1992.290

Prototype cassette player for World Book Encyclopedia Talking Book

Prototype playback unit for World Book Talking Encyclopedia; woodgrain plastic chassis; raised rear speaker with black aluminum grill; track and item number controls on three dials in front, labels are hand applied; cassette deck on top with function buttons and knobs; APH logo in top right of deck; power cord.

H-6.375 W-9.5 D-12.875 inches

1979

American Printing House for the Blind

Louisville, KY

APH Collection

One of the largest single projects ever undertaken at APH was the production of a recorded edition of the World Book Encyclopedia. The package of 219 cassettes included a specially designed cassette player with an indexing capability, applying previous APH research on playback technology. The project began in October 1978. Three new studios were installed in 1979 to accommodate the recording process. Production of the indexing player began in January 1980. It first appeared in the 1981 APH catalog, packaged together with the recorded encyclopedia, for $1,176. Later the player was also sold separately, for $791. Yearbooks for the product were produced through 1984-85, the last year the product was sold.