THE PRESTO HISTORY PAGE
THE LARGE SYSTEMS


     
Presto Model-A, discontinued in early 1941.           Presto Model-B, disconinued in early 1941.
Consists of 2 8D recorders.  1941 price $2354.       Consists of 2 6D recorders. Price $1535.

     
Model-A from 1941 through '60's.  Called the      The Model F - from 1941 through '60's. Consists
28N table, it consisted of two 8N lathes.  The       of two 75 cutters and 87 amp.  Pre-war price
pre-war price was $2589.  The 1950 price           was $1250.  In 1950 the price was $1554.
was $3535.

The model C - the "original" PRESTO recorder.  Discontinued in early 1941.  Consisted of two
6D turntable recorders, and  85 amplifier.  The 6D was then replaced by the 6N, and then
dropped from the line.  1941 price was $1219.
 


The Presto Model Y.  It consisted of 87A amplifier and a 75A turntable.  This unit was one of the
earlier models in the line, and also remained through the history of the company.  It sold for $670
pre 1941, and for $737 post war.  The 87A amplifier was also available separate, and also as the
87B.  The 87A had input for HiZ mikes, the 87B had transformers for lo Z mikes.  the 87A was
priced at $314, the 87B at $352.

THE STATIONARY LATHES

         
The first "stationary" lathe by PRESTO circa          The Model 14-B lathe.  Introduced about 1950
1935 or 1936.                                                       and sold to selected studios.  This had a 4
                                                                              position gear box and two belt positions, capable
                                                                              of 10 pitches in either direction.

       
Model 8D and 8G.  Introduced in 1947.  The 8D         The Model 8GV- a gear driven turntable,
is a rim driven model and can sit on a counter top.         vacuum hold down, hot stylus, and
The 8G model is mounted in a cabinet which                 continuously variable lines per inch.
contains two direct gear driven motors.  Later               Introduced about 1958, this is the last
models contained 3 motors for 78, 33, & 45 rpm.         model of this type built by PRESTO.  There
The belt behind the door could be re-arranged to          was a stereo head offered with this unit,
give 6 different lines per inch.  1950 prices for the         licensed to BOGEN-PRESTO by Westrex,
8D was $1992, and the 8DG was $2644.                    and modified to fit on the carriage.  This may
                                                                                    have been more of a prototype, as very few
                                                                                    were made.  Prices are unknown.



Model 8C.  This is a unique lathe.  It has the under turntable pully tree like the 8D or 8DG Lathe, but is mounted
on a 8N turntable chassis.  The belt under the turntable can be changed to provide 6 different
groove pitches.  This might have been an interim lathe before the release of the 8D or 8DG models.  Price and
dates are unknown.

THE PRESTO 8 SERIES RECORDERS

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On the left is the 8-D recorder, circa 1939 to 1941, and its successor, the 8-N, which remained in the
line virtually unchanged until the '60's.  This was one of the "workhorses" of the PRESTO line, along
with the 6D and 6N series.  The 8N had a superior overhead lathe system to the 6N.  This unit was
very popular with recording studios and professional users.  It used a heavy turntable along with a
steel base.  It was built with so much "over kill", that many are in use today.  The 8D had a price of
$1040, and the 1941 price of the 8N was $1144.  In 1950 the 8N was priced at $1552, chassis only.

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