When was the first Tape recorders and walkie talkies?

[magicbeatledel]

Hi Everyone,
On the home page of yahoo today there is an interesting clip showing what seems to be a lady using a mobile phone on the 1928 film 'The Circus' by Charlie Chaplin. I have the DVD and checked it out thinking it was a computer hoax. However, surely enough it is on there, in the extra's Disc under 'The Hollywood Premier'. My guess is that it is an early Walkie Talkie or a tape recorder. Anyone know how long ago these things were invented? Was there such a thing as a hand held tape recorder back then? Other than that, maybe it was an ingenious idea for a mobile phone that was used as a joke for the film. They had normal phones back then, maybe someone thought 'whoudnt it be a good idea if?...', and mocked up a toy for the film.

[ChuckFickens]

Tape The earliest tape recorders were around about that time, but I think it's pretty safe to say you wouldn't be holding one to your ear.

http://en.wikipedia.o...B5%D1%80%D1%85%29.jpg

[magicbeatledel]

What about Walkie Talkies?

[ChuckFickens]

oh and a bit early for a walkie talkie, but again early ones would be a little large to hold to your ear,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scr300.png

[ABerrant]

http://en.wikipedia.o...lm)#Time_travelers.3F

[magicbeatledel]

Just realsed, It cant be a gag for the film as it is only footage of the Premier. Presumably, these are just normal people in the street going to the premier. The shape of what she's holding looks like an old 1980's mobile. It's puzzling? However, there must be a reasonable explanation. As much as i would love to believe it, Time travel to the past is probably impossible and is a far-fetched explanation.

[ChuckFickens]

this is a possibility

http://medcat.wustl.e...111922:ig1:3:did:2441

[magicbeatledel]

Ah!, Thanks Chuckfickens. That looks like it could be it. Best explanation to me so far anyway.

[Khandro]

But Chuck; if it was too large to hold to your ear it couldn't really be a 'Walkie' - just a Talkie. Incidentally, did you know that in France they are called Talkie-Walkies.

[anotheoldgit]

I think the first commercial reel to reel portable tape recorder came on the market in the early 1950s.

My first introduction into recording my voice was around this time, I was in Blackpool and they had booths something like a telephone kiosks, in which one could enter, put a coin in a slot and record one's voice, just for playback.

After this experience I simply had to own a reel to reel recorder, it was a simple 2 track recorder, but it seemed magic, and everyone wanted to sing down the hand held mike.

Later I advanced to a four track, the rest is history, they say.