The missing Link, Lesher

I loved, Analog Tape Recorders, since I was a little child. I was born in 1955 in Detroit, Michigan. Daddy was a violinist. My grandfather was a singer. They both had early tape recorders. And daddy would record me in my, younger brother. When we were toddlers. I was Mesmerized, by the tape recorder.

Then when I was 7 years old. My daddy, started taking me to the, Radio Stations & TV Stations and these, 2 Recording Studios. United Sound Systems Studios, then owned by the Syracuse Family. And this other, Studio. That wasn't quite as nice as them called, Motown Studios. Back in 1963. And I said to myself that 7 years of age. This is what I'm going to do for My Career, when I grow up! As I had just made my Carreer Decision at 7 years of age. At United Sound Systems Studios. Foreign Eddie Floyd, String, overdub session my father played in. And, Knock On Wood! I made a Great Decision, for myself. And I had no idea what I was in for?

I do know this much. While thesee Studios, used analog tape recorders. At USSS they had, Ampex, recorders. The model 351-1 and 351-2's. They had acquired the brand-new, AG- 440 A-8 Track, Transistorized multitrack recorder.

But over at Motown Studios. They had a different Analog Recorder. They had 4 Track, 1/2 inch, Lesher Recorders. And at 15 years of age. I acquired a used, virtually brand spanking new, 2 Track Stereo, Lesher Recorder. From John Matthews who was then a, Bass Musician with the, Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Along with my father Eugene Altschuler on violin.

This Lesher Recorder. Was very similar to an Ampex, 351-2. Except that the Miicrophone Inputs. Had, No Microphone Input Transformers. It was eight 1/4 inch, unbalanced, microphone input. You had to plug in an outboard, microphone input transformer. To the 1/4 inch sockets in the front faceplate.. I would say it was awkward at best? Nevertheless? It was a beautiful sounding Recorder. Using similar, small glass envelope, dual triode tubes. Series, 12 AX, 12 AT, 12 AU, vacuum tubes. Very much like the Ampex 351-2.

Lesher recorders were built, in Michigan. By Prof. Lesher of the University of Michigan. My knowledge of his background was that of a Mathematician. That I believe also taught, Electrical Engineering? And he got together with a couple of his Prof. Buddies. To build his Lesher Recorders. And supplied his 4 track machines to Motown Studios. For all of their early recordings. Before they acquired the same Ampex AG-440A-8. That USSS had acquired first. USSS was actually a much bigger studio complex than Motown at the time.


I still have that 2 track Lesher recorder, left of my collection. All of my Ampex, Scully and 3M recorders are gone.

I am now 70 years old. As of 2026. I've had that Lesher recorder since I was 15 years old. It was the First Professional Recorder I would purchase. And got it from our friend of the family. As John Matthews was something of an, Audiophile. Before audiophiles were a thing. And he always loved to show it off in his living room. And he really never ever used it. Which even as a child. I thought that was a bit strange? He certainly loved to show it off. But he never really recorded anything with it? You can tell the heads were never worn! They weren't even really broken in? It takes a couple of hundred hours to actually do the final polishing. To the face of the recorders heads. High frequency response is, not great. On brand-new heads. Until the extremely fine grit of the tape. Provides the finishing polish. When the high frequencies will become more solid. And less anemic. Just so you know?

As about 8 years later when I was 23 years of age. Through a strange series happenstance. I ended up being, the last Quality Control Manager and Final Test Engineer and Genius Troubleshooter. For, Scully Studio Recorders. When they were acquired from Dictaphone Corporation of Los Angeles by AMPRO broadcast products of Philadelphia. I never expected anything like that in my career? It just happens.

And so, Lesher was a little-known, Professional Studio Recorder Manufacturer. For only a few years. But that was the early Motowwn Sound. From those 4 Track, Lesher Recorders.

I currently do not have any pictures of that recorder of mine. As I have it in storage approximately, 1500 miles away from me right now. In Central Taxes. While I have recently relocated to, Southwestern Nevada, 75 miles northwest of Las Vegas. And I have not yet transported. An entire storage unit of 8' x 24'. That's still waiting for me to transport it to Nevada. I'm in no current hurry right now. Since I have recently fully retired from the Industry. After more than 55 years. And I'm pooped out and my health is failing. As I have discovered recently. One does not Heal. From Old Age. I mean who knew? It doesn't matter if you get more sleep, more exercise eat healthier? You're still going to die! But I'm a Baby Boomer? I thought we were supposed to live forever? But when Jerry Garcia died? I knew something was wrong? I guess I'm waiting for my turn?

Remy Ann David
7703-532-REEL and that is 7335. Which was my Custom Business Landline. You would call. Back in the early 1980s. When you needed some Serious, Analog Tape Recorder Servicing. No purported to my, Personal Cellular. Since that is the phone number everybody has known me at since 1981. And I Served the Midatlantic Region. With my home base in Washington DC, Northern Virginia suburbs and Maryland, suburbs. Call me if you like? We could talk some more shop for sure. As I also have an interesting story. About the MCI, JH-32 Track, 3 inch wide tape recorder. That was never Officially Released nor Sold. They had a technical issue with that they could not solve? And I Solved, the technical issue they were having for them. Because their electrical engineers were not all that. LOL. It was a silly fix they had no knowledge of? And I almost purchased their Prototype Machine. But then they decided not to sell it to me. Once they asked me? What are you going to do with a 3 inch tape transport? When nobody is making any 3 inch tape for it? Give me a call and find out what happened LOL.