Photo by Stuart Blacklock of the BBC EMI TR 90, with trolley
Photos by Stuart Blacklock of http://www.vintagerecorders.co.uk/VR_View_Page.asp?IDS=131 no reproduction without permission.
The EMI TR90 was the standard audio tape machine for radio and TV studio and OB use. They usually lived on green trolleys as they were very heavy and were built like battleships. However they were the backbone of all BBC audio recording, editing and replay for many years from the late 1950s up until the 70s when they were beginning to wear out! Most of us learned our trade on these.The wheel like structures at the top of the photo are the tape reel adapters for using on the big 10 inch reels of tape. Without these gizmos the ordinary 7 inch reels would fit onto the machine.
Pete Simpkin
The following comment was posted on the Pebble Mill Facebook group:
Alan Miller: ‘Certainly takes me back to BBC Glasgow in the 70’s when TR90’s were everywhere. Seem to remember that if the tension arm was not in the correct position that they would fail to play. This could be a bit of an issue in radio continuity where they were operated by remote!’