Stylish Ampex Micro 24 Cassette Recorder

I love the look of this briefcase-styled tape recorder. It's oozing with good looks (can't you totally see Napoleon Solo or Commander Straker using this?), and it has a lot of features that I wish were still common on the recorders of today. It's got several different input and output jacks, compartment for hiding away the AC cord, tone control, a level meter and manual control of the recording level (damn you, auto gain control!).

There isn't a carry handle, rather there are lugs on the sides to attatch a strap - so this is clearly an on-the-go kind of recorder (especially if you're willing to flip for the 5 "D" cells to power the Micro 24).  Too bad that this particular unit is as dinged up as it is (though it still brings the jams in glorious mono!).  I guess that spy work takes its toll on secret and stylish gadgets.

I've said this before, but sometimes the most important time to inject style into a device is when it doesn't necessarily need it. Coming from a time that I remember all cassette recorders having the aesthetics of a shoebox, Ampex's Micro 24 is a breath of fresh air.