Berlant Concertone 1401

The Berlant Concertone 1401 (also known as the Concertone 1401) is an early vintage open-reel tape recorder from around 1950, produced by Berlant Associates (later evolving into the Berlant Concertone brand) in the United States. Founded by Emmanuel "Bert" Berlant, the company specialized in high-fidelity audio equipment, with the Concertone line aimed at home hi-fi enthusiasts and semi-professional users. 

Basic role and format

• Introduced as one of three initial Concertone models: 1401 (basic deck), 501 (portable suitcase), and 702 (console professional deck).

It was a mono (monaural), tube-based recorder praised for its solid engineering and build quality, often compared favorably to top-tier contemporaries like Ampex machines in terms of design and performance for its era.

Key Technical Specifications

• Tape Speeds: 7.5 inches per second (ips) and 15 ips (professional speeds for high fidelity).

• Frequency Response: 50 Hz to 15 kHz (respectable for the time, offering good high-fidelity reproduction).

• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 50 dB.

• Reel Sizes: Up to 10.5" NAB professional reels (also compatible with standard 5" and 7" reels; an optional #801 reel adaptor enabled NAB hub compatibility).

• Motors: 3 motors (typical for capstan drive and separate supply/take-up reels, providing stable transport).

• Timing Accuracy/Wow & Flutter: Approximately 0.1% (excellent precision for pitch stability).

• Weight: Around 43 lbs (a sturdy, substantial unit built on a cast-aluminum plate/chassis).

• Original Price: Approximately $345 (mid-20th century pricing, positioning it as a premium consumer/semi-pro machine).

• Track Configuration: Likely full-track or half-track mono (common for the period; sources indicate monaural operation).

• Other Features: Capable of recording and playback on 1/4" tape; included integrated amplifier, power supply, and drive mechanism mounted on a cast-aluminum base. It was designed for high-fidelity home use, with some units noted in celebrity contexts (e.g., photos of Les Paul and Mary Ford using one alongside Ampex gear).

This model was a "bare" or basic version without an enclosing frame/cabinet in some listings (portable suitcase variants like the 501 existed separately). It competed in a market transitioning from wire recorders to tape, and its ability to handle large 10.5" reels made it appealing for longer recordings or semi-pro applications.

Design and Build Overview

The 1401 featured a robust mechanical transport with three motors for reliable operation, low wow/flutter, and accurate timing—hallmarks of Berlant's engineering focus. It used vacuum-tube electronics for amplification and recording, typical of pre-solid-state era equipment. The chassis was a cast-aluminum plate mounting the tape path, heads, motors, power supply, and electronics, contributing to its durability and low-resonance performance.

Berlant's early designs were highly regarded for rivaling Ampex in quality, though more oriented toward hi-fi home systems than full broadcast studios (professional lines like the Series 90 came later). The 1401 helped establish the brand's reputation before it evolved, was sold to other companies (eventually linking to TEAC rebrands in later years), and faded by the early 1970s.

Today, surviving examples are rare collectibles, often appearing in "for parts" or restored condition on sites like eBay or Reverb, valued for their historical significance in analog audio recording history.