THE WATKINS / WEM COPICAT

c1961 Watkins Copicat

The most famous Tape-Echo Unit in Britain, and possibly in the World, the Copicat also happens to be the first repeat-echo machine manufactured as one compact unit. It was designed by Charlie Watkins in 1958, apparently after he heard a similar sound effect generated by two linked studio quality tape recorders for the Italian singer Marino Marini. Following its introduction, the tape-echo sound revolutionised pop music during the late 1950's and early 1960's, being behind the guitar sound of the top British bands including The Shadows. It also served a secondary purpose after being adopted for providing echo on vocals - the two volume controls acted as a rudimentary microphone mixer. These little machines sold by the thousand!!

What is perhaps most incredible about the Copicat is that it is still in production after 45 years! It changed from valves to solid state in the late 1960's, but the old tape loop is still there on the present day WEM Copicat. The path that the Copicat has taken since 1958 is illustrated by reference to its model variants listed below:

• c1958/59 WATKINS COPICAT (Mk I)
  The very early Copicats had a rotary selector switch for the playback heads instead of the push buttons. There is a picture of Charlie holding Serial No 0001, on his website Copicat Page.
  
  
• c1960 WATKINS COPICAT Mk II (TURQUOISE/CREAM)
  A record head, three replay heads with individual push-buttons, and a permanent magnet mounted on the tape tension arm to wipe the tape clean on every cycle. Echo signal record volume control (ECHO), plus the facility for returning the playback signal back to the record head (REPEAT), and two inputs with individual volume gain control. Oh....also a switch for turning the tape-loop motor on/off and a footswitch for killing the record head. All this powered by two ECC83's and one 6BR8 valves. Price: £38-10-00 in 1962.
  
  
• Early 1960's WATKINS COPICAT MANUFACTURED FOR GUILD, USA
  As well as manufacturing Copicats primarily for the UK market, Watkins also supplied Guild Guitars Inc in the USA. The "Guild" logo was prominently displayed, with "Watkins", on the machine's control panel, and an all-turquoise livery for the case was adopted instead of the usual turquoise/cream. 
  
  
• Mid 1960's WATKINS/WEM COPICAT (BLACK/CREAM)
  New black and cream case covering, plus a black control panel, presumably corresponding with the change of logo from Watkins to WEM.  Otherwise, things look very similar to the turquoise/cream unit above.
  
  
• Mid 1960's WATKINS COPICAT (ALL BLACK)
  The same as the one above, but with an all-black case covering. Also, no carrying handle was fitted to this example and the lid-clasps are fitted in an unusual way. All very strange......
  
  
• WEM CUSTOM COPICAT MODEL
  A new style case, with detachable lid. Still with its three valves inside !
  
  
• THE SHADOW ECHO
  A "budget" version of the old Copicat formula.
  
  
• WEM COPICAT "POWERCAT" MODEL
  Now with the WEM "Treble Clef" motif. Probably still valves but with solid state rectification ??
  
  
• WEM COPICAT Mk IV MODEL
  The first major change - the Copicat goes Solid-State in the late 1960's. It also now has a proper erase head instead of the permanent magnet. 
  
  
• WEM COMBINED COPICAT & POWER AMPLIFIER
  A Mk IV Copicat combined with a valve power amplifier unit. The first (and only) one we have ever seen !! Was this just a prototype ??
  
  
• WEM COPICAT Mk IV, WITH GUILD DISTRIBUTION LOGO.
  As mentioned above, WEM/Watkins supplied Guild in the USA with Copicat units. This example is a standard Mark 4 but with Guild logo. 
  
  
• WEM COPICAT "IC 300" MODEL
  Maybe a minor development from the Mk IV (?), with a four input mixing facility. The storage box to the side of the control panel has disappeared though.
  
  
• WEM COPICAT "IC SUPER" MODEL
  This Copicat seems to be basically the same as the IC 300 model above, but is equipped with "Sound-on-Sound".
  
  
• WEM HALLE CAT 
  A combined echo/reverberation/4-way mixer unit, that as well as being a 6-head tape echo unit, also incorporated a Hammond spring-activated reverberation unit. Each of the four inputs was controlled by individual volume, bass, treble, and echo strength controls. The unit was aimed at studios, as well as large bands.
  
  
• WEM COPICAT "VARISPEED" MODEL
  The second major change to the original Copicat formula - a variable speed for the tape transport motor. A much more modern appearance, with smart blue covering for the case and a rich gold control panel. Back to a two input mixer, but with an "echo only" facility for use mixer effects. Oh!.......and the storage box has reappeared again at the side of the control panel.
  
  
• WEM COPICAT "VARISPEED" IC 400 MODEL
  The black-faced Varispeed Copicat, fitted with a belt drive!
  
  
• WEM COPICAT "SUPER SHADOW" MODEL TYPE 1
  Same as the Varispeed, but with five playback heads instead of three.
  
  
• WEM COPICAT "SUPER SHADOW" MODEL TYPE 2
  The side storage box disappears again, and provision is now made for the output cable and footswitch by means of panel mounted jack sockets.
  
  
• PRESENT DAY WATKINS "SHADOW" MODEL
  A digital unit, but not one to be compared to all the rest of the digital delay units. This one is set up like an old-fashioned Copicat, with push-button controlled "heads" to provide all the famous multi-tap sounds.
  
  
• PRESENT DAY WATKINS "SUPER SHADOW" MODEL 
  As the previous "Super Shadow", but with controls mounted on the vertical front face of machine.
  

Thanks, Michael Zimmerling !

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