WEM Watkins Copicat Mk IV Solid-State Echo Unit

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In 1960, Charlie Watkins and his company WEM launched the first Copicat Echo Unit, one of the first repeat-echo machines manufactured as one compact unit. The tape-echo sound revolutionised pop music during the early 1960's, being behind the guitar sound of the British bands such as The Shadows. In 1961, the Copycat Mk II was released, initially in the colour turquoise / cream, from 1963 black / cream. Copicat Mk IV has been in production since 1969.

The Copicat is a compact (12-inch by 8-inch) valve-based tape echo unit with three replay heads and selector switch, and a feedback loop for a variable echo-repeat effect.