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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc.

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Old 3rd May 2022, 9:49 pm   #1
DMcMahon
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Default What type of spool is this?

This 7" spool partially loaded with 1/4" audio tape arrived with one of my R2R purchases.

The Cine/Trident hub is about twice the size of a normal audio tape spool hub and top and bottom plastic flanges are very flimsy/flexible.

I assume the spool must be some sort of film/cine spool.

David
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Old 3rd May 2022, 10:43 pm   #2
wd40addict
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Sounds like a Super 8 spool, the 'trident' is larger diameter, presumably Kodak did this to stop people trying to load Super 8 film into a Standard 8 projector.
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Old 3rd May 2022, 10:49 pm   #3
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Empty Super-8 spools often came with an adaptor for standard 8 / tape recorder hubs.

Boots universal 5" cine spools, supplied with Super-8 hubs and Standard 8 adaptors. These Standard 8 adaptors only have a single groove as that is all that is needed for a cine projector, and so would have to be modified to fit a tape recorder's three drive wings.
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Old 3rd May 2022, 10:51 pm   #4
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

I don't have one to compare but it looks like the modern reels holding paper tapes with small electronic components stuck onto the tapes. I see them in my local electronics parts store.
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Old 3rd May 2022, 11:06 pm   #5
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by emeritus View Post
Empty Super-8 spools often came with an adaptor for standard 8 / tape tecorder hubs.
Does that mean that Standard 8 hub is the same as tape recorder hub ?

David
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Old 3rd May 2022, 11:28 pm   #6
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

High quality "Premier" 7" spool specifically sold for use with Super- 8, Standard 8, and 1/4" tape, with three-wing adaptor. Its plastic can incorporates splicing blocks for 1/4" tape and both cine film types.

edit: yes, Standard 8 and 1/4" tape spools are in practice mechanically interchangeable. The main difference seems to be that spools for tape often have a radial slot on each side to facilitate attaching the leader to the hub, whereas cine film spools normally have continuous rims with no radial slots.
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Old 4th May 2022, 1:19 am   #7
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

I was looking at the centre hole with the three radial cutouts. On David's reel the cutouts seem larger than Super 8 and are squared. Super 8 are rounded.

The "flimsy/flexible" sides suggest temporary use rather than repeated play of a tape or film. The moulding marks and general finish look rather "industrial". Also the three larger radial slots, each seemingly of different width.

On the other hand not sure what the red, blue and green dot symbol signifies.

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Old 4th May 2022, 6:07 am   #8
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Maybe it's an RGB led tape spool
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Old 4th May 2022, 8:59 am   #9
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Auto-feed component strip reels do seem to be based on the Super-8 format. When I needed an empty Super-8 spool for transferring some home movies I spotted a reel of strip components in the Rapid Electronics bargain bin. It worked perfectly and was way cheaper than buying an empty spool from regular sources.
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Old 4th May 2022, 9:02 am   #10
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DMcMahon View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by emeritus View Post
Empty Super-8 spools often came with an adaptor for standard 8 / tape tecorder hubs.
Does that mean that Standard 8 hub is the same as tape recorder hub ?

David
Yes, that`s why tape machines with spool size switches often mark them NAB / cine.

Early EMI aluminium tape spools were made by Clydon, a film accessory company, a 7 inch 400 foot 8mm standard 8 film spool is exactly the same as a 7 inch 1200 foot (standard play) tape spool.

No super 8 film in the early fifties of course and as mentioned above the spool centre for super 8 was changed from 5/16 to 1/2 inches to avoid confusion and film damage.
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Old 4th May 2022, 9:56 am   #11
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by defender View Post
Maybe it's an RGB led tape spool
I'd agree. The RGB marking on the label suggests that.
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Old 4th May 2022, 10:02 am   #12
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Are the three colour ‘flashes’ on the edge of the spool a clue that this might be some sort of domestic format video tape rather than audio? Akai?
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Old 4th May 2022, 10:40 am   #13
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by emeritus View Post
Empty Super-8 spools often came with an adaptor for standard 8 / tape recorder hubs.

Boots universal 5" cine spools, supplied with Super-8 hubs and Standard 8 adaptors. These Standard 8 adaptors only have a single groove as that is all that is needed for a cine projector, and so would have to be modified to fit a tape recorder's three drive wings.
Have ordered an adaptor, hopefully will be able to get the tape to play or at least transfer it to a normal tape spool. Presently the tape is very loose on the spool.

David
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Old 4th May 2022, 10:41 am   #14
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by defender View Post
Maybe it's an RGB led tape spool
That's the sort of thing I was thinking of: New small electronic components stuck to a long paper tape, wound onto a plastic reel. I've seen photos of multiple reels in a rack with presumably a different component on each reel. The LED would just be one type of component.
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Old 4th May 2022, 11:10 am   #15
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...479b2d5cqcQB2g

"7 Inch Plastic Spool For 5050 SMD Led Carrier Tape Plastic Reel"

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Old 4th May 2022, 2:55 pm   #16
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

The image directly above is extremely similar with a couple of very minor differences.

The RGB colour flashes are part of a piece of tape that is stuck to the spool flange.

David
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Old 5th May 2022, 12:23 am   #17
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Definitely from a modern LED strip. I have seen them at my local electronics place. The plastic is extremely flimsy and the flanges are usually warped. Not usable for audio tape or even film I'd say.
I suspect in this case someone who knew no better thought it might do tom test a deck with or something.

I'd place it on a record deck turntable next to your tape machine and gently wind it onto a new spool.
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Old 5th May 2022, 1:16 pm   #18
DMcMahon
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

So what function does the Super 8 type hub provide for the LED strip spool ? is it used for instance to load the strip onto the spool ?

David
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Old 5th May 2022, 2:30 pm   #19
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DMcMahon View Post
So what function does the Super 8 type hub provide for the LED strip spool ? is it used for instance to load the strip onto the spool ?

David
Probably, yes. But the spool is almost certainly physically the same as those used for other components for use in pick and place machines. They wil need to be able to lightly brake the spools in order to stop the equivalent of a tape salad.
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Old 5th May 2022, 3:31 pm   #20
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Default Re: What type of spool is this?

Does the QC sticky label indicate the spool originally housed electronic components?
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