Sharp QT50(P) in pink

Totally Tubular Like Totally!

 

 

Our 80's radio cassette players were the smartphones of today. They were a central part in our lives. It was playing while you doing your homework, in the bathroom, and just before you went to sleep. 

In the car, cassette tapes were all over the floor and back seat. Tapes were in your backpack or locker at school. 

Remember leaving your favorite tapes at your friend's house? What about the tapes your friends made for you? It took time to make those you know! You had to listen to the radio all day long to hear the song you wanted so you could hit RECORD. Remember that?

Memorex, TDK, Maxell, Sony, Denon, Ampex.

 

Five 'Til Eight was a rock band playing throughout Los Angeles area in the late 80s early 90s.

Sharp Model CT-248(R)

Cassettes were made of a thin poly film coated with magnetic material. The cassette housing was plastic. The tape itself was wound on plastic spools which allowed 30 to 120 minutes of play time.

The tape would.be inserted into the cassette player. You could fast forward, rewind, play and record over the tape repeatedly without losing audio quality.

This user flexibility would not be seen until much later with today's digital formats.

 

Cab Yellow Street Beat Model CT-72

 

The audio quality was surprisingly good compared to LP vinyl formats. Tapes didn't get scratched. You didn't need to worry about tapes skipping. You could fast forward or rewind to your favorite songs. They were convenient to carry around because tapes could fit into your pocket. You could record on a portable cassette player easily. This was not feasible with LP vinyl or reel to reel.

Did cassette players and tapes have their disadvantages? Perhaps the worst characteristic of this technology was the fact that tapes sometimes got unwound into the tape player. The recordings sound muffled or lose their fidelity over time and use.

Cassette players also suffer from wear. The tape player itself runs on a motor with belts that drive the tape bobbins. The bobbins turn the cassette tape spools. When the motor fails or when the belts break, the tape player stops working.

Soundesign Model 3827 BLK

Cassette tapes are making a comeback among the nostalgia audio crowd. There's something about tangible physical media that feels more in touch than a screen. The sound of the buttons and mechanicals that makes audio feel like it's at your fingertips.

Many of us still hold on to old tapes which have the voices of friends and family members. Sometimes for us, it's not just the song but the particular tape itself which you may have played over and over when you were younger. 

Sears Model 3000

You can bet many millenials, GenZer's have never used one. There's novelty of bringing out this old tech that was popular for only a short period of time from late 70's to 90's. Since then, it has pretty much disappeared.

 

Sony Model CFS-B15

Soundesign Model 4615TL

Sony Model CFS-1000