Audio cassettes - fleshing out info on the genre - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

jamesperrett · 4th Oct 2016, 12:33 pm

To follow on from Tony's post...

Another use of these data cassettes was for extremely low speed data logging in harsh environments. We used to use a system made by Sea Data in the USA which had a stepper motor driving the capstan. I think it had 4 tracks across the width of the tape and one bit was written to each track for each step of the motor. These would often be deployed for a few weeks or more at the bottom of the sea and the chassis looked as if it had been cast from a single piece of metal.

To read these tapes we had a very industrial looking cassette player which ran at high speed.

stevehertz · 4th Oct 2016, 7:57 pm

Lots of answers - in addition to my own specific questions - that are very interesting. Thanks guys.

Beobloke · 4th Oct 2016, 8:59 pm

On the subject of the hi-fi microcassette deck, I bought a Sanyo RD-XM1 last year. It was new old stock and came with a demonstration METAL microcassette. After a bit of work to re-lubricate a couple of bits of the (tiny) mechanism, it works well and it's really not bad at all!

Just in case anyone fancies one, the seller still appears to have 3 for sale for £59.99 each - I wonder where he got them all from?!

4th Oct 2016, 12:33 pm	#21
jamesperrett Octode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,873	Re: Audio cassettes - fleshing out info on the genre To follow on from Tony's post... Another use of these data cassettes was for extremely low speed data logging in harsh environments. We used to use a system made by Sea Data in the USA which had a stepper motor driving the capstan. I think it had 4 tracks across the width of the tape and one bit was written to each track for each step of the motor. These would often be deployed for a few weeks or more at the bottom of the sea and the chassis looked as if it had been cast from a single piece of metal. To read these tapes we had a very industrial looking cassette player which ran at high speed.

4th Oct 2016, 7:57 pm	#22
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,830	Re: Audio cassettes - fleshing out info on the genre Lots of answers - in addition to my own specific questions - that are very interesting. Thanks guys. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

4th Oct 2016, 8:59 pm	#23
Beobloke Heptode Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 821	Re: Audio cassettes - fleshing out info on the genre On the subject of the hi-fi microcassette deck, I bought a Sanyo RD-XM1 last year. It was new old stock and came with a demonstration METAL microcassette. After a bit of work to re-lubricate a couple of bits of the (tiny) mechanism, it works well and it's really not bad at all! Just in case anyone fancies one, the seller still appears to have 3 for sale for £59.99 each - I wonder where he got them all from?!