Grundig Mini-Memo Voice Recorder (1968 model)

Grundig Mini-Memo Voice Recorder (1968 model)

File:GrundigMiniMemo1968.jpg

Quincy’s Grundig Mini-Memo Voice Recorder, as seen in Go Fight City Hall… to the Death!

Overview

The Grundig Mini-Memo Voice Recorder (Model 1968) is a compact analog tape recorder featured prominently in early episodes of Quincy, M.E.. It serves as one of Dr. Quincy's personal field tools, used for dictating forensic notes and observations while away from the coroner's lab.

Appearance in Quincy

• First Seen: Go Fight City Hall… to the Death! (S1E1)
• Subsequent Uses: Sporadically used throughout Seasons 1 and 2

Description

The Grundig Mini-Memo is a **German-engineered** portable recorder known for its reliability and compact design. Featuring a simple push-button control mechanism and single-tape operation, it was ideal for field professionals in the 1960s and '70s. On-screen, it adds a layer of realism to Quincy’s investigative process and reinforces the show’s commitment to forensic authenticity.

Technical Specs

• **Manufacturer:** Grundig AG (West Germany)
• **Year Introduced:** 1968
• **Tape Type:** Mini Cassette
• **Power Source:** 2x AA batteries
• **Microphone:** Built-in
• **Output:** 3.5mm headphone jack
• **Weight:** ~250g
• **Color:** Matte black with silver trim

Quincy Usage Notes

• Used by Quincy to log field notes during active investigations.
• Often placed near the autopsy table when Quincy conducts preliminary dictation.
• Occasionally visible in his briefcase or coat pocket during city fieldwork.
• Emphasizes Quincy's independent, evidence-driven methodology.

Trivia

• Though largely replaced in later seasons by lab-based recording equipment, the Grundig Mini-Memo symbolizes Quincy’s mobile forensic work ethic.
• The real device was favored by journalists, private investigators, and executives during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• Its appearance helped sell the realism of the coroner’s work to the viewing public—long before the term “forensic pathology” became mainstream.

Related Episodes

• Go Fight City Hall… to the Death! (Pilot)
• Hit and Run at Danny’s (briefly seen in background)
• No Way to Treat a Body (used during a beach scene dictation)

External Resources

• Grundig Mini-Memo @ RadioMuseum.org
• Quincy’s Gear on QuincyExaminer.com

See Also

• Forensic Tools Archive
• Dr. R. Quincy
• Product Placement in Quincy, M.E.
• Quincy, M.E. (Season 1)