EMT 140 No. 569 Reverberation Plate
Manufacturer
Wilhelm Franz
ManufacturerManufactured by
Elektro-Mess-Technik
Date1959
Object NameReverberator
Mediumwood, metal (steel, aluminium), compressed glass fibre
ClassificationsScience And Technology
AcquisitionPresented in 1991.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS022156
About MeEMT 140 Reverberation plate with amplifier and instruction manual. The reverberation plate consists of a steel plate set within an aluminium frame. A second plate (consisting of white plastic rectangles) is set within a frame and can be swung closer or further away from the steel plate. The whole instrument is housed within a wooden crate which stands on its long narrow edge.
On the upper surface of the crate is a small protrusion (missing a handle?) which moves the interior plastic plate. This is set within a metal plaque reading "EMT [arrow logo] / NACHHALLZEIT REVERBERATION" with a dial from 1 to 4 marked "f = 500 HZ (CPS)".
On one of the ends is a larger aperture for electrical wiring to enter and nearby a maker's plate reading "NACH ERZEUGUNGSGERÄT / EMT 140 NO. 569 ELEKTROMESSTECHNIK / WILH. FRANZ K.G. LAHR".
This piece of equipment was used at BBC Beechgrove in Aberdeen to produce reverberation (sometime called echo) in broadcast sound. Originally an echo room was used but the EMT 140 took up much less space and produced a superior sound more readily controlled. Although it was eventually replaced around 1990 by solid state equipment (which was more compact and more versatile), in its day the EMT 140 reverberation plate was state of the art.
