Uher's range of portable audio recorders were for perhaps over 30 years, the reliable 'work horses' of the professional radio interviewer. German made and of 'sensible' and real world construction, these robust machines cost a fraction of an equivalent Nagra or Stellavox recorder.
While the film maker might need Pilot Tone synchronization, 48 Volt 'phantom' condenser microphone powering, or even time code, the hack radio reporter just needed a good quality, strong, simple and reliable tape machine with a basic dynamic microphone input. And while there were a few alternatives to these machines from the likes of Tanberg, Ficord or even Grundig, the Uher Report series became the de facto portable tape recorder standard for radio reporting.
Actually these machines were not all that cheap, and cost perhaps the equivalent of a serious domestic 'Hi-Fi' tape-deck of the time. (The Nagras and Stallavoxes were many times this though.)
The previous owners of the above example of the stereo version have fitted a plastic collar around the master level control so that it could only be adjusted by means of a screwdriver - seems a sensible idea, so I kept it there.)
Actually this half track stereo recorder is a later version of the 'genre', and has improved metering and internal electrical switchery. It has four speeds, though for serious work only the highest (7.5 inches per second) speed should be used. The lower speeds become less and less useful, but speech recording at 3.75 I.P.S. would be perfectly OK for most broadcaster's use. While of comparatively elementary mechanical design, these machines can make surprisingly good recordings at 7.5, seemingly just as good as a Nagra or a Stellavox at this speed. They also record rather well at 3 and 3/4 inches per second, but speed stability and 'wow and flutter' (how arcane in these digital days) is nowhere near as good as with the Swiss exotics. Remarkably, one can set the bias up on these machines 'by ear' for indistinguishable record / replay results (yes I know this is cheating), which you cannot do as easily on the Swiss machines, for probably good reasons. As a reel to reel audio recorder the only, though fairly significant drawback, is a limited recording time of 20 minutes on the highest speed. Though for radio interviews that would be edited into sound bites anyway, this was not a problem.
Over the years Uher made a whole range of semi-professional tape equipment, audio and even Hi-Fi equipment, much of which for domestic consumption only though. They even made a couple of versions of a high quality (if there ever was such a thing in the context of serious audio) portable Compact Cassette recorder. But while Uher are still involved with dictation equipment, they will probably be remembered in the history books for these robust and reliable portable reel to reel
This is one of the last 'brown' versions, of the Uher Report series, and came from 'brand new' surplus BBC stock.*
These last machines, like so many 'improved' things, don't actually 'feel' as good as their earlier brothers. While the heads are at last slightly more accessible, the piano keys are now made of chrome plated plastic and not the die cast metal of yore. Though one might argue that these, together with the all plastic transport cover might of been part of needed weight saving programe.
The above machine is the mono 4000 Report Monitor, and has the space for a right hand VU meter filled with a large record level control. The 'Monitor' series of recorders were fitted with 3 heads for 'before and after' monitoring.
Apparently the BBC didn't want their reporters coming back with tapes recorded at any speed other than 7.5 IPS (for ease of editing), so they just had removed the 4 speed rotary switch and covered the hole with a bit of plastic...
* Bought from the BBC, and I have the receipt!