Trash those records, now we have tape!

Back in the day, audiophiles listened to music on tape, but they were hard to change. Here's an orphaned tape format RCA was eager to sell you: 4 tracks of bliss in one easy-to -load, huge cartridge

[@Zarkovision]

This system was by far better than 4- or 8-track. Really a pity that RCA gave it up so early.

[@MrChris-zb2bs]

It is easy to make fun of that old technology, but make no mistake. The sound quality of what is depicted in this video is light years better than what comes out of a Beats Pill, or an all-in-one Crosley. I have a 1957 RCA orthophonic console in my bedroom which can connect to a lap top or smart phone via RCA inputs. It still works and sounds great.

[@wilkes85]

Awesome. This is where it all started. It's also cool that they do everything that modern Cassettes do. Also, it's funny how many times they tried to replace records. Even when CDs totally replaced records in the '90s, they still survived to this day, and I have a theory that eventually records will return almost 100%.

[@mikafoxx2717]

You win

[@holywells]

WOW-- the good old days and the state of the art as it was then !! That was one BIG cassette !! Thanks for posting this. It was fun !!

[@purplemirror6440]

Amazing how sound engineering and technology has advanced. Without these inventions and models, no matter how anachronistic they may seem to us now, we would not have reel-to-reel, 4-track, 4-track cassettes (standard size), MP3, or FLAC. The EMI / Abbet Road white coat geeks most likely had a lot to with sound configs and transport / distribution as well.

[@albear972]

Holy heck! I always thought auto tape reverse was a modern Japanese invention! I first saw it on a TV show in the mid 80's

[@aboxofbroken8tracks983]

I love how dressed up the family got to listen to their giant cassettes.

[@shashanka]

My listening room looks just like that. Of course I live in detention with THX 1138.

[@billybassman21]

Now people call you trashy for wearing shoes in the house. Somehow nasty crusty barefeet is better to many.

[@shamicentertainment1262]

billybassman21 yeah it is because you dont get all the crap u stepped in earlier inside, unless u walked in it barefoot.

[@billybassman21]

I don't make it a habit of walking in crap. In most cases I'm on cement and the weather is dry. The little bit of dirt gets removed by the door mat and by cleaning instead of being lazy.

[@shamicentertainment1262]

yeah but shoes still pick up more things outside then bare feet in a house

[@Solitaire001]

An interesting format. From what I understand this format was designed with sound quality in mind and the wider tape and higher playback speed support this (two of the factors that made it more difficult to get good sound quality on a compact cassette). I think that it could have been a successor to the LP.

[@rockland6674]

It'll never replace the wire recorder. :P

[@kanesmith8271]

Hmph, the wire recorder pales in comparison to the Wax Cylinder

[@paulj0557tonehead]

I really do love the sound of 8-tracks and you can tell that an audio engineer with a golden ear did the EQ curve on that format. Yes, many players have cheap preamps and even amplifier sections. I actually have a Qatron Stereo-48 12 tape carousel player that I bought for $5 at a busy thrift store. The kids had it dismantled and strewn around the store, but when I found the base I knew I had to have it so I found the tray and the lid. It cleaned up like new and works! I actually use RCA-OUT2HiFi

[@HunterMann]

I was a member of the Record Club of America back when they offered most music recordings in 4 different formats. That was so cool!

[@barbatvs8959]

The narrator for all of the fifties.

[@rennyminou]

From wax cylinders to flash drives - time really is flying. I find it so weird that sometimes kids have never played a 12" LP - I must be getting old! : )

[@NTG56]

I sure was impressed by RCA's aggressive leadership shown in this informative seven and three-quarter minute long video. I think I'll go buy a tape player so I can enjoy music in my living room while smoking a pipe with my picturesque 50's-era family.

[@GUIRADE95]

Those were the good old days when you have to be together all in one place to enjoy music and TV. I remember that in my house it was only one color TV and a lp vinyl player the size of. stove! Then the cassette player that we played in a sanyo tape player with recorder. Back in the late 70s early 80s.

[@JohnSmith-lh8eg]

The reason the cartridge was big is because it used a standard 1/4" audio tape with two reels, takeup and supply. The Phillips style 1/8" tape cassettes were not invented yet, but the basic cassette design is almost identical to this one. The classic 8 track tape cartridge also used the standard 1/4" tape, but it was made into an endless loop, so only one reel needed, thus half the size of this one.

[@howardale1]

I have one of those RCA tape decks that play those huge tapes... and it still works! God bless lost formats ;~)

[@liwowoli]

Wow. This video was hot. I love the style. And it's really cool to see the design of the stereos. Also, I had no idea that that's what cassettes looked like when they first came out. They're huge!

[@rchiles90]

Pretty cool - I still use my reel to reel on occasion! And yes, I also have an ipod. When I am driving down the road and listening to every CD I own, I really dont care a whole lot if compressed music isn't as good as my LPs or CDs. Or if I am out for a walk at lunchtime - I am glad I can listen to my music and wont geek out that there are better dynamics on LP. There's room for IT ALL folks!!! The neat thing about this is that someone was trying to innovate...

[@SammyM00782]

Things like these were often shown at trade shows of the times. This would've had to been shorter to be seen at movie theaters in the late 50's. Eventually when CES started in 67 and vendors had one large central event, videos like this were shown there. My grandfather had a lot of Electrolux and Admiral product tape reels but I have no idea where they went. This video was probably put out in 1957 just before this was launched and I've seen one or two of these at the flea market nearby.

[@951258tike22]

holy crap, those cassettes were huge!! technology is amazing. it progresses so fast...

[@mstax]

How thrilling! Finally, high fidelity for everyone!!

[@HunterMann]

I have lots of vinyl from 25 years of collecting. I hope to get a decent Sony or Teac deck and start collecting reel-to-reel as well. It is such an excellent format for sound!

[@CatholicBoy1957]

Back then, we always wore a suit and tie to listen to music at home.

[@cobolsaurus]

So easy to operate than even a woman can use it =-)

[@infinightsky]

Only if a man narrates it

[@CassetteMaster]

I have a 4-track mono portable, and it works great, very well taken kare of by original owners!

[@shashanka]

According to Wikipedia these came out at the same time as stereo LP records 1958. So the only access to stereo prior to this was reel to reel tape.

[@randyhorne1067]

Records can never become obsolete EVER they are time machines

[@billsalvaggio6355]

I’ve been playing vinyl my whole life. Always tried all the new formats over the years. But I always have and will play vinyl. 78s, 45s, LPs etc.

[@TheFRiNgEguitars]

Here is the mid-century era at it finest! Glamorous and modern, take it for its good, bad, and ugly, but the good was really good!!!

[@japanesegeta]

I had a stereo recording version of the system back in the sixties. The quality was great played through a stereo system and blank tapes were available for at least into the seventies as the format was very common in school language labs. The unit I had used vacuum tubes but the second stereo speaker in the removable lid had a transistor amplifier. You could record up to 4 hours in mono on a cartridge at 1 7/8 ips. RCA also sold an adaptor so you could record, play, and mail "audio letters" on 3 inch reels.

[@DCDi34]

Lol such a huge cabinet for that little tape player.

[@skinnyblinddude]

I remember those cassettes. I believe they were referred to as "L cassettes". There were also various non-standard versions of small cassettes introduced before a standard was established. Did anyone notice that the 45s on the turntable appear to be going much slower than 45 rpm? Could it be that RCA wants us to clearly see the dog and Victoria? Hmmm. Excellent commercial!

[@ronaldgarrison8478]

I remember those days. Born just after the LP appeared, just before stereo was introduced. I don't miss a bit of that old technology. As for the movies and music, we still have all that.

[@C-Stanz]

I've always wanted a tape deck encased in a dumpster.

[@nathanmoser1]

I remember back in '62 my dad had a Bel Canto almost like this- We had it for 6 years & he traded it in on a stereo amp in '68

[@MrComputerfan]

Interesting how the whole Family sat in front of a Tape Recorder on Sundays and listend to a Concert.

[@judacia]

thanks for uploading this film. I even never knew that this product existed.

[@jasonmisfit5781]

RIGHT?

[@HunterMann]

p.s. I did a music show each week on a public radio station for a few years. I recorded every single on of my shows, eve the public service announcements, information about upcoming concerts, etc. I figured I'd listen to these when I am an old man, living in a small beach shack in the tropics. Am I crazy?

[@mariojr377]

Fantastic. These machines were not sold in Brazil as far as I know. Very interesting . Thank you for sharing.

[@steelbeard1]

Those cartridges were the size of a book. Yes, it flopped in 1958. Philips introduced the compact cassette just a few years later which became the standard.

[@Solitaire001]

I think the factors that make it easier than a record (LP/45) are: (1) no needles/cartridges to replace, (2) no need to regularly brush the record to remove dust, and (3) longer continuous and total playtime. If this format is like the compact cassette, all you would need to do is demagnetize and clean the heads every so often (which can be accomplished with a demagnetizing/cleaning cassette). Plus, although it does take time to rewind the tape, it also takes time to flip over and play a LP/45.

[@MrGhostown81]

I'm waiting for the day when all music is released on micro-cassette.

[@davidjames666]

wow, the cartridge had a label for Side A and side B how wonderful. Now i can search and find my stereophonic music

[@aRxMainChannel]

Sweet..auto-reverse & auto-stop..in the 50's! Here I thought those were marvels of the late 70's and early 80's.

[@realgroovy24]

tapes never came to taking over vinyl or the majority sales but they sure did succeed

[@lavabite]

neat fact

[@realgroovy24]

yeah vinyl came back and tape did later the vinyl sales are steadily rising even today.

[@Solitaire001]

***** According to Wikipedia, cassette sales overtook LPs in the 1980s, but vinyl (LPs and 45s) outsold cassettes. In my opinion, I think a factor in this was the introduction of personal portable audio via portable cassette players like the Walkman.

[@realgroovy24]

I have a walkman its a aiwa walkman from sometime in the 80's not sure excactly what year

[@jcice3]

Jam Handy reminds you to keep your preserves in a convenient location.

[@lawnking168]

amen to radiorob1. every rca thing i have reminds me of e,h, armstrong. its a shame that few people know of this mans greatness!! do some research folks !! i have a zenith with both the old and today's fm bands and, in the back proudly says the amstrong system!! rca was a good co. but sarnoff was a king in his castle!! loved the vid!! amazing how the tech. has progressed !!!!

[@ArtimusDragon]

jesus christ i didn't know tapes of my generation had a predecessor other than the 8-track!!! man i am glad i clicked this. lolol

[@BlooditeDrakan]

Jesus... those cassettes were HUGE! If I had the room and living quarters for them, I'd start collecting for sure. For now, I'm getting back into compact cassette tapes. Amazingly, there's actually a record company that still sells tapes online. Crazy! Thank you so much for this upload. An iPod can only deliver so much good sound and appreciation...

[@jshorva65]

Actually, L-Cassettes were another format altogether, from the 1970s, intended to approach the fidelity of open reel with a cartridge format. Its 3.75 ips speed was advertised as twice that of Phillips cassettes for greater fidelity and returned to the staggered-track stereo format of open reel. The L-Cassette format also utilized a VCR-like external tape path. When inserted into the machine, motorized guides threaded the transport automatically as in a Beta or VHS video transport.

[@VinylToVideo]

Yes, that would be such a dream come true!

[@TheBBQify]

7:10 bruce willis, is that you?

[@riceboy1701e]

OOH...AHH...sooo 1950s! Going out now to my RCA dealer to purchase! ;-)

[@cheeezon]

just shows how easy we all have it today!

[@DivineTrash81]

"The first truly sensible approach to tape." HA!

[@IkilledColMustard]

My father have a storage locker full of tapes; VHS, Beta format, cassettes, super 8, and 8-track tapes from the '60's & 70's! He still has the the players or he would get rid of them! LOL

[@MrKEGreene]

I've been collecting all sorts or records since 1965 and have been an avid thrift shopper since 1970 or so. Never came across one of these taps or players, damn it. Also, it's rare to stumble across prerecorded tapes. Small cassettes and those damnable 8 tracks by the score..... Would love to see one of these machines.

[@fromthesidelines]

Yes, this was produced in 1958, when RCA tried to "push" their stereo cartridge tape to Amreican audiophiles- at the same time they were busy marketing their 33 rpm "Living Stereo" vinyl discs, which were much more successful than this process...and they stumbled again, years later, when they tried to pitch their "SelectaVision" video disc player and LP-sized discs (tracked by a needle in the player!)....and the smaller "digital video disc" became the standard!

[@vinylhound43]

I have the external speaker featured in the beginning of this video. They used the identical grill fabric in the 1958 blond cabinet line in the Victrola phonograph/radio consoles.

[@TheJaHa5]

First time I'm seeing a cassette tape like that!!!

[@faxmybutt]

couldnt agree more i have almost all formats of musics but i love my records and reel to reel best!

[@SpeakerPolice]

Ah, the RCA Sound Tape Cartridge, the compact cassette on steroids. XD Basically a set of four-track reels inside a plastic shell. It was a really interesting format, but was less popular at the time than open reel and vinyl. I believe this format was introduced in 1954.

[@HunterMann]

Thanks for this great old industrial film. I met a guy many years ago who had hundreds of Grateful Dead concerts on cassette tapes. He was in the process of transferring all f them to VHS tape, since he felt it would improve the sound(isn't there a generational loss?), and that audio on a VHS tape would last loner in an archive. By now, he's probably digitized all of it and it fits on one big hard-drive. Comments?

[@trailkeeper]

This is clearly the basic forrunner of the popular cassette-tapes and players/recorders, and later the vhs tapes.

[@Solitaire001]

It looks like something that would be shown to store management to introduce the new format.

[@paleblue498]

Very interesting. I had no idea the cassette was developed so early. This version obviously never took off. Any theories as to why it flopped?

[@georgechambless2719]

Can't wait to get one of those wonderful new RCA Victor audio tape systems for myself!

[@NKRevolution]

I know! The new revolution in sound is finally here!!!,

[@CassetteMaster]

I've got a machine for this format! It works good,too!

[@ipodspartan]

You can still find blank tapes like in Wal-Mart, Office Max, Target, or in yard sales.

[@CriticalenquiryOrg]

Once you practice at loading reel-to-reel it's not as bad as you think. Overall the sound quality is superb. While I love MP3s and digital recordings today, they've lost a lot of fidelity due to compression techniques. Once you get to AAC level, there's not really much left. People don't realise how much music they're not hearing when they use these formats. They're designed to satisfy the generic consumer market, which generally doesn't care much about good sound.

[@basspig]

That music selection we hear several times throughout the demo is "Charmaine" as performed by the Living Strings. I happen to have this album on a RCA Camden recording on open reel tape that I bought around 1959.

[@billsalvaggio6355]

I’ve got the vinyl LP in both mono and stereo. I believe the song is actually‘Diane’ or, ‘My Diane’? There’s also a snip of it on the RCA Victor’ Sounds In Space’ demo record. My parents got it with our first console stereo circa 1958.

[@basspig]

@@billsalvaggio6355 Interesting. I wonder if there is a printing error in either your copy or my copy?

[@billsalvaggio6355]

@@basspig if you search ‘RCA Victor Sounds in Space 1958’ and scroll to the album playlist, it shows ‘The Melachrino Orchestra’ and ‘Diane’. Right after Rag Mop by Ralph Flanagan and before Day In Day Out by Lena Horne. I’ve bought most of these LPs - over the years - and the Melachrino Strings definitely play Diane. It’s a beautiful dreamy cover. Diane was also a hit for The Bachelors - and they did Charmaine too - maybe that’s what you’re thinking of?

[@billsalvaggio6355]

Of course it’s also possible your vinyl has a printing error too - I’ve seen some incredible errors on record labels - and covers - in my time! lol

[@basspig]

@@billsalvaggio6355 My open reel tape lists the title as Charmaine. Could be a misprint. Sometimes with long play tapes, there are so many titles that mistakes could have been made during printing. Could be my memory is faulty. I'm getting on in years.

[@DonInOrlando]

RCA developed a casette that used 1/4" tape like the tape use on reel-to-reel machines. A great idea that did not catch favor with the public (remember Sony's DAT and MiniDisc among others?). Phillips, however, miniaturized the cassette and Voila! The cassette we all know & loved was the most popular way to buy recorded music for many years...until, alas, the 1982 release of the CD. Which reigned supreme until Apple/iTunes stole music distribution causing major heartburn at the labels.

[@badreality2]

These tapes are more advanced than the ones that I used as a kid! D:

[@shananagans5]

Oh my, I recall these but I was very young. I recall 8 tracks much better. I think these were replaced quickly by 8 tracks but I could be wrong. Oh now I feel old....

[@Pro1er]

Thank goodness car dashboards were much bigger back then, otherwise this format might be relegated to home use only.

[@HunterMann]

I've heard many a sound engineer say that 8-track tape had the best sound quality of all, though most 8-track tape players were cheaply made with terrible ampage, etc.

[@CTimmerman]

Introduced in 1958 after 4 years of development, the RCA tape cartridge was discontinued in 1964 after Philips introduced the more successful Compact Cassette in 1962.

[@josny1]

Vinyl is making a big comback, was on the news!

[@rexterrocks]

that was brilliant. They got the basic shape sort of right but it was huge. I wonder if many were sold. I also wonder if any exist. I have kept a pair of VHS tape machines and loads of cassettes.

[@jenniferjuniper97]

Never seen that type before. I owne a small reel-to-reel in the late '60s with a round clip-on microphone. Thinks the tape was about 1/4 " wide on a 3" reel. My Next unit was a cassette. Owned only one 8-track tape purchased used. Thought they were ugly. I remember the huge Sony reel-to-reel audio tapes. And videotape recorders. So bulky to carry around and weighed a ton! I still like reel to reel stuff though.

[@BertieW0oster]

Nice innovations of the day, but I still prefer a good old record for my listening pleasure.

[@rudiknaus4139]

Cool, but perhaps the size was too big.. the Philips Compact Cassette made it, we all know.. interesting Sony made another try with the Elcaset, today a collector’s item! But ironically the big reel to reel machines are still here! 👍🏼

[@piplol2468]

i got me a 1yb-11 mono sound tape recorder every thing works but the belts are broken and i am trying to find a subsitute for belts so i can play my sound tapes

[@macroevolve]

1:47 - It looks like a 2 ft. human is holding a normal-size cassette tape.

[@davewallace8219]

it's the cleavers

[@darylfan]

I still have every vinyl record I ever purchased and they aren't going anywhere!! :-)

[@LinkSquish]

mp3 is like listening to a tape that needs "tracking"

[@thereelmaster]

there is one thing, cell phones, mp3,'s ipod's , and all that crap will never stand up to the record, reels, and cartrages.

[@sealforvr]

Part of the problem was also Sarnoff's personality. He lost on the 45 rpm (CBS LP's were more popular), lost on FM (Armstrong's widow eventually won), lost on Color TV (Columbia again) and was determined to find a medium he could control 100% by demanding huge licensing fees and and forcing other mfg's to use RCA built transports. Moreover they ignored the growing auto sound market. Philips asked for minimal fees and let anyone build transports, promoting portability for a new generation.

[@frankolen4137]

Never got rid of my 78s and never will

[@thereelmaster]

there is one thing, cell phones, mp3, ipods , and all that crap will never standup to the recorder, rees, and cartrages.

[@SammyM00782]

Yea, you could say that. VHS worked in a similar way I think but I never inspected how a VHS actually works, although I know it must have some kind of brake inside cuz you can't wind them manually like a cassette tape. Hey, we still do crap like this today...look at the iPod and iPhone, ideas that were already out long before anyone accepted them as practical.

[@yaboimaxwell9031]

Golly gee. This is some real modern stuff. But throwing away my records?

[@RichardGarrison]

7:09 - Now ready to move the tape recorder out of the closet and into the living room where it belongs. LOL!!!!!

[@Halterung01]

Holy... Autoreverse in 1958? I wonder what one of these actually sound like... The look of the tape somehow remembers me of the 1982 BASF Chromdioxid Maxima

[@internetpointsbank]

that family at the end cracks me up. wtf that was only 30 yr ago

[@arnamatsoneristeacherevengache]

Somebody Knows In what year was marketed this cassette player???

[@brentaudi9354]

I have about 20 of these pre-recorded tapes. Some of them are still factory Sealed!

[@TheMorphite]

@theraiderrobert Depends on high-quality recording source, which type of headphones/speaker system, file formats, etc. I also listened to records and tapes growing up but they were all definitely used or plain cheap, so I personally wouldn't gauge off that alone. Also, modern ears have been trained to appreciate digital sound, whereas analog sound is just a whole different animal.

[@rockabillycat1954]

@pastryhat yeah, probably used the same 1/4" tape that the reel to reels used, which sounded great.