Sony R1

The designation Sony R-1 refers to a significant, early model in the company's history, dating back to the time when the firm was called Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Ltd. (Totsuko).

It was part of the "Reduced Series," a line developed to make the reel-to-reel format more compact and affordable than the initial large, heavy models.

The R-1 was a major step in making magnetic recording accessible. By limiting the reel size to 5 inches and using a single, slower speed, Totsuko created a machine that was relatively inexpensive and manageable for its time. Its all-tube electronics, while providing low-noise amplification, required external time-consuming maintenance and contributed to its weight and heat output.

The Sony R-1 is primarily a piece of audio history, representing the first generation of tape recorders marketed by the company toward a broader, non-military, non-exclusive institutional audience in Japan.