The Styrous® Viewfinder: Wollensak 3M 8050A ~ 8-Track recorder

August 22, 2018

Wollensak 3M 8050A ~ 8-Track recorder

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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?

Blondie ~ Parallel Lines 8-Track tape

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.

Wollensak 3M 8050A recorder

Wollensak Model 8050A

The Wollensak division of The 3M Company marketed an outstanding line of 8-track recorders, manufactured for them by Sanyo, from 1971 to 1975. 3M Engineers designed the units; Sanyo manufactured them for themselves and 3M. Sanyo at the time was primarily a "for-hire" manufacturer, so the Sanyo- branded machines were never as available as the Wollensak versions. All feature very intelligent design, robust mechanical construction, and superior electronics. Along with Roberts/Akai probably the best 8 track units ever.