1966 Panasonic RQ-3100S Cartridge Tape Recorder

Panasonic's RQ-3100S was called a "cartridge tape" recorder because the common name "cassette" wasn't being used yet. It was made in Japan using the 1963 Philips-style transport and design scheme. It's a good performer 48 years later. Royalty-free music courtesy of DanOSongs.com.

[@SHARPGFX-dc9gj]

Great video.

[@wendolpablo9537]

is this a fully autostop?

[@CassetteMaster]

Very nice recorder! I got this same model unit at a flea market on May 1st, 2008.

[@CassetteMaster]

I meant March 1st.

[@Lagib28]

Amazing find in that condition, and what a neat time capsule! Also, I've never seen an early cassette with the Tape Cartridge logo before.

[@xaenon]

The limited frequency response was about typical for cassette at that time. Cassette, as it was originally developed, was intended for utilitarian purposes - speech and dictation, mostly. Since a great deal of frequency response wasn't necessary for that purpose, the slow 1-7/8 inches per second tape speed was considered adequate and economical. It would have been easy to double the tape speed to 3-3/4 inches per second to improve the sound quality considerably, but from what I understand, Philips' license of the cassette specified full compatibility with all tapes and machines, which put the kibosh on the faster tape speed. It wasn't until a number of improvements were applied to the cassette that it became really viable for music. Improved magnetic media formulations like chromium dioxide, higher quality tape heads with smaller gaps, and better tape-transport mechanisms helped improve frequency response; later on, noise-reduction circuitry helped reduce the inherent hiss, making the cassette formidable competition for its rival, the 8-Track.

[@clydesight]

I think the term "Compact Cassette" was a licensed logo, and probably Matsushita had not paid for use of the name. As I recall, they had a couple of run-in's with Philips over the cassette patent.