Wirek Magnegraph 1

British valve reel-to-reel sold by Wirek as the 'Magnegraph' between about 1952 and 1954 - a high-quality half-track mono machine with 7-inch spool capacity and, unusually for its day, reverse play/record. Origins: advertised as a 'factory-built job by a well-known manufacturer'; it was probably built by Magnegraph Ltd of Hanway Place, London W1 (an audio-equipment and tape-to-disc firm), who also sold it for 62 pounds. Lasky's Radio briefly offered it as a 'scoop' at a bulk price of 34 pounds 19s 6d in 1953. Note: little else is documented about this scarce early machine.