30 January 2018

A Reel to Reel Prototype - The Beocord 6000 / 5000

Beosystem 6000 prototype 1969

The Bang&Olufsen Beocord 6000 reel to reel tape recorder was designed by Jakob Jensen in 1969 as part of the future Beosystem 6000 (initially Topline System). Later the turntable and the receiver of this prototype system turned into real products such as the Beogram 4000 turntable and the Beomaster 6000 remote controlled receiver. The all silver and silver/black front reel to reel tape recorder on the other hand was planned to be manufactured as Beocord 6000 but it seems that there were only 6 units manufactured in 1971 with all black front and called Beocord 5000. It seems that the ideea of a new tape recorder was abandoned as compact cassette gained more popularity and finally the Beocord 5000 became a cassette deck to partner the Beomaster 6000 receiver. Later, also the Beocord 6000 name was (re)used for a new compact cassette deck recorder. The prototype Beocord 6000 / 5000 reel to reel recorders were capable of handling reels up to 27 cm in diameter. It was a 3 motor Dual Capstan Autoreverse construction measuring only 8 cm high so it would match the size of the receiver. 


Jakob Jensen
Jakob Jensen at work

Beocord 6000 1969
Beocord 6000 1969

Beocord 6000 1969
Beocord 6000 1969

Beocord 6000 1969
Beocord 6000 1969

Beocord 6000 1969
Beocord 6000 1969

Beocord 6000 1969
Beocord 6000 1969

Beocord 6000 1969
Beocord 6000 1969

Beocord 5000 1971
Beocord 5000 1971

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