Maihak MMK6 portable clockwork tape recorder playing a tune

MMK6 “Reportofon” is a professional, portable clockwork driven tape recorder produced in Germany in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s by Maihak AG company from Hamburg. Although driven by a spring motor (tape speed: 19 cm/s), electronics are fully transistorized, and powered by 6x D batteries (placed in special metal housing). At some point MMK6 was direct competitor to Nagra III. This particular MMK6 recorder is of earlier version utilizing glass OC603 and OC604 Germanium transistors produced by Telefunken. Since Maihak has no built in speaker, Telefunken Bajazzo 8 portable vacuum tube radio is connected for playback. “I'm Getting Sentimental Over You” by Kurt Edelhagen and his Orchestra is played from Agfa PE41 tape. 0:00 Intro 0:21 Connecting battery 0:50 Battery check 0:58 Winding up clockwork motor 1:20 Connecting Bajazzo radio 2:06 Playback start 4:20 Stroboscope speed check 4:54 Tape rewinding 5:24 End