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Sears Model 223.21020700 8 Track Tape Player
Track Tape Player To the main menu click here To return to the Hutman Museum of Sound click here |
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Sears Model 223.21020700 8 Track Tape Player
Track Tape Player To the main menu click here To return to the Hutman Museum of Sound click here |
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William Powell Lear, of LearJet fame also
invented the 8-track tape system. During the early 1960s, a
number continuous-loop audiotape systems existed. Lear's 8-track was
not the first of its kind. Lear's cartridge was just like the
4-track tape invented earlier. The difference between the two is that for
the 4-track, the pinch roller is found inside the player. In an 8-track,
the pinch roller is in the tape cartridge. The modification was made to reduce tape tangling and to help Lear get a patent for his invention. 4-track also divided the tape itself into four channels or tracks, thus making two stereo programs. This limited play time to 40 minutes. Lear divided his tape into eight channels or tracks. Each system used a tape head which repositions itself along the width of the tape to change programs. Misalignment of the tape head or the tape in the cartridge in an 8-track system produces audible shadows of the other tracks A 4-track, with its wider channels does not have as much of a problem with this. Lear's main accomplishments were in marketing. All 1966 Fords came with a factory installed 8-track player in the dash. In 1967 Chrysler and GM did the same thing. Other tape systems provided competition including 4-track. The only real competition was the cassette tape system which came out at the same time and vinyl records. 8-track was the most popular portable and car audio system of the 1970s. Record clubs like Columbia House continued to offer 8-track tapes into the 1980s The 8-track format owed much of its success to it adoption by many important companies. These included the Ampex Magnetic Tape Company, Lear Jet Company and RCA Records. The 8track/4track cassette system was the only practical way of bringing the high quality sound of magnetic tape stereo high fidelity recording to the automobile. With a push of a button the driver could select the desired music. Cassettes went easily into the machine while driving. Home players came out a year later than car players. Cassette tape systems became popular as stand alone players not attached to cars and run by batteries. Although the sound quality was not as good cassettes were cheaper. How 8 track players work. by Radio Shack (R), brand name Realistic(R), factory number #1093073: This continuous-loop magnetic tape has been developed especially for self-contained automatic operation without rewinding or re-threading. By continuous -loop, we mean that the tape, in effect, is endless. You may observe that the back side of the tape (which is dark gray in appearance) seems to have a sheen. This is the application of a specially prepared lubricant formulation which has been specifically engineered for these continuous-loop cartridges. This lubricant permits the tape to flow freely, thus increasing tape life as well as decreasing head wear. You can see that the tape goes from left to right. The tape is first pulled from the inside of the reel, out, then around the plastic guides, across the head and played, and then is pulled by a turning shaft around a wheel, back down to the outside of the reel. The fact that the tape is physically contacted by the player's mechanism, dragged, stretched, and pulled along instead of reeled just maybe, might possibly be the reason for the short physical lifespan and low fidelity of the recordings. You can also see that, as the player selects programs, which consist of two tracks, the head moves up and down to accommodate for each program. There are usually four programs to a tape, all four running by simultaneously, but only one being played at once. If you attempt to play an 8-track's reel on a 4-track reel-to-reel tape machine, you'll end up playing two songs at once. This can also happen on an 8-track player if the tape is worn out, and/or slightly misaligned. How to fix an 8-track tape The main problem with 9 track tapes is that the glue which holds the tape loop together breaks down. The tape comes apart. Don't worry. Your machine did not eat the tape although it seems like it. First, open the tape. The tabs hold it together. There may be also a central screw, or both. Remove the front label to get to the screw/ tabs. Next unscrew the screw or use a dull butter knife to loosen the tabs. Carefully take the front cover off of the tape. Hold the tape tightly against a flat surface. Once you get into the insides of the tape, splice the two separated ends of the tape loop back together, making sure each side of the tape are attached at the same point. Re-thread the tape through the path. Turn the spool clockwise tightening the tape. Then Re-assemble. |
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| Music of the 70s The years that the 8track system was most popular. 1970Bridge Over Troubled Water-- Simon & Garfunkel 1971Joy to the World-- Three Dog Night 1972The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face-- Roberta Flack 1973Killing Me Softly with His Song-- Roberta Flack 1974The Way We Were-- Barbra Streisand 1975Love Will Keep Us Together-- Captain & Tennille 1976Tonight’s the Night-- Rod Stewart 1977You Light Up My Life-- Debby Boone 1978Night Fever-- Bee Gees 1979My Sharona-- The Knack
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| History of the 1970s
Computers, technology |
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| Activity -Obtain a cassette tape player and insert a tape. -Rewind tape -Without looking advance tape to your favorite song-did you find the exact place -Now obtain an 8track tape player -Insert a tape -Without looking go to your favorite song. -Was this easier or more difficult. -Is it easier to insert a tape into an 8track? Into a cassette tape player? or Cd into a CD player? -How many 8 track tapes will fit into a shoe box? Cassettes? Cds? Why do you think that the 8track tape player became obsolete? |
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Restoration and Parts Assistance
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History of 8 track tape system http://www.recording-history.org/HTML/8track1.htm 8 Track Heaven About the inventor http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bllear.htm More history http://www.wgeneration.com/70f4.html
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Tour of My 8 Track Tape Players
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