The AM44 Disk Mastering Lathe Project

The AM44 is a Neumann-based lathe, built on original Neumann castings, manufactured around 1944, during the second world war.

The project was founded by Flo Kaufmann, in Switzerland, when he managed to find a pile of these rare beds in the unexplored depth of a warehouse. The plan is to build them up into fully functional disk mastering systems, using newly designed and manufactured parts.

In 2016, Sabine and J. I. Agnew acquired one of these beds, built up and further developed it, into an exceptional quality disk mastering system, which was put to professional service at Magnetic Fidelity.

You can read about how the first functional prototype of the AM44 came to be on the Lathe Projects section of the Agnew Analog website, while enjoying plenty of detailed pictures of the process!

Agnew Analog Reference Instruments is now offering a prototype AM44 system from our ongoing research and development work, for sale. Details can be found in the dedicated AM44 prototype product page. Please let us know if you would be interested.

Please note that the AM44 project is still in development and not in production. When this prototype goes, it might be a long time before another one becomes available. More updates to follow in due course!