In the sixties I listened to music on 8-track tape, commonly known as Stereo 8, the eight-track cartridge, eight-track tape, or simply eight-track). What I loved about this format was it was an endless loop tape cartridge; you could set the player to repeat and it would play the tape over and over, forever.
The endless loop tape cartridge was first designed in 1952 by Bernard Cousino. George Eash invented a cartridge design in 1953, called the Fidelipac cartridge. The cartridges (nicknamed "carts" by DJs and radio engineers) were
used by many radio stations for commercials, jingles, and other short
items.
Fidelipac cartridge interior
The Lear Jet Stereo 8 track cartridge, a consumer version, was designed by Richard Kraus
while working under Bill Lear and for his Lear Jet Corporation in 1963.
The major change was to incorporate a neoprene rubber and nylon pinch
roller into the cartridge itself, rather than to make the pinch roller a
part of the tape player, reducing mechanical complexity. Lear also
eliminated some of the internal parts of the Eash cartridge, such as the
tape-tensioning mechanism and an interlock that prevented tape
spillage. By doubling the number of tracks from 4 to 8, the recording length doubled to 80 minutes.
Lear Jet Stereo 8 interior
In 1965 the 8-track tape player for the automobile was introduced and now you were not stuck with only what the radio provided, you could have the music YOU wanted to hear on the go (link below).
It seems, just like vinyl LP, the 8-track tape is making a comeback (link below). It is absolutely amazing?
It seems, just like vinyl LP, the 8-track tape is making a comeback (link below). It is absolutely amazing?
The original 8-track,
tape recorder introduced at the end of 1971. was essentially identical to a model by
Sanyo introduced six months earlier. It featured an ill-conceived
"power" switch and "track" switch that was either on or off (not capable
of ejecting after one or four tracks, just ejecting or not); a
surprising design mistake that was corrected less than a year
later.
When home 8-track tape recorders were introduced, of course I had to have one. Of the brands available, I chose the Wollensak 3M 8050A recorder.
When home 8-track tape recorders were introduced, of course I had to have one. Of the brands available, I chose the Wollensak 3M 8050A recorder.
Wollensak 3M 8050A recorder
Wollensak Model 8050A
8-Track Deck Information:
Wollensak 8-Track recorder model 3M 8050. From 1971.
Features, pause, fast wind,
eject power - on - auto/off, track - all/one, arl - on/off,
both right/left mic inputs,
stereo phones output for headphones,
both right/left recording level sliders,
both right/left VU meters.
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
Dead Media Archive ~ 8-track Tape
Flashbak ~ The 8-Track Miracle: 8 Reasons It Failed
Best Classic Bands ~ 1965: Music Goes Mobile with 8-Track Tapes
What Hi-Fi? ~ 8-track cartridge enjoys an unlikely resurgence
Best Classic Bands ~ 1965: Music Goes Mobile with 8-Track Tapes
What Hi-Fi? ~ 8-track cartridge enjoys an unlikely resurgence
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, August 22, 2018
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