01
Solid State Circuitry
Transistorized architecture eliminated warm-up time and significantly reduced battery consumption.
Curio Gallery
01 / 04
01 / 04National Solid State Portable Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorder — photograph 4
Highlights
Why this object
still matters.
A vintage battery-operated portable reel-to-reel tape recorder manufactured under the National brand by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. It features a molded carrying handle, horizontal ribbed front speaker grille, mechanical transport control lever, and a tinted transparent dust cover displaying 'Solid State'. Accompanied by its fitted brown faux-leather carrying bag with an external accessory pocket.
02
Integrated Handle
Sturdy top-molded carry handle designed for easy transport and field recording.
03
Tinted Reel Lid
Smoked acrylic cover protects the tape spools while keeping tape consumption visible.
04
Multi-Function Lever
Central chrome-accented rotary lever coordinates Record, Play/FF, Stop, and Rewind functions.
05
Original Style Bag
Accompanied by a tailored brown vinyl field case featuring an external microphone or tape pocket.
06
National Heritage
Carries the iconic red National emblem, denoting Matsushita's flagship consumer electronics line.
Specifications
The useful facts,
clearly recorded.
Measurements, construction, identity, and seller-supplied details are kept together for direct comparison.
Reviewed · Curio catalogue
Maker
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (National)
Origin
Japan
Year
1968
Department
audio
Packed shipment
5 kg · 45 × 32 × 30 cm
Brand
National
Format
Portable reel-to-reel magnetic tape
Circuitry
Solid State (transistorized)
Transport Controls
Record, Play/FF, Stop, Rewind selector lever and red record interlock button
Carrying Case
Brown vinyl/leatherette fitted field case with flap pocket
Details
Close inspection,
recorded in photographs.
Detail № 01 · National Solid State Portable Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorder — photograph 1
Detail № 02 · National Solid State Portable Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorder — photograph 2
Heritage
A traceable life,
carefully recorded.
Provenance documentation was not supplied for this specific National Solid State Portable Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorder; this listing is based on the supplied photographs only.
Field Audio
Portable Voice Capture
As seen sitting inside its custom field case in photo 1, portable reel recorders like this allowed journalists, students, and hobbyists to record voice and ambient audio outside traditional studio environments.
Mid-Century Design
Transistorized Precision
Visible in photos 2 and 3, the clean horizontal grilles, chrome-plated rotary selector, and embossed 'Solid State' reel window encapsulate the late-1960s Japanese industrial design aesthetic for portable audio.
Timeline
An object in time,
one continuous story.
1918
Matsushita Founded
Konosuke Matsushita establishes Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works in Osaka.
1927
National Brand Introduced
Matsushita adopts the 'National' trademark for consumer goods and electrical appliances.
1960s
Solid-State Transition
Japanese manufacturers replace vacuum tubes with transistors, enabling truly portable battery-operated recorders.
1970s
Rise of Compact Cassette
Small reel-to-reel voice recorders are gradually superseded by the standard compact cassette format.
Condition
Honest wear,
documented clearly.
The unit exhibits minor surface dust and handling wear across the gray plastic housing and control surfaces. The smoked plastic tape compartment cover shows fine surface scuffs and hazing. The fitted brown case shows significant age-related wear, including flaking, edge fraying, and split piping around the pocket and corners.
✓
InspectedMain Enclosure
Gray molded plastic chassis is intact with no visible cracks, showing light cosmetic dust and handling marks.
✓
InspectedReel Dust Cover
Smoked acrylic lid retains the 'Solid State' relief emblem but displays surface scratches and faint haze.
✓
InspectedControls & Badging
National logo badge, metal transport control lever, and red record button are present and structurally sound.
✓
InspectedCarrying Bag
The brown exterior field case shows pronounced peeling, cracked edges, and wear along the trim and flap stitching.
Logistics
Inspected, insured,
door to door.
Step 01
Delivery
Inspected, photographed, and packed with its condition report.
Step 02
Shipping
Custom-fit protective packing with tracked, insured courier service.
Step 03
Returns
Return requests are accepted within fourteen days of confirmed delivery.
Step 04
Dispatch
Prepared for courier handoff within three to five business days.
Acquisition
Make it part of
your collection.
Contact the seller for more information or to discuss this object.
✓ Insured Shipping✓ 14-Day Returns✓ Condition Report✓ Reviewed Listing
National Solid State Portable Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorder