Reel-to-reel tape recorder and reels used by sound engineer Russell Williams II
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1972 (manufactured)
name: label: Manufactured by
content: Kudelski Group, Swiss, founded 1951
label: Used by
content: Russell Williams II, American, born 1952
notes: label: Description
content: 2015.29.20a: Nagra 4.2 recorder
label: Description
content: 2015.29.20b: 5 inch plastic reel
label: Description
content: 2015.29.20c: 7 inich plastic reel
label: Description
content: A metal NAGRA® 4.2 reel-to-reel audio recorder used by Russell Williams II as a sound engineer on film sets. The machine is silver in color. The front side of the machine has dials, a meter, a headphone jack, and switches. Each part is designated by black type and numbers. Black type at the top, center of the front side reads: [NAGRA® 4.2]. A number is engraved to the right of the machine name and reads: [84543]. There is a silver handle partially covered with black leather (worn), attached to the proper left and proper right sides. The handle can be moved from laying against the top to laying against the bottom (almost 180 degrees). The proper left side of the machine has a speaker, two plugs and four jacks. Each part is identified by black type. The proper right side of the machine has four plugs, two jacks, and a dial. Each part is identified by black type. There is a clear, plastic lid that is hinged in the back and flips open, matching in shape to the top of the recorder (two circles that line up with where the reels would sit), with rounded edges. A piece of Velcro is attached on the underside of the lid. The top has two spindles, one for the supply reel and another for the takeup reel. The spindle on the proper right has a 5 inch reel acting as the supply reel with the majority of the tape on it (2015.29.20b). The spindle on the proper left is a 7 inch reel acting as the takeup reel (2015.29.20c) with only a small amount of the tape on it. The reels can be removed. Along the bottom of the top there are the idle roller, the heads, the lifters, and the pinch roller that help guide the reel through. There is also a lever that can be pushed to the left or the right, to move the tape, in the bottom left corner. A metal plate is at the center of the top of the machine identifies the maker in black type that reads: [KUDELSKI SA / 1033 CHESEAUX / SWITZERLAND]. At the center of the plate there is a dial that controls speed & equalization. The bottom of the machine has a section that could be opened if unscrewed and a black sticker of the letter: [D].
place: label: Place made
content: Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland, Europe
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Film
label: Topic
content: Technology
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Tools and Equipment
label: Exhibition
content: Taking the Stage
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Russell Williams II
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2015.29.20abc
objectType: label: Type
content: audio equipment
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: metal and plastic with adhesive , leather and 1/4 inch tape
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (2015.29.20a): 4 1/2 × 14 3/4 × 12 1/2 in. (11.4 × 37.5 × 31.8 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Diameter (2015.29.20b): 5 in. (12.7 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Diameter (2015.29.20c): 7 in. (17.8 cm)