OT:Disc Cutting Lathes and other memories
Steve Berson is recognized as a current "Lathe Troll" in Eddie Ciletti"s Ask Eddie column in December MIx, Page 56.
The article got me to reminiscing about the bank of 5 or 6 16" Presto lathes in Far East Network's Tokyo studios circa 1956. As I recall, there was a bank of Ampex 350s down one side of the room and the Presto lathes across on the other wall. We copied programs from tape to 16" transcription discs. As I recall, playback from a linked Ampex could be initiated from a remote switch convenient to the lathe operator.
Research on Wikipedia turned up mention that the Presto lathe recording Herb Morrison's famous Hindenburg disaster account was probably running slow. Corrected speed playback is now available on the net.
Wikipedia has no references the Presto Recorder Corporation itself. I recall that they attempted to diversify into tape and one of their machines was installed just minutes prior to an on air shift at WRRA in Ithaca, NY. We started on air playback of a tape, only to realize that the take up spool was not turning. I put a take up spool on a nearby RCA transcription turntable and manually slipped it to keep tape from cascading onto the floor. A take up reel off/on switch may have been an unknown "feature" of the new Presto tape transport.
Please forgive these ramblings unless you want add to them. Anyone remember Stancil-Hoffman?
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