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NLS Factsheets

Sources for Purchase of Cassette Players and Player-Recorders Compatible with Recorded

Materials Produced by the National Library Service (NLS)

2003

Contents

Background

Part I. Producers

Part II. Distributors

Background

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped provides a free library service of recorded books and magazines to

persons who are unable to read or use standard print materials because of visual or physical limitations. This service is available to eligible

residents of the United States and American citizens living abroad.

Individuals and institutions eligible for the NLS program may request appropriate playback equipment on free loan for as long as they are

actively using this library service. Full details about eligibility requirements, a list of available equipment, and the addresses of cooperating

libraries may be obtained by contacting the Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of

Congress, Washington, DC 20542.

This buying guide is intended for individuals and institutions that wish to purchase their own playback equipment, desire special features, or

are ineligible for the free loan of NLS-provided playback equipment. It lists cassette players, followed by cassette player-recorders, available

from a variety of sources. Playback speeds are noted in inches per second (ips). The standard commercial speed is 1-7/8 ips, and the

NLS-compatible speed is 15/16 ips.

Part I lists producers of playback equipment that sell their products nationally and internationally or will make referrals to authorized

distributors. Basic and optional features of each product are given. Accessories such as carrying cases, AC adaptors, headphones, and

beltclips may be available at additional cost. Prices do not include shipping and handling charges or any applicable state taxes. Catalogs and

the latest price quotations may be obtained directly from producers.

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Inc., and National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Materials Center. Monaural headphones are also available from local Radio Shack stores and

electronic outlets that sell Telex products.

Items listed in this reference circular are not part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped program, and their

listing does not imply endorsement.

Part I. Producers

American Printing House for the Blind (APH)

Marketing Department

1839 Frankfort Avenue

Louisville, KY 40206-0085

(502) 895-2405

800-223-1839

(502) 899-2274 fax

info@aph.org

http://www.aph.org

Handi-Cassette II, a cassette player-recorder

plays and records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

operates on AC or DC current, includes rechargeable battery

additional features:

built-in microphone and speaker

digital pitch control

fast forward and preview

operating instructions on cassette and in print, braille start-up sheet

pause control

rewind/review

stereo playback through included headphones

tactile symbols

tape motion sensor

tone index

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catalog number 1-07085-01 (international model) $160

Table-Top Cassette Recorder-Player

plays and records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

operates on AC or DC current, includes rechargeable battery

additional features:

auto stop and auto end-of-tape shut-off

built-in microphone and speaker

cue and review

digital pitch control

erase guard

fast forward, rewind, and track change

operating instructions on cassette and in print, braille start-up sheet

pause control

stereo playback through optional headphones

tactile symbols on controls

tape motion sensor

tone index

variable speed control

measurement in inches: 3 by 9-3/8 by 11-1/8

weighs 4-1/4 pounds

catalog number 1-07150-00 (U.S. model), $225

catalog number 1-07150-01 (UK model, no adapter needed), $225

catalog number 1-07150-02 (European model), $225

The American Printing House (APH) also has a foot-pedal switch that will turn a tape recorder on and off with a foot. It works with all APH

cassette recorders. Catalog number 1-07020-00, $10.

Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc.(IRTI)

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(530) 274-2093 fax

info@irti.net

www.irti.net

The Multistation

A modified Sony cassette player-recorder, with AM/FM mono radio, TV sound, and weatherbands.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 tracks

operates on AC current with cord supplied or 4 D batteries, not included

additional features

adjustable telescopic antenna

analog tuning

built-in microphone

operating instructions on cassette

pause control

variable speed control operates on NLS speed for 100% faster and 20% slower playback

measurement in inches: 12 by 8 by 5

$119.95

StudyStation

A modified Sony cassette player-recorder.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

operates on AC current with adapter supplied or 4 AA batteries, not included

additional features:

built-in microphone and speaker

built-in tape counter

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tone index

variable speed control operates on NLS speed only for 100% faster and 20% slower playback

measurement in inches: 9 by 5 by 1.5

weighs: 2 pounds

$169.95

TCM-4TR

A modifed Sony cassette player-recorder. A hand-held model with speech compression.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 tracks

operates on AC current or 2 AA batteries, not included

additional features:

built in microphone and speaker

cue and review

digital pitch control

operating instructions on cassette

pause control

tone index

$199.95

TTR-20V

A modified hand-held Sony cassette player-recorder.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 tracks

operates on AC or 2 AA batteries, not included

additional features:

built-in microphone and speaker

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pause control

variable speed control for 30% faster and 20% slower playback

measurement in inches: 4 by 3 by 1-1/4

weighs 6 ounces

$99.95

TTR-30D

A modified hand-held Sony cassette player-recorder with stereo playback and record.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 tracks

operates on AC or 2 AA batteries, not included

additional features:

built-in mono microphone

cue and review

headphones

operating instructions on cassette

records in stereo with included external stereo microphone

variable speed control for 30% faster and 20% slower playback

measurement in inches: 4 by 3 by 1

weighs 6 ounces

costs $159.95

TTR-221

A modified hand-held Sony cassette player-recorder with AM/FM radio.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 tracks

operates on AC or 2 AA batteries, not included

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built-in microphone and stereo speakers

cue and review

operating instructions on cassette

pause control

stereo headphones

measurement in inches: 4 by 3 by 1

weighs 8 ounces

costs $169.95

TTR-323

A modified hand-held cassette player-recorder.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 15/16 ips on 2 tracks

operates on two AA batteries, not included

additional features:

built-in microphone and speaker

cue and review

operating instructions on cassette

measurement in inches: 4 by 3 by 1

weighs 6 ounces

TTR-323, $59.95

TTR-323-SP-1 plays and records at both 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips, $79.95

TTR-929-SP-1

A modified Sony desktop cassette player-recorder.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 tracks

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cue and review

operating instructions on cassette

pause control

variable speed control operates on NLS speed only for 100% faster and 20% slower playback

measurement in inches: 9 by 5 by 1.5

weighs 2 pounds

TTR929-SP-1, $99.95

TTR929T-4 has tone index, $119.95

Also distributes the Narrator, a cassette player produced by Telex.

LS&S Group, Inc.

P.O. Box 673

Northbrook, IL 60065

(847) 498-9777

800-468-4789

(847) 498-1482 FAX

info@LSSproducts.com

www.lssproducts.com

Tape Talker

A modified cassette player

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 4 tracks

operates on two AA batteries, not included

measurement in inches: 4.5 by 3.5 by 1.5

weighs 8 ounces

catalog number 5323, $59.95

catalog number LH82 has varialbe speed, weighs 5 ounces, $85.95

Trackmaster

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operates on AC current with adapter supplied or 4 C batteries, not included

additional features:

auto stop

built-in microphone and speaker

cue and review

pause control

measurement in inches: 9.75 by 5.5 by 2

catalog number 2633, $78.50

Trackmaster II

A modified Sony cassette player-recorder.

plays cassette at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 tracks

operates on 4 AA batteries, not included

Additional features:

auto stop

built-in microphone and speaker

cue and review

pause control

variable speed control

measurement in inches: 9.75 by 5.5 by 2

catalog number LHS-68,$89.95

4 Track Play/4 Track Record

A modified Panasonic player-recorder.

plays and records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 4 tracks

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auto stop

built-in microphone

catalog number 71000, $124.95

catalog number LH-83 is a modified Sony without radio but with fast forward and reverse and variable speed control, $124.95

Also distributes the Narrator, a cassette player, and the Tutor, a cassette player-recorder, produced by Telex.

The Spinoza Company

2666 Patton Road

Roseville, MN 55113-1136

800-282-2327

(651) 604-6681 fax

spinoza@spinozabear.com

www.spinozabear.com

Spinoza Bear with Talking Book Cassette Player

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

operates on AC or DC current

additional features:

automatic shut-off

includes theme tape

single function control volume and power

single switch selects tape speed and track

height in inches: 17

weighs 3 pounds

catalog number 4500, $126

Telex Communications, Inc.

Corporate Offices

1200 Portland Avenue South

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info@telex.com

www.telex.com

Narrator

A cassette player.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

operates on AC or DC current

additional features:

built-in speaker

cue and review

tactile symbols

tone control

variable speed control

measurement in inches: 10.66 by 10.125 by 3.5

weighs 2-1/2 lbs.

catalog number 300509-000, $115

Tutor

A cassette player-recorder.

plays cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 and 4 tracks

records cassettes at 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips on 2 tracks

operates on two AA batteries

additional features:

automatic shut-off

built-in speaker and microphone

cue and review

headphones

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measurement in inches: 5.5 by 4 by 1.5

weighs 8 ounces

catalog number 300536-000, $125

Part II. Distributors

All the machines listed in this section are described in Part I.

Ann Morris Enterprises, Inc.

551 Hosner Mountain Road

Stormville, NY 12582

(854) 227-9659

800-454-3175

(854) 226-2793 FAX

sales@annmorris.com

www.annmorris.com

Distributes Telex products and others.

Beyond Sight, Inc.

5650 South Windermere Street

Littleton, CO 80120

(303) 795-6455

(303) 795-6425 FAX

www.beyondsight.com

Distributes Telex products and others.

Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind

Attn: Visionaries Store

1120 20th Street NW

Suite 750 South

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 454-6490

877-324-5252 ext. 6490

(202) 454-6462 fax

store@clb.org

Distributes APH products and others.

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800-537-2118

(516) 937-3906 fax

can-do@independentliving.com

www.independentliving.com

Distributes APH, IRTI, Telex products and others, including Talkmans.

Maxi-Aids, Inc.

42 Executive Boulevard

Farmingdale, NY 11735

(631) 752-0521

800-522-6294

(631) 752-0738 TTY

(631) 752-0689 FAX

sales@maxiaids.com

www.maxiaids.com

Distributes APH, IRTI, LS&S Group products and others, including Talkmans.

National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Materials Center

1800 Johnson Street

Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314

(410) 685-5653 FAX

materials@nfb.org

www.nfb.org

Distributes Telex products and others.

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic

Customer Services Department

20 Roszel Road

Princeton, NJ 08540

800-221-4792

(609) 987-8116 fax

www.rfbd.org

Distributes IRTI and Telex products.

Compiled by Ruth Nussbaum

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Posted on March 22, 2004

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