Berlant Concertone
Emmanuel "Bert" Berlant
1911 - 1985
US Patents
1945 AUTOMATIC REFLEX CAMERA WITH DIAPHRAGM ADJUSTMENT AND FLASH SYNCHRONIZER MEANS
1948 MAGNETIC TRANSDUCER HEAD
1949 DESIGN FOR DICTATING MACHINE
1962 TRANSPORT MECHANISM
1979 LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM
1983 360 DEGREE RADIAL REFLEX ORTHOSPECTRAL HORN
USA based hi-fi and audio company run by Bert Berlant, originally the trade name was Berlant, later Berlant-Concertone and finally just Concertone, primarily known for their open reel recorders. The early designs were by Berlant himself and manufactured in the USA. However later recorders from this company were rebadged TEAC products. The company fizzled out in late 60's early 70's. Not to be confused with the French amplifier manufacturer named Concertone active in a similar/slightly later time frame.
Despite the many horrors of World War II it brought forth many technological breakthroughs and pressed our countries greatest minds to contribute in their respective fields. Bert Berlant was a Signal Corps engineer with an open mind and the ability to implement non-conventional approaches to engineering problems. He developed a 70 mm combat camera for battlefield reconnaissance photography, a Robotron camera for the U.S. Medical Corps, and was a key contributor to many other important war time developments.
When the war ended, like so many other US engineers, Berlant was uniquely educated to contribute to 
consumer/professional technology industries. He started Berlant Associates Inc. in 1946 and began producing hi-fidelity and professional grade audio equipment. His components were of the highest quality and extremely innovative. Berlant particularly excelled in the field of magnetic tape recorders; today he is viewed as a leading pioneer of this format, helping to mature it into the professional standard.
Two different product lines were produced by Berlant, the Concertone series for high-fidelity home music systems and the Berlant professional series, components for recording studios and radio stations. These tape decks are of outstanding design and build quality, rivaling the finest decks of the era from Ampex. Emmanuel Berlant left Berlant and Associates in 1956 to become president of Stephens Trusonic, Inc.
Emmanuel "Bert" Berlant 1911 - 1985 (above right Bert Berlant; with a Stephens Tru-Sonic wireless mike - 27 November 1956)
Emmanuel (Bert) Berlant died 1985 April 22, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, CA, after a long illness. A fellow of the AES and a member of the Hollywood Sapphire group, Bert enjoyed a long and successful career as an electronic engineer, consultant and manufacturer. He became associated with the New York experimental theater group during the mid 1930s and was involved primarily with set design and lighting. His efforts to improve sound and lighting led to intensive study in electronics and research in the field of optics.
During the early war years (1941 - 1943) Bert became the director of research for Optical Research, Inc. of Long Island, New York. One no- table product developed under his direct supervision was a 70 mm combat camera for Signal Corps battlefield reconnaissance photography. In 1943 Mr. Berlant went to
the U.S. Signal Corps Photo Center in Astoria, New York, where he was retained as an expert consultant to the Signal Corps Pictorial Engineering Research Laboratories. He remained there as supervisor of the laboratories until the end of the war in 1945. During that time he designed and patented the Robotron camera, subsequently designated the approved, general purpose camera of the U. S. Medical Corps. After moving to Los Angeles in 1946 he and several former associates of the Signal Corps Center founded Berlant Associates, Inc., which designed, manufactured, and distributed high-fidelity home music systems.
From 1949-1953 the company introduced several new multitrack stereophonic , magnetic tape recorders. Two different series were presented-the Berlant Concertone series for high-fidelity home music systems and the Berlant professional recorders for recording studios and radio stations. Bert won a reputation as a pioneer in the manufacture of stereophonic and high-fidelity music equipment.
During this period the industry was changing from radio vacuum tubes to solid state (transistor) operation. Bert's companies were one of the first manufacturers to convert to total solid state equipment. It was during that time that Bert became a fellow of the Audio Engineering Society for his contribution to the art of magnetic recording. Active in trade associations, Berlant helped found the Institute of High Fidelity Manufacturers and served for four years as the West Coast Electronic Manufacturing Association representative on the board of directors of' the National Trade Show. 
In 1956 Bert left Berlant Associates and became president of Stephens Trusonic, Inc., a manufacturer of professional microphones and theater loudspeaker systems. He redesigned the entire loudspeaker line and introduced it to the high-fidelity home music market. In 1960 he became an independent 
engineering and product management consultant for various electronic firms. In 1963 Packard Bell Electronics, Inc. enticed Bert to join them with an unusual working arrangement. During the next few years he served in the following capacities: product manager, senior research scientist, corporate planning, assistant to the president, and as director of operations for Teledyne Commercial Products. Inc.
An ardent student and collector of southwest American lndian art, Bert was president of Amerind Art' Inc" in quality American since 1972. In the Indian art last few years he designed a radically new loudspeaker with improved acoustical ambiance. This loudspeaker designed for digital use was appropriately named the "Omnient" for its design shortly before his death. Berlant will always be remembered by his close friends and associates as a dedicated, innovative engineer with an open mind, trying nonconventional approaches to engineering problems. He is survived by his wife Gertrude and two sons, Tony and Jeffrey.
J. Audio Eng. Soc., Vol. 33, No. 718, 1985 .luly/August
September 9, 2021
The following information was shared with us by Alan Fishel who worked for Concertone beginning in 1962.
Here is a little information from my memory that I hope you will be able to use. Feel free to ask for any additional information I may be able to help you with.
I joined Concertone in late 1962. The second-generation 505 with the stainless steel faceplate with the larger VU meters, or as Al Solfe Concertone's chief engineer would call all audio level meters without AES ballistics as "wigglers". The earlier 505's had a tan faceplate with smaller meters.
The 20's and 20-'20s had ceased production before my arrival, but lots of partially built assemblies remained for service. The American-made series 60 production was winding down.
Everything was Teac production with the addition of the Telefunken 12AX7 front end tubes and case. All QC functions were performed in Culver City. There were 6
assembly stations with a sound proof final inspection station.
Concertone was still manufacturing their own heads including winding and matching the coils for the series 60 and replacement heads for the 20 and 30 series. They also had an AC-DC 5" reel recorder with an AM radio in the 400 series from Dokorder.
Concertone also had a step up to the 505 models, the 607 with a separate recorder-playback electronics. Their top-of-the-line series 90, a quality 7.5 - 15, 10.5" reel professional recorder for radio stations and recording studios to compete with the Ampex 350. (TEAC 325)
I do remember seeing Arne Berg finalize the 505 "Reverse-O-Matic and its introduction. Arne was a real gentleman and a great guy to work with. There was also the
Concertone 605 which was a great prosumer recorder with a removable tape head assembly, (easy too change from 2 track to 4 track) full remote control, and the new front shielded heads developed by Al Solfe. This recorder had full pro specs and was a quality recorder. It was later sold under the Concord brand and TEAC as the R2000.
The 800 was a great machine that did just about everything but it was a consumer and not a semi-professional recorder as the TEAC models were.
Concord and Concertone were not related. Howard Ladd left Concertone to start Concord and later went on to Start and manage Sanyo Corp of America.
Al Solfe before making trips to Japan would have a meeting and ask the sales people, service and QC technicians what needed improvement on our models. Concertone had 2 buildings at 9449 West Jefferson in Culver City. One was for consumer and imported products and the other was for engineering and development of new products and testing and development of military, multi-channel and new arrow space products. They had a screen room and a full white room.
As I recall Concertone closed their import Culver City building and moved all consumer operations to South El Monte around 1965.
I was a QC and service technician from around 1962 to 1965 .The service department assembled several Concertone (American Electronics) series 30 recorder from parts from partially assembled parts from earlier production and was able to sell new series 30 recorders as late as 1965.
I also personally have a lot of Concertone parts like motors heads solenoids etc. I also have a green series 20 deck in a portable gray case, a complete series 90 in a wood portable case, the special legs to mount decks to so that they can be serviced from all sides. I have literature, manuals, and support items for most Concertone models. I even have a couple of photos of me at work at my QC station in 1963.
Can my experience help you with anything. I also worked at Sony SuperScope. I am a collector by heart so I have several Sony models and the first generation Phillips cassette recorders with the microphone cable as part of the carrying strap. I also have Roberts Akai recorders and more.
I am almost 80 and it is time to find a home for all of my tapes and tape recorders. I would like to find a home in the Southern California area, but if Texas is the best home I am willing to say good bye. I am sure additional items will come to mind along with all of the people that I worked with as time goes on.
Alan
I learned from Concertone engineer Alan Fshel that the Concertone 800 reel tape recorder was actually built by Denki Onkyo Co.LTD of Tokyo, Japan. Their machines were branded Dokorder
Concertone 801 on far left and Dokorder rebranded unit and original box on right. Photos courtesy of "technextdoor"
April, 2012
Phantom Productions received this information from Jerry Norton who worked with American Astro-Systems as they transitioned from Concertone tape recorders to supplying high tech gear to the military.
"You asked about my thoughts on the Berlant/Concertone evolution. Here is the story according to my recollection and personal involvement.
In 1962 Berlant sold the Concertone line and rights to the name to “American Astro-Systems” a small Aerospace firm in South El Monte, CA.
It was in this time frame, 1963 that I recall American Concertone licensed the rights to manufacture the Model 505 to TEAC (Tokyo Electro Acoustic Company) who as we know continued to manufacture this baseline through 1970.
TEAC (see motor label left in the Concertone 93 built in 1962) produced the 505 and some of the early Concertone recorder subassembly components in Japan as well as DOKORDER.
However, the final assembly and checkout took place in the US (Culver City and South El Monte, CA).
Berlant left the company in 1963.
After the acquisition, the Concertone management team (Arne L. Berg / Kenneth M. Williamson) and and technical personnel (Deiter Brandt and Richard Schullenberg) were relocated from Culver City, CA to South El Monte, CA where Arne and Kenneth continued to pursue the development of an automatic tape reversing mechanis
m to permit bi-directional playback on an existing four track tape recorder having an asymmetrical capstan drive system .
This tape drive technology evolved into the American Concertone 800 Series “Reverse-O-Matic” High-Fidelity consumer product line and it’s little brother the AC or battery powered Model 727.
The parent company (American Astro-Systems) ultimately changed its focus in 1964 to militarized avionics and high environmental multi-channel recording products and became “Astro-Science Corporation.” Astro-Science (then owned by Tracor Inc.) was later sold to “Bell & Howell” in the 70’s and became part of the DATATAPE division.
The recording systems produced became very specialized and primarily used in Airborne, Space and Shipboard applications.
I was a key part of the engineering / marketing team starting at American Astro-Systems that evolved the Hi-Fi magnetic tape recording technology into the Military and Government program markets with the help of some early Co-axial reel tape drive mechanism developments (see attachment).
In fact, the early airborne reconnaissance intelligence recording systems for the U2 and SR-71 aircraft during the “Cold War” were built by the Concertone/Astro-Science Corporation Engineering team.
The Concertone product line ceased production around late 1966 (Arne Berg and Kenneth Williamson departed) and the name was sold to Monarch Electronics International Inc. of North Hollywood, CA (and Japan) in 1968– where it resides today.
Strangely, the 4 and 8 track tape players produced in 1969 by Monarch were marketed under the “Cal-Best Electronics” moniker.
The Concertone name plate was never used on another audio tape recording product again and 1987 saw the end of consumer recorder production as we all knew it.
I have traced a history time line of the Berlant legacy going back to 1951 when the Model 1401 was marketed under the “Berlant Associates” name.
Hope this information is of help to you.
Regards,
Jerry
Teac Berlant Concertone connection
More: In the February, 1982 issue of Modern Recording and Music magazine, James Rayton with the Ascot Recording Studio in Hollywood, CA wrote:
"probably around the early '60s, the (Berlant/Concertone) assembly was moved to Japan, and around the same time, I believe, the company became known, paradoxically, as "American Concertone"; their product emphasis gradually moved into the mid-to-high-end consumer category, (and occasionally appeared under other trade names like 'Concord'). Whatever remains of the company today is perhaps better known as TEAC, who interestingly, continued making the old Concertone 90 at least through the late '60s, with only a change of nameplate (and probably solid-state electronics) and a different model number."
Also from on line comments (not verified) "Some history, Bert Berlant and his cronies founded Berlant/Concertone. Later on, Bert Berlant retired and the other partner continued the company. He elected to use Concertone electronics on the early machines but use Teac transports. Later on to the end of the company, American Concertone engineered various recorders. Berlant/Concertone decks to the early American Concertone decks with Teac transports, Semi Pro! Last American Concertones, Consumer decks".(tapeheads.net)
On line forum comments (not verified) "Most of the Berlant Concertone machines were mono. Berlant Concertone tape recorders were really semi-pro decks. Beloved of dilettantes in the day. The original ones were entirely made by Berlant in the USA. The middle period used Berlant electronics (USA made) and Teac transports made in Japan. The last of the Concertones were made in Japan by various vendors. Teac didn't officially import their decks here until 1967 (also ReVox's first year sold in the USA). All of these machines are difficult to obtain spare parts for. The early and middle period decks are usually decent performers.
Those were made by TEAC about the time Berlant sold out to TEAC and was renamed American Concertone (ironic name change). It was also sold as the TEAC 507/508. 507 is the stereo version and 508 the mono version. I have one each of the TEAC and Concertone versions". unknown source
Berlant Concertone in our collection
(above) Berlant Concertone L-69 Losser Pad
was donated to our Museum by
Jonathan Horne
One of Martin's interesting on-location jobs occurred August 4, 1969 at the Thunderbird Motel in Marfa, Texas. 
Two brothers Hector and Jesus Flores from Ojinaga, Mexico were hired by Pepper Brown to provide some tracks for the background of a movie Pepper was producing.
Martin set up a Concertone 800 in one of the motel rooms and miked the voices and guitars. The recording took place while the two players sat on the edge of the beds. As midnight neared, the players realized they needed to be back across the border by midnight.
One of Presidio County Commissioners was attending the session offered his car for Martin to drive them the 60 miles to the border crossing. It was a fast trip, however they didn't make it. The player s said " no problem, my uncle is the guard."
Additional tracks were recorded at Highland Sound's studio in Alpine on October 27, 1969.
Play Malagueña from these sessions.
Nat King Cole sings with Berlant Concertone "How High The Moon"
Berlant Concertone ads
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954 - Berlant Concertone catalog
1955
1956
1957
1959
1960
1961
1962
photos of Concertone 93 reel tape recorder and Concertone 93 1962 brochure pages reproduced with permission from Charles Moore
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
Berlant Concertone Photos from third parties
We appreciate all photos sent to our museum. We hope to successfully preserve the sound recording history. If we have not credited a photo, we do not know its origin if it was not taken by the contributor. Please let us know if a photo on our site belongs to you and is not credited. We will be happy to give you credit, or remove it if you so choose.
PLEASE NOTE: NONE OF THE ITEMS PICTURED ON OUR MUSEUM WEB SITE ARE FOR SALE!
This American Concertone LTV G176F (Ling Temco Vought) mil spec tape transport that came from a NASA auction years ago is actually part of radio surveillance spy system fromt he Vietnam era. 120v 60hz extremely high quality build. 2 channel, 1/4 inch tape, 7 or 10.5 inch reels.
The non-profit Museum was dissolved on December 31, 2017. Donations are NOT tax deductible and are now processed by Phantom Productions.
All donations to MOMSR go 100% to support restoration of vintage magnetic recording devices in the private collection and help fund the web site development and hosting.
