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JBond

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Everything posted by JBond

  1. Thanks, Dejan, I never realized it was done that way, by watching a movie and making the sound effects at the same time. It does make sense to do it that way though. Amazing how well they do it and how quick they are. It also gives room for interpretation of what the sound would be like, who would know any different? So that's why all the background sounds are always so crisp and clean. I always knew they added sound effects but I never realized they added it that way shown in the video. Thank you for posting that. I think this whole recording sound for movies is amazing and you guys have a great exciting craft.
  2. That must be one huge task getting all the sound together, all at the right time to make it flow and sound realistic. The sound is everywhere, every little detail can be heard if you listen for it. I’ll bet most people viewing never even realize most of the different sounds we hear in a movie and just take it for granted. Probably because, if it seems realistic and fits, we don’t question it or think about it. Just like walking out of a store or supermarket we don’t stop and listen to all the different sounds, at least I don’t. I bet if the sounds weren’t there we would notice somethings not right. Watching movies as sound men must be a whole different experience than the average viewer. I would think Its probably impossible for you guys to watch without listening to the sounds the rest of us just take for granted. Not to fluff you guys up but I don’t think sound people get all the credit they really deserve in making a movie good.
  3. In this youtube video below. I can see the final product, but I wonder how you sound guys get all these different sounds recorded. Are all the different sounds in this scene, walking across the porch, birds, watering the lawn etc. are they recorded live as it’s happening or added later? I know the music is added later but what about everything else? No special reason why I picked this particular scene, the scene doesn’t matter. Or let me ask this in a different way. In your experience, what sounds that we hear in “this scene" would a soundman as yourself be responsible for? In your experience by watching this scene, what sounds in this scene are recorded live, and what sounds would you say would be added afterward? Just wondering.
  4. Thanks Jeff for the explanation of the Bloop light. Something so simple but sounds really important. Interesting the camera swinging over and getting the shot of the bloop light “ON” attached to the front of the Nagra. There must be a lot of very cool photos or dropped movie frames out there of you guys sitting behind your Nagras? So you knew many times in the filming the camera was going to be on you? Nothing like a little-added pressure, I guess there was no doubt who was responsible for the soundtrack.
  5. Ahh, I don’t know anything about that, I was just guessing and making conversation. What does the bloop light do anyway?
  6. The 1957 Nagra II -cI (circuits inside), the 524th Nagra II ever made. I always wanted to redo this video. I should have done a better job with it, this was the first attempt, each time I tried to make it better there was always something I didn't like. I guess this one is better than nothing. Using this machine you had one more job to do, keep checking the spring meter. I watch it full screen with the volume up. A good song was written for a great movie.
  7. You can try this one, but I don't think there is a separate manual just for the Nagra IV-D they all come under the IV heading in one manual, maybe. I have not looked into it before. Compare these two. As you can see even though it says IV-D the first picture shows the L Believe me, this is Nagra, don't look for super accurate information on all these IV models. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/999909/Nagra-Iv-D.html http://www.filmsoundsweden.se/backspegel/nagra_iv-l_manual.pdf
  8. Hi Jim This explains the different IV models. http://www.filmsoundsweden.se/backspegel/nagra_4.html
  9. Hi Joy, There are a few sites when you do a Google search, this is the first one that comes up. Post some pictures of your new recorder. Thanks, http://www.filmsoundsweden.se/backspegel/nagra_iv-l_manual.pdf
  10. What do you see? Fooling around this morning, I wondered if I could zoom in on the Nagra serial number. To my surprise, I could see something there. 614 4? 811 4? ?? Does anybody have a more advanced picture program, maybe they can get a better view at that serial number, and post it?
  11. No Sir, I already have one 811 40 front and center below. If I wanted it, I would not have made a big deal about it all week. You may never see another one, looks like some guy put in the last few bids to intimidate people. I have found people that do that never win. They usually bid 3 times,10.00 higher each time. That is so others will say whoa I'm not bidding against this guy. Check out bidder 857. For the life of me, I 'll never understand why people bid it up before it's time to go off. http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=322257622042&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565 Believe it or not, I don't have two of anything that is the same, with very few exceptions. My collection is 25 years old. I only want the items I'm missing unless it's to upgrade the condition of something I have. I know it looks excessive, but I don't have boxes and boxes of recorders just to have them. What you see is all I have. The item is more valuable to me when I only have one in the best possible condition. To the left of the no name SN and in the front, that Russian wire recorder, 1971 Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner.
  12. Let's not kid ourselves, Nagra is huge in this department, and it all started from the SN recorder. Look at the security section on Nagra's website. If you were allowed, I think you would see many little goodies, we never knew about.
  13. Hi Micke Thank you very much for sharing this information, I never thought about radio and TV also as users, but you're right. You’re right about the SN being used in place of radio mics. But only one model was used for that, the SNN. The SNN is full track recording at a speed of 3 3/4 or 1 7/8 I disagree with you that this was the main reason for the SN series of recorders. The SNS is a slow speed half track recorder, recording 1 7/8 and 15/16 IPS. This model was never used as a mic replacement because of the quality at that speed. One site list the production numbers as of the year 2000, I have no idea how true it is, but if they got the numbers from Nagra it may not be accurate, meaning there may have been much more SNS’s sold. Out of 10,003 units, 3972 were the SNN the rest were the slow speed SNS’s The SNS is only good for one reason long play for voice recording. The High Fi SN came out in 1999 and was never used as a radio mic replacement. It was very expensive and did not sell well. Many soundmen on this site were around before and at the time the SN came out, How many actually used the SN in recording movies? I think you will find very few of them. I could be wrong. Maybe more were used in the TV-studios as you said. I'm beginning to think now the real spy SN was the SNST which was only used for covert recording and no one knew about it for 10 years. Sounds just like the old stories on the internet, doesn't it. Nagra went on to be the leading manufacturer of covert recording devices and still is today. We just aren’t privileged to that information. As I said before the SNST was secret and kept secret for ten years. It was only used for covert activities since it was also Slow speed. This SNST which I know for a “fact" it was kept secret, may be where the spy statements all over the internet came from. Since recently finding out the SNST was produced since 1974, that makes me believe even more this is the secret recorder people wrote about. Just mis information and in the wrong decade. Before I thought the year was 1977 A very credible Nagra source of mine reminded me of this back in February of this year, as I copied and paste below. "It was the LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY THAT KEPT KSA IN BUSINESS !!!!! NOT THE FILM INDUSTRY !!!" Unfortunately, he was not with Nagra in the very early years of the SN, If he was, I would have all my answers. I can’t say any more about my source. When did quality wireless mic's come out? The SNS was still going strong in 1977 shown below in this sales poster, little did anybody know the SNST was out since 1974, yet at this conference of law enforcement, NOBODY knew of it. Even though for three years at this point the SNST was in heavy use by others. Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner.
  14. I'm sorry to hear that Malcolm, Thank you for posting it.
  15. From what I know there are two other non-silk screen Nagra SN's, One in Nagra's collection. The other is Owned by Tim Blackham. There is a Tim Blackham who has a IMDb I’m not sure if he is the same one that owns it or not? Anybody know him enough to ask? I wonder what his serial number is? That sure would be interesting. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0085688
  16. What happened to - Serie Noir (Black Series) ? Thanks, Nick, dela, and Rachel Yes, you have it right, Rachel, just the number is 811, you have it backward at 118 but that's ok. I have to hand it to you and others, I didn’t think anyone could decipher what I was saying but you did. There very well may have been only 811 non-silk screen models. That could be one reason for the change in the serial number format I don’t know any of this to be true, it's just speculation on my part, I base it all on the following. I shorten it a little here so others don’t have to go back and try and decipher what I said before. Now I could've ended this reply right here, but nooooo I have to write a book each time I post. Sorry about that. Just so it's known, I only started asking these questions after finding out and receiving the first pictures ever released from Marguerite K. of her father’s Nagra SN prototype, developed in 1960 but never produced. This may not mean much to others but to me, it was a very nice thing she has done. I asked if I could watermark them for my collection and she said yes. These pictures have never been seen before on the internet. The pictures are now part of my collection and will only show them included with pictures of my collection as I already did. I will not put them out separately on the Internet as long as they are not already out there. I will leave that to Nagra to decide if they want to do that. I’m thinking now they might not have put them out for a reason. If fact its kind of down played how its displayed in their collection. Before these pictures, I never had any proof the prototype ever existed. Everything was always so secret about the early SN’s. As Luck would have it at the same time receiving these pictures of something I thought never existed, I was contacted thru JWsound from an Italian couple that had a non-silk screened Nagra SN. In a private sale, I bought that SN from the young couple in Italy. The combination of receiving the Non-silk screen SN and receiving pictures of the 1960 Prototype, left me with many questions. Nagra telling me the first SN was produced in 1970 and first sold in 1971, just made me wonder then What happen to the Black Series? Before I thought the date was 1965, but Nagra says that is wrong. I’m sure if Nagra had to do it again they would not have answered my email the first time. OK that is where this all started. I’m not trying to change history, I would just like to know What was the history? ============================================================================== So based on the Nagra SN story that is all over the internet. I’m not making anything up. This is what is already out there. The US “ordered” or “commissioned” or “ JFK” commissioned or US military ordered etc. This is written everywhere, even Nagra has written this. So whats a collector to think. Could the US have “ordered” or “commissioned” 811 (eight hundred and eleven) no name recorders for Nagra to make for them? This seems to be a reasonable question since what famous statements I have read all over the internet for years. Whether it started in 1965 or 1970 it's not the big deal But did it happen at all? I know now the SN prototype was just the prototype. Not only because Nagra said so but because it doesn’t exist, if it did and many were produced, I or others would have one. What happened to Serie Noir (Black Series)? I was only guessing, and I asked Nagra this question here in blue # 4 The serial number 811 40 - does this mean it’s #40 out of 811 originally ordered by the US government? This is my guess. Do I have it right? Or what does the serial number 811 40 mean? #4) The SN serial numbers were consecutive, and our records start at # 75 which was probably the first model actually sold. The number following the serial number corresponds to a technical evolution level and is referred to as the “Indice #”. We do not have records defining all the different indices, but they were due to the change in the thickness of the deck plate (from 1 to 3 mm) and the changes made to the motors etc. All we can certify is that the SN you have is number 811 and it was manufactured in June 1972 and is an SN-S model. The first slow speed SN was number 83 and manufacturer in September of the previous year (1971). Nagra told me the serial numbers were consecutive and my serial number was 811 40, 811 was the count and the second number was just a technical evolution level number. Like a motor upgrade or the thickness of the deck etc. Ok, so all’s well and good, that's what Nagra says, then, that is what it is. I have a June of 1972 no name plain Nagra SN and I’m very happy to have it. ============================================================================== Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, another plain Nagra without silk screen shows up on eBay from Germany with the same 811 number as part of the serial number, the full number is 811 29 So now I’m saying what the?? The only number I see changing is the second number, 29 changed to 40. This leads me to believe these two units are number 29 and 40 out of 811 made in this series. Just to let you know how rare a non-silk screen Nagra is, Remember the story about the Yellow Recorder and it took 18 years to find it, well I never saw a non-silk screen Nagra SN on Ebay before last Saturday. So that is more than 18 years. So for two to come up for sale within 2 months is very rare. Now factor in they are both 811 serial numbers, well I don’t think I need to say anymore. So I concluded. Since there are two Nagra SN’s with the number 811, that number must be the end of the run or series.
  17. A person asked Nagra Why is my Nagra plain without markings? There is a simple answer to your question: When the SN was first introduced in 1970/71 the first machines did not have any printing on the deck-plate. The printed deck-plates were introduced during the '70s as the silk-screening process was better understood in the factory. The first machines were printed with black print which was later changed to RED. All that your information tells me is that it is a fairly early SN. The answer Nagra gave about the printing makes sense, but if they were made for the US secretly as a covert recorder as all the talk over the last half century says they were, the US most likely wanted them with no marking on them. Just like the recorders the US gave up using over the SN at the time. Which I will show you next. So it worked out both ways for Nagra, they didn’t need to put any silk screen on them in the beginning, but later once they improved the process and introduced the recorders publicly they knew how to do it, and they did it very well. I have to say Nagra's silk screening on the SN is the best in the world. I have never seen any Nagra SN with the silk screening wearing off, flaking etc. Nagra quality is the best in the world even back then. So whatever they needed to figure out at the factory it surely worked out very well for them. Just one thing I want to point out in that answer above. Notice how he says the SN was first introduced in 1970/71 then he says “The printed deck-plates were introduced during the ‘70s Hmm…………so, in other words not during the 60’s, (when they really came out). It may just be the way he worded it, but he sounds like he is separating the decades since he says first introduced in 1970/71 is the same decade as during the 70’s.
  18. The Early Nagra SN serial number line up. The Ebay Nagra SN serial number 811 29. It could be number 29 in this series of 811 units. But maybe not. Why is the 811 stamped nice and neat and the number 29 is not. Because it’s the end number that is always changing with each unit? Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner. The Ebay sellers Nagra SN shown with the switch installed over the serial number 811 29 You will notice every one below except my no name Nagra has the cutout and switch installed. Someone modified this very early Nagra SN to be like all the others My plain no name SN serial number 811 40 Could it be its number 40 in this series of 811 units. Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner. My 1973 SN recorder serial number shown here the 1,541 Nagra SN made. You can also clearly see here on this very early SN has RED silkscreen. Whereas all the later ones shown have the Black Silkscreen. Nagra told the Ebay seller written in an email that the silkscreen started with black and ended up red. Well, according to my stack of SN’s shown below that is not true, is it. It started with RED first, as shown below, then went to BLACK, there are some later ones that were also red, but most are black. At this point I’m not sure the current people at Nagra really know anything about a 50 year old Nagra SN You can see starting with this one and with all of the later models shown they all have those three holes for some switch or plug. Believe it or not I don’t even know what that is for. I could look in the manual but that is upstairs right now. I would say the serial numbers changed once the silkscreening was added to the Nagra SN. Starting with serial number 812 without any technical evolution level numbers. That 812 serial number continued on to 1541 shown below and right up to the last SN made all consecutive numbers like anything else Nagra ever made. Thus separating the initial 811 ordered by the US Government, the so called Nagra Black covert series from the rest of the SN recorders. After all, Nagra and many others said over the years the Nagra SN was commissioned by the US secret Service right, Commissioned by the US Government, etc. Well, this is how I interpret this. If I’m wrong oh well someone give me some additional credible information. I can assure you, it’s the last numbers here in the picture below that change with every unit made. Not the first ones. On this recorder below the 15 didn’t change the 41 did. Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner. This next one S for Slow speed, the 5,726 Nagra SN made, It does not meant it’s the 5,726 SNS made. Its all SN’s total to date. Also note the BLACK silkscreen. I can assure you, it’s the last numbers here that change with every new unit made. Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner. The latest Nagra SN that I have, the 7,171 Nagra SN made. Now where the serial number was on the earlier SN’s, a sticker designating what model it is. The serial number is moved to the rear side and on a separate plate as shown below, I can assure you, it’s the last numbers here that change with every new unit made. Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner.Not to throw a monkey wrench in the mix but look at this serial number. What the hell do you make of that? Red silkscreen and a number of 23 thousand. Look how proud this guy is , could the letters on his building be any larger? The letters remind me of the Nagra III deck plate
  19. Thank you Rachel, I appreciate your comment very much, but I know nobody really reads it. They just click on to see, What the hell is he trying to say now. I figure if I go on about it, someday, somebody will chime in and say listen! You fool! You have it all wrong, this is what happen, I know, because I was there. That is one reason why I post, for more information, and it doesn’t hurt to pick up a rare no name Nagra recorder along the way either. It’s beginning to look like if anybody searches for Nagra pictures on line they will end up here at Jwsound, sooner or later someone is going to tell me what they know. I believe there are people, agencies, etc. right now that know or can find out the answer. But sadly, more and more I’m beginning to think the early Nagra SN story may just have been a myth all along. More hype than reality. I can’t say for sure just yet. So why can’t Nagra clear up whats all over the internet? Think about it, If you were the worlds leading manufacture in covert related equipment . Would you put an end to the famous SN story, now myth that has been around since the sixties? Like I said before, do a search of Stefan Kudelski and the SN recorder is front and center in just about every article. Is it true or not should be determined. I did find a confirmation of “1974” as the year the SNST came out. Not 1977 as Nagras timeline suggests. This is the time line I come up with now. 1965 Nagra Plain SN secret black series, (not sure if this is true or not at this point). But is still on Nagra’s site in spite of telling me its incorrect. 1971 Nagra Plain SN sold world wide 1973 Nagra first Red "Silkscreen" version SN 1974 Nagra first SNST stereo 2 channel covert recorder sold secretly for 10 years, solely to the US government. It also coincides with the date the JBR was released 10 years later in 1984 the next secret recorder. That 1974 date, instead of the 1977 date, makes more sense since the US had two channel recorders beginning in the early sixties. Based on the 1977 date why it would take Nagra either 12 or 6 years to add another channel was always hard to believe why it took so long. Depending whether or not you believe the 1965 date or the 1971 date for the first SN. But this information seems to fall on the side of Nagra when they say the first SN was out in 1971 and the first SNST out 3 years later in 1974, I doubt very much it would have taken them more then three years to develop the secret 2 channel SNST for the US Government. I can say with certainly the 1960 Nagra prototype was just a prototype and was not sold thru out the sixties. What I can’t determined is what Nagra says is true, the SN was NOT around until 1971. Or sold secretly starting in1965. One or the other. That date 1965 fits in with my collection of US covert recorders, since sometime after 1966 names on the recorders and manufacturers names on the recorders starting appearing on my same style covert recorders, same units, now only with names. I contribute this to, When sales of these recorders to the government stopped or slowed down, It allowed these manufacturers to finally sell to others, police departments , private investigators etc. So the names started showing up on these recorders when the government started using something else, like another no name recorder, the Nagra SN? Maybe if you go with the 1965 date. This statement or one of many like it, bugs me. The letters 'SN' stand for Série Noir (Black Series) as the recorder was originally ordered by US President John F. Kennedy for use by the American secret services These statements are all over the internet, I don’t believe the statement as being true, And frankly, I don’t like being mislead 50 or more years after the fact, if that is the case that it’s not true. Its either true or it's not. Remember this Sorry to bother you again. I have just one more question I need to clarify. And I won’t keep bothering you. You said the 1965 date is wrong. If the Prototype made in 1960 was never produced and the first SN was made in 1970 1960………………………………………………..…………1970 Are you saying there was NO secret recorder sold in between these dates? If there was, did it look like? The plain SN I have? The prototype, or a different machine altogether. Thank you ZIP………nothing
  20. An appropriate answer, Sorry to you guys that get an email each time I post but I had to make some corrections to this. Then for some reason it posted 5 copies, so I had to delete it again. If You read this before, Now it has a new twist at the end. I asked these 4 questions to Nagra Audio and M Kudelski back on July 31st as plain as I could ask the questions and numbered. I wanted these answers. Questions # 1 From what I understand and assume, your father Mr Kudelski made the SN prototype around 1960. That prototype model that you have was never produced and was just the prototype. Is that correct? # 2 Was the second Nagra SN developed from the prototype and looked like mine in these pictures? Per the statement on your web site (Nagra Kudelski Group Historical Milestones) The year 1965 the first Nagra SN’s were sold “secretly” to the US government. # 3 Is this plain no name Nagra SN considered one of the first production Models Nagra delivered in 1965 ? # 4 The serial number 811 40 - does this mean it’s #40 out of 811 originally ordered by the US government? This is my guess. Do I have it right? Or what does the serial number 811 40 mean? After not hearing from them for 5 days, I sent another email asking if they received my last email since I also sent large pictures with it and I didn’t know if it got thru. Nagra Audio replied. Dear Sir, We received your previous Email with thanks. Please bear a few days so that we can prepare an appropriate answer. An appropriate answer, I liked that answer, I thought finally I will get some answers. The Next day M. Kudelski replied. She referred the answers to someone named John, because she didn’t know the answers. My questions shown again in BLUE, Nagras answers below in RED Hello, Regarding to your questions, I asked John, I transmit you his answers The information you have found Nagra Kudelski Group historical milestones) is inaccurate ! (We will ask NAGRAVISION to correct it) Please refer to OUR web site www.nagraaudio.com for the accurate dates and information. # 1 From what I understand and assume, your father Mr Kudelski made the SN prototype around 1960. That prototype model that you have was never produced and was just the prototype. Is that correct? #1) The prototype we have was the original unit designed in 1960 yet never produced. The first “official” SN was not developed until 10 years later circa 1970, and the first units we actually sold in 1971. # 2 Was the second Nagra SN developed from the prototype and looked like mine in these pictures? Per the statement on your web site (Nagra Kudelski Group Historical Milestones) The year 1965 the first Nagra SN’s were sold “secretly” to the US government. #2) Your SN is a relatively early machine and was built in the first year of manufacturing. It is NOT a prototype, but a production model. # 3 Is this plain no name Nagra SN considered one of the first production Models Nagra delivered in 1965 ? #3) Early SN machines did NOT have any printing on the deck plates. It was introduced in the early ‘70s but we do not have an accurate date or serial number for this. Various different versions were created over the years. # 4 The serial number 811 40 - does this mean it’s #40 out of 811 originally ordered by the US government? This is my guess. Do I have it right? Or what does the serial number 811 40 mean? #4) The SN serial numbers were consecutive, and our records start at # 75 which was probably the first model actually sold. The number following the serial number corresponds to a technical evolution level and is referred to as the “Indice #”. We do not have records defining all the different indices, but they were due to the change in the thickness of the deck plate (from 1 to 3 mm) and the changes made to the motors etc. All we can certify, is that the SN you have is number 811 and it was manufactured in June 1972 and is an SN-S model. The first slow speed SN was number 83 and manufacturer in September of the previous year (1971). The next day after receiving the answers above, I wrote one more email asking for clarification. I wrote it as simple as I could. Sorry to bother you again. I have just one more question I need to clarify. And I won’t keep bothering you. You said the 1965 date is wrong. If the Prototype made in 1960 was never produced and the first SN was made in 1970 1960………………………………………………..…………1970 Are you saying there was NO secret recorder sold in between these dates? If there was, did it look like? The plain SN I have? The prototype, or a different machine altogether. Thank you That was back on Aug 5th and never received an answer. So about the answers I did received. First look at his # 2 answer, he states that my SN was built in the “FIRST” year of manufacturing. but then in the last sentence of #4 he says mine was manufactured in June of 1972 His answer to # 3, he states we do not have accurate date or serial numbers for this. In his answer to # 4, he states the number 40 was the “technical evolution number” which clearly made no sense to me. So are they telling me in 811 units made they had 40 changes in production at this point? Looking at the answers now Its almost like 4 different people answered the 4 questions. But in any case I believed Nagra that my no name plain SN is consecutive serial number 811 with a 40th technical evolution level So yesterday on ebay a Nagra SN from Germany was listed. It’s a plain no name Nagra SN like mine but with a Serial number of 811 29 What! Nagras explanation now did not make any sense to me. And now seeing another serial number 811 this one with a 29th technical evolution They both can’t be the eight hundred and eleventh Nagra SN made. Nagra says their serial numbers are consecutive. Something must not have been translated correctly, they say in answer 3 that they don’t have records back then. Did they just make it up? Here is the link to the auction. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NAGRA-KUDELSKY-SNN-MINIATUR-RECORDER-/322257622042?hash=item4b080d141a:g:ZaEAAOSw-kdX1BuA The sellers title Offering a NAGRA SNN KUDELSKI MINIATURE RECORDER (SER.NR .: 811 29) In one of the pictures you can see part of the serial number with a series of holes drilled in it for some later model SN adaptor to fit. After emailing the seller last night, I confirmed the serial number by asking him for a picture of it. The serial numbers on the early SN’s were stamped on the underside of the top lid, the underside of the deck, the outside of the deck on the right side and the inside of the bottom cover. He sent me the picture of the inside top cover shown below. Usually and probably always the case in every serial number it’s the last of the serial number that changes with each unit, Not the first digits . The next unit should have a serial number of 811 30 then 31 ………38……..40 etc. ending up at 811 811 Just like the Nagra II’s and the Nagra III’s do and every other Nagra item ever made does. I don’t buy the technical evolution level I zoomed in on the serial number on the right side, too bad the numbers got messed up, Its still a very early a very early Nagra SN. That you don't see to offen for sale. The ebay seller states his is a SNN, there are no marking on the recorder so how does he know that ? I asked he said Nagra told him it was a SNN. The Ebay seller said he had a conversation with Nagra about it if you read the end of the description. Of course more miss information from Nagra unless the seller got it backwards, Red was the earlier silkscreen on the SN Black silkscreen came on the later model SN’s Nagras explanation now does not make any sense to me, after seeing another serial # 811? Its very hard to believe the second numbers are the technical evolution level The only thing I can think of is, mine is the 811th SNS and the one for sale on Ebay is the 811th SNN with a earlier different technical evolution level . But that makes no sense at all because you don’t have a running count of the units, are they saying there are two of every number? 811 More Miss information, I think. These plain no name Nagras are as scarce as can be, yet the only two ever to go up for sale recently are both the same exact consecutive serial number 811? One a SNS the other a SNN. That would be a pretty big coincidence both marked 811 show up. One from Italy a private seller and one from Germany an Ebay seller. Unless, eight hundred and eleven of them had the serial number 811 on them, followed by a second running number. Even that would be rare for two to show up. If another early Nagra SN turns up with a serial number of 811 followed by a lower number, my first guess is correct. These were a series of recorders with a grand total of 811 in that series of no name plain recorders. It Could be posable this is where the Famous Nicknamed Black Series came from? Since no names or markings were on them, especially the SN-S's. The first SN covert recorders. Seems like nobody knows for sure as admitted from Nagra in answer # 3 Something is messed up here. There is more to this story. NAGRA the legend lives on… the mysteries continue...
  21. Thanks Nick for posting that review, I never saw that before, its pretty detailed and complete. A quote from Nagra Hmm over thirty days and never corrected. Seems to me, the SN history statement which you can find here, http://www.nagraaudio.com/about-us/product-history/ is highly inaccurate since it explains nothing and all four (4) SN write ups say the exact same thing. 1960. 1970, 1972 and 1973 all say the exact same thing, if you click on Key features , all the same. Choice number 2 Whereas the other one, Historical Milestones in Nagras history, https://www.nagra.com/group/history You would think they would have to make sure they have accurate information in writing their complete milestones in history year by year from day one. I'm sure that complete Milestone history draft was ran across the board of directors before going public. They would of had to get the boards approval for that list, I would think, or some committee within the board. It wasn't some web site manager approving it or copy and paste, like the other timeline Nagra says is correct. Which do you believe? Historical Milestones or Nagra History page that shows 4 generic descriptions. So I guess for now it remains 1965 as the first year the Nagra SN came out, and came out secretly. Not 1960 as was written for years and years and not 1970 as the first year the Nagra SN came out, as Nagra Audio says it is. Maybe someday, someone will read this post and would remember using a Nagra SN recorder before 1970, that would solve the mystery. Inaccurate ! If anything is inaccurate in that timeline, I would think it would be "Worldwide expansion from 1974" should be Worldwide expansion from 1970. Since I have SN pamphlets dated 1971 and 1973, the 1974 date I think is wrong. The world knew about the SN by 1970, 1971. Its messed up, Nagra is caught up in miss information, and I don't think they know how or want to correct it at this point. I 'm probably the only one that ever asked for clarification of the Nagra SN timeline before.
  22. How about posting a couple of pictures of what you have , on this thread, not to sell, but to see what it is and the condition they are in after government use. Jwsound has a separate forum for buying and selling in another section. Anybody interested in or looking for Nagra on the internet will be directed here at Jwsound, just as you were. Pictures would be great, thanks
  23. Note: I am showing these vintage tape recorders as part of my collection only. They are out of service and no longer used in the manner they were designed, but remain a part of audio recording history. It should not be considered in any way as endorsing or promoting any activity contrary to applicable laws and regulations. Hmm ..... I wonder... how true to life my picture really is? It was the top of the line spy recorder of the day. This info just out today. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/08/30/watergate-cia-withheld-data-on-double-agent.html Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner.
  24. A Nagra VPR-5 is listed on Ebay right now for $8,000.00. With the amount of tapes, batteries, gang chargers etc. this VPR--5 saw some use. Someone tried to get some of their $45,000.00 dollar investment back.
  25. All 17 pages and you’re still alive? Thats got to be a record. From what I have been told, the machine is complete but never finished. Supposedly it’s 40 man hrs to set it up to work? It has never been set up. I don’t know how true that is but that is what I have been told. I since have most of the modules. The first VPR-5 I bought from Nagra and unfortunately sold, came with the beautiful battery pack, reels and tape. I was able to charge that battery and run the machine for as long as I wanted in play, rewind and fast forward. It was nice just to see it work and hear the jet like sounds it makes. I was able to make a couple of reels for my current machine by cutting down two larger reels on my lathe, that is good for now, but still looking for the correct 5.5 plastic reels, battery, and charger. This current machine when I use a power supply will power up and play for a few seconds then shuts down. It does not rewind or fast forward like the other one did. Earlier this year in March, I was lucky enough to buy two complete Ampex VPR-3 machines, 500.00 for the pair. Just had to pick them up. One works just fine with no problems. They both came out of a (PBS) Public Broadcast Station out of New York state, WCNY TV. WCNY moved into a new building with all new equipment, so this machine and many others items were sold off. The machine has some real history to it. I believe they had 6 or 8 of them, all controlled by the controller shown on top the machine in the picture. I bought VTR number 12 and 13. I also received some posters and photos of the TV station and employees, even a couple of monogrammed WCNY coffee cups. That flip time slate shown on top of the machine with a matching picture showing the slate in use. There are a number of different times on the slate, I guess its used for for showing how much time is left before going live. Also a few 1 inch tapes with original WCNY PBS TV programing. All that makes it better then getting some VPR 3 machine out of a warehouse without any information of its life history. Why buy it? Well the price was right, and I thought it would be nice to contrast the two VPR machines. The VPR-3 was the top of the line at the time. Some say the most advanced reel to reel video recorder machine ever. And on the other hand the portable VPR-5 the first portable C video tape machine of its size . But it was short lived due to Sony Betamax cassette being developed around the same time. That VPR-3 ’s jog shuttle can whip that tape around so fast, stop on a dime and go back and forth frame by frame with such ease. Someday I'll make a video of it. My wife says its big and ugly, but I like it. Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner. Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner. Photos marked with RJW are copyrighted. Any use other than private with or without the RJW watermark is strictly forbidden, without written permission from the owner.
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