transport makers like Collaro and BSR encouraged Korobuk to market his own Robuk branded recorders starting in 1960.
Early 1960s – First Models
Robuk RK3: The brand’s first reel‑to‑reel deck, introduced around 1960, used tube electronics and a Motek K10 piano‑key transport. It was a mono 3‑speed recorder with a 7″ reel capacity and typical consumer features like magic‑eye meters and superimpose control — a competitive entry in the home recorder field.
Robuk RK4: Followed the RK3 with refined tube electronics and a similar transport. Most sources date this early series to the 1960–1963 period.
Mid‑1960s – Transition & New Models
Robuk Statesman (RK6‑series): Introduced around 1966, the Statesman had four operational tape speeds (1⅞, 3¾, 7½, and 15 ips), uncommon for affordable British decks at the time. Units were offered in half‑track mono and quarter‑track variants and featured wood‑trim cabinets, multi‑control panels, and internal speaker systems.
Robuk RK5 Regal / RK54: A later solid‑state model from the mid‑1960s with Motek transport, 3‑speed operation, push‑pull output, and relatively broad frequency response for a consumer deck. Available in half‑track and quarter‑track formats, it typified the transition to transistor‑assisted designs.
Features & Positioning
Technology
Early Tube Designs: Initial RK3/RK4 units used vacuum tubes, common in early 1960s domestic reel recorders, offering warm audio but more bulk and power consumption.
Solid‑State Transition: By the mid‑1960s, later Robuk models incorporated transistorized circuits for improved reliability and reduced heat, following broader industry trends.
Tape Speeds & Tracks
Tape Speeds: Most Robuk decks supported 1⅞, 3¾, and 7½ ips, with some models like Statesman adding 15 ips.
Track Formats: Half‑track mono was standard, with some machines offering quarter‑track for stereo playback on the same reel.
Market Role
Robuk machines were consumer‑oriented products, positioned between hobbyist entry decks and higher‑end hi‑fi machines. They emphasized value and broad feature sets rather than “audiophile” specifications.
Decline & Legacy
Impact of Cassette & Market Shifts
Like many British reel‑to‑reel brands, Robuk struggled with the rise of the compact cassette (introduced in the 1960s) and increasing competition from Japanese manufacturers that offered more advanced, reliable, and affordable tape decks. This combination of market pressures led to Robuk’s liquidation around 1970.
Brand End & Aftermath
Following Robuk’s closure, founder Samuel Korobuk moved into other electronics work, notably with Marconi’s Space & Defence Team.
Robuk reel‑to‑reel decks are now rare vintage collector items, primarily of interest to enthusiasts of early British tape recorder history rather than mainstream audiophiles.