Twin Peaks Prop – Pete Martell’s Cassette Tape Recorder By Lloyd’s

I love a good challenge, especially when it comes to identifying props. I received a note via the “Contact Us” section from a fellow Bookhouse Boy named Robert. He asked about the tape recorder that Pete Martell uses in episode 2.008 when taunting Ben Horne who is locked away in the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department jail. It didn’t take me long to identify the prop after noticing part of the manufacturer’s name.

IDENTIFYING PETE MARTELL’S CASSETTE TAPE RECORDER BY LLOYD’S

To identify this particular prop, I turned to The Entire Mystery release on Blu-ray. I continue to find surprises from the set released more than 6 1/2 years ago. Once Pete takes the recorder out of his tackle box, he holds the machine up to the jail cell bars. The bars partially obscure the manufacturer’s label but I rotated the photo and could see “OYD’S.”

At first, I thought it was “BOYD’S” but internet searches lead to dead ends. I took a guess that the company’s name was “LLOYD’S” and turned to eBay for a quick search. Bingo! Found it.

I couldn’t find much information about Lloyd’s Electronics International except they appears to have been based in Chicago, Illinois. They manufactured this kind of equipment from possibly the mid-to-late 1960s through the mid-1970s. One user remarked on a discussion board:

“I remember Lloyds equipment. Lloyds, Julliette, Symphonic and others imported low end consumer equipment from Japan. Most of it was sold in dime stores (Woolworths, Kresge, etc) department store chains (Jeffersons, K-mart) and corner drug stores (Walgreens, Eckerds). These brands were not typically found in HiFi stores.”

These products may have been manufactured in Japan or Korea (as in the case of the recorder I found).

There were a few different models with and without a microphone attachment. The model I believe Pete uses is 1V92A – 198. There appears to be a possibly older model (114) which is from mid-1969 so this could have been release after it (maybe 1970s). Pete doesn’t use the carrying case in the episode and it seems the silver strap attachment has been removed.

The cassette recorder could also be the 1V92A-114B model. It looks completely similar to the 1V92A – 198.

Fellow author Jason McMahan pointed this version out. It’s definitely not the 1V92A-114A model which has a battery monitor next to a black label.

The challenge with identifying some of these props is they may only appear once on screen or we don’t get a good enough look at all the details. Either way, I feel confident that if you were seeking a replica, the 1V92A-198 or the 1V92-114A models would work.

EXPLORING THE SCENE IN TWIN PEAKS

This episode was penned by Scott Frost between September 12-26, 1990. There were several revisions made throughout the month

• September 14 – Blue Pages
• September 20 – Pink Pages
• September 26 – Green Pages

This particular scene was part of the pink page revisions (unsure what specifically was changed).

INT. JAIL – DAY
The door to the cell area is opened, PETE MARTELL peeks his head in and looks around, clearly not comfortable in a place so devoid of wood. He cautiously steps inside. Ben’s been watching. 

BEN
Step right in Pete. We desperate criminal’s are all safely locked in our cages.

Pete walks over, tests the door to the cell, makes sure it’s locked. 

PETE
I have a message for you.

BEN
Ah, greetings From the boys down at the mill?

Pete grunts his disapproval, then takes a small cassette player out of a pocket in his jacket. This sparks Ben’s interest, though he won’t show it. 

In the episode, Pete takes the shoebox-style cassette tape recorder out of his tackle box.

BEN HORNE’S SURPRISE

The script continues which matches the on-screen action.

BEN (CONTINUED)
But first, a little music … 

He starts to turn away, Pete turns on the tape. 

CATHERINE’S VOICE (TAPE)
Hello, Benjamin …

Ben freezes, then swings around, too stunned to speak. 

CATHERINE (TAPE)
Cat got your tongue? 

The action continues as Ben listen’s to Catherine’s pre-recorded message.

Have you noticed that Ben has his monogram – BJH (Benjamin Joseph Horne) – stitch on his shirt sleeve. Love that kind of detail!

PETE MARTELL’S DELIGHT

The scene pretty much plays out like the scripted version. We see different views of the cassette tape recorder as Catherine’s message continues to play.

Pete’s laugh is everything in this scene!

I also love that Pete hugs and kisses the recorder as if it was Catherine.

While Ben realizes what just transpired, Pete leaves the jail cell.

PETE
She’s a caution, isn’t she? 

BEN HORNE’S RAGE IN JAIL

Needless to say, Ben is enraged by Catherine’s message. He destroys his cell, removing the mattress and turning over his bunk beds.

Only the pillow being destroyed is mentioned in the script:

Pete leaves. We move in on Ben, a slow burn. He turns around, grabs a pillow from the bed, wildly attacks the bars with it. 

BEN
(out of control, a frightening violent rage)
No!… no …. no … no … no … no … nooooo! 

We pull back, feathers floating everywhere. Ben stands in the middle of it. Lost for the first time in his life. 

OFFICER JEFF MOORE

A Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department deputy cautiously opens the door to survey the mayhem.

As the officer steps into the room, the light picks up his name bade – Jeff Moore. Wait a second!

Jeffrey Moore served as Property Master for Season 2. The uncredited onscreen officer is NOT Jeff Moore.

Charles Sheeham (credited as “Charles Sheehan”) also wears a “Jeff Moore” name tag in episode 2.019. This is the scene when Agent Dale Cooper and John Justice Wheeler share a drink by the fireplace. Jeff added his name to various other scenes including when Donna Hayward receives a postcard from James Hurley in episode 2.018

This scene concludes with Ben Horne gathering his composure while sitting on the jail’s toilet seat, angrily muttering to himself – “She set me up.”