Archive of tapes - Reel to Reel and Cassette.

[brenellic2000]

and finally, Track 4:

[Jim Davies]

Currently scanning a big box of cassettes before I try to find a new home for them.

Here's a Winfield Alpha Plus, That's MR-X90 Pro and a Philips UC II 60.

There are more of these on my Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/67330590@N04/

[stevenl]

Sony tape, not the best.

[trellis]

Originally Posted by Michael Maurice

I think these are the ones.

There were also a few other brands of cassette that used those "reel-to-reel-esque" spools like the TEAC-branded ones.

I remember getting some really cheap, nasty ones branded "Takeda" and also a couple of C-15 computer cassettes with the same style of reels, branded "Recoton". Pretty sure I would still have examples of both - I'll see if I can dig them out and post piccies.

[brenellic2000]

Early imports of Sony's excellent tape was branded 'Soni' - so a name can be misleading.

Barry

[Nickthedentist]

Here'e one I've not seen anywhere else: a C30 Type I cassette called The Professional Tape by Professional Magnetics Ltd. of Leeds.

This dates from 1984.

Our school had a little "bookshop" in a box room that was open in break times, and I was delighted when the elderly master who ran it announced in assembly one day that the shop had got hold of a large box of brand new cassettes and they would be sold at a mere 50p each - exactly my weekly pocket money! I bought the first one and can still remember that it fitted in my blazer pocket perfectly and the excitement of getting it home to try some recordings. The word "professional" appealed to a 11-year-old, conjuring up images of a recording studio, and Bodie and Doyle of course.

It performed rather well, and still does.


N.

[paulsherwin]

C30 suggests that this was not intended to be for retail sale. It may have been intended for language laboratory use (early language labs used R2R, but by the late 70s cassette based systems were becoming common).

[Nickthedentist]

That's interesting. The chap who was selling them (wrongly) assured me they were only suitable for computer use, which made me think that they had come to the school with some computer equipment or from a computer supplies company.

[ben]

Almost certainly for education (music lessons/instrument rehearsal recordings, or possibly short language speaking exercises) but at 15 minutes these would have been far too short for use as language lab booth tapes (remember these were always half track/full-width single direction recorders).

edit: just seen your update, Nick. Makes sense, data cassettes were usually about that length. I used to have loads with the ol' spectum.

[Nickthedentist]

The Tandberg lab that appeared in the school in '87 used Sony HF60 cassettes, half track as you say. C90s were destroyed by the warp-speed rewind, as were lesser C60s!

[Nickthedentist]

Amazingly, the company still seems to exist, or did until recently. "Incorporating World of Video Professional Tapes" no less! Sign claims to offer "duplication services".

Predictably enough, was a branch of Midland Bank until 1977 when "Professional Tape Marketing" took it over. Known as "Cassette House" at some point. Could do with a bit of sprucing up now

Web address (www.promags.co.uk) is dead.

[ben]

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

The Tandberg lab that appeared in the school in '87 used Sony HF60 cassettes, half track as you say. C90s were destroyed by the warp-speed rewind, as were lesser C60s!

like this, you mean?

Those 3 motor direct drive transports were pretty ruthless when they got going!

[Gulliver]

Originally Posted by Heatercathodeshort

Well hows about this reel folks. Its was made for the 'Sound Mirror' tape recorder and the label says: Manufactured by Thermionic products Ltd London. and strangely 'The British Development Co U.S.A.'
Oh and by the way..its PAPER tape and still plays some recorded music.

Apologies if this has been gone over already.

Are you sure it's not Brush Development Co USA? Thermionic and the Brush Development Co. had patent exchange agreements.

[brenellic2000]

Correct! There was a later plastic based T-P Soundmirror tape - quite rare - but I'm not sure of whose manufacture it was - does anyone have a sample and box?

Barry

[Gulliver]

Puretone reel to reel tape, 5 3/4 inch spool. I think I picked this up in a charity shop in the late 80's.

[emeritus]

Some cassettes that inherited at work that had been used to distribute recordings of lectures. They probably date from the mid-1970's as the lectures were dated 1975-1979. These are all of Hong Kong manufacture.

[emeritus]

Some more lecture casettes from the 1970's. The EMI C120 was not in its original box, so no inlay.

[Nickthedentist]

Thanks, Emeritus. I can remember "Kingsonic" ones like yours being sold in the local market (SW London) 5 for £1 in 1981-2. Absolutely fine for speech and the mechanism was reliable enough. They were vastly superior to "KayBee" which were £1 for 10 and which invariably jammed halfway through a side!

[ben]

That Acme in post 77 is a n early TDK rip off

[trellis]

Originally Posted by trellis

There were also a few other brands of cassette that used those "reel-to-reel-esque" spools like the TEAC-branded ones.

Here's a couple of the "Recoton" ones, plus a few different ones from the same box. Still haven't found any of the "Takeda" ones, but I know I have some, so they will turn up.