Various component pieces for the Ampex Reel-to-Reel 300-3 recorder: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A set of five component pieces for the Ampex Reel-to-Reel 300-3 recorder (2013.177.3a):

c) Round metal tape reel. Etched into reel near center is, [MADE IN U. S. A./Scotch].

d) Round metal tape reel. Etched into reel near center is, [REG. U.S. PAT. OFF./SCOTCH/BRAND/Magnetic Tape]. Etched in to opposite end of reel is [MADE IN U.S.A. BY MINNESOTA MINING AND/MANUFACTURING COMPANY ST. PAUL 6. MINN./PATENTED UNDER ONE OR MORE OF U.S. PATENTS NOS. 2654681, 2694656, 2711901.]. Hand etched near the center of the reel is [HANDS OFF]. Hand etched in to the edge of both sides of the reel is [Hey Bo Diddley 6.5].

e) Black round roller with several metal screws near center.

f, g) Two rectangular pieces of metal with small round magnets attached.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1950s
• Manufactured by: Ampex, American, 1944 - 2014
• Owned by: Bo Diddley, American, 1928 - 2008
• Type: audio equipment
• Medium: metal and plastic
• Dimensions: 2013.177.5c: 10 1/2 × 5/8 in. (26.7 × 1.6 cm)
• Dimensions: 2013.177.5d: 10 1/2 × 1/2 in. (26.7 × 1.3 cm)
• Dimensions: 2013.177.5e: 3 1/4 × 1 1/2 in. (8.3 × 3.8 cm)
• Dimensions: 2013.177.5f: 3 5/8 × 13 × 1/16 in. (9.2 × 33 × 0.2 cm)
• Dimensions: 2013.177.5g: 3 5/8 × 13 × 1/16 in. (9.2 × 33 × 0.2 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Blues (Music)
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Men
• Topic: Musicians
• Topic: Rhythm and blues (Music)
• Topic: Rock and roll (Music)
• Object number: 2013.177.5c-g
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.