Datassette Mystery

History and Preservation Issues

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Jeff-20
Denial Founder
Posts: 5759
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Datassette Mystery

Post by Jeff-20 »

I bought a third party tape deck at a thrift store in the 90s (I've since sold or disposed of it).

I noticed an unusual label, it appeared to have 3 layers. I removed and kept the labels. This was the top one:

Image

under that:

Image

And there appears to be another under that! I can't get it to it without rippig apart the whole thing. Could it be Altai? Were there more companies involved?

Interesting archaeology.
High Scores, Links, and Jeff's Basic Games page.
User avatar
ral-clan
plays wooden flutes
Posts: 3702
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:01 pm
Location: Canada

Post by ral-clan »

That is so cool! As you can see in the Wiki article photos of the clone datasettes, some manufacturers were obviously using the exact same hardware and merely re-labelling it. However, it's quite interesting to see from your example that they were not merely getting it from a central manufacturer, but rather buying off one another (or perhaps the factory was reselling and relabelling it after the first - and second - buying company went bankrupt or something).

Another possible scenario is simply that the company changed names for some reason and had to relabel all old stock (notice the stickers use exactly the same fonts).

It is great you thought to keep the labels before you sold it! :D
Last edited by ral-clan on Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
channelmaniac
Vic 20 Hobbyist
Posts: 105
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:21 pm

Post by channelmaniac »

Try taking an iron and a slightly damp cloth to heat up the label and apply a slight bit of steam to it. The heat should help to reactivate the adhesive and help you separate the labels.

RJ
Call me a cheap bastard... I learned to fix things to save money... even surface mount soldering...

Visit my website: http://www.arcadecomponents.com
User avatar
Jeff-20
Denial Founder
Posts: 5759
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Jeff-20 »

I also suspect it is a name change for the company. It is interesting that the product number also changes.
High Scores, Links, and Jeff's Basic Games page.
User avatar
ral-clan
plays wooden flutes
Posts: 3702
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:01 pm
Location: Canada

Post by ral-clan »

I guess if we could see the physical mailing addresses for Fortronics, Cardco, etc. (on original product packaging) it would determine if they were really the same company just changing its name.
User avatar
eslapion
ultimate expander
Posts: 5458
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:50 pm
Location: Canada
Occupation: 8bit addict

Post by eslapion »

A year or two ago, there was a guy selling "brand new" datasette clones on eBay.

It wasn't too expensive so I bought one. It was indeed in perfectly new condition. It had the fortronics sticker under.
Be normal.
PaulQ
undead vic
Posts: 1967
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:57 pm

Post by PaulQ »

When The Source took over Radio Shack, they relabeled everything that said RadioShack to Centronics. My guess is that this was a similar move.
yoyodyne
Vic 20 Enthusiast
Posts: 173
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:30 pm

Post by yoyodyne »

I have a cassette clone with a similar label, maybe mine has
the 'hidden' label that Jeff couldn't peel off?

Here's a photo of the label, with the cassette player:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/28 ... 8028moukID

BTW, if anybody wants this thing, let me know.

-Brian


Edit: I love the way webshots puts the photo on a simulated
mousepad, to lure me into purchasing that. Yeah, that looks
cool. I'll take a dozen coffee mugs with the data cassette
photo on it, please. :lol:
If you document it, its not a bug, its a feature.
~
You can have peace, or you can have freedom. Just don't count on having them both at once.
~
There was a time, before we were born. If someone asks, this is where I'll be.
User avatar
Jeff-20
Denial Founder
Posts: 5759
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Post by Jeff-20 »

COMMODORE 64 VIC 20 FORTRONICS CASSETTE UNIT PC-7018

Pic will expire soon:
Image

http://cgi.ebay.com/COMMODORE-64-VIC-20 ... 1|294%3A50
High Scores, Links, and Jeff's Basic Games page.
d0c
Vic 20 Devotee
Posts: 278
Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 5:21 pm

Post by d0c »

does cassette decks sucks, i have had alot tape eating and the motor cant run the tapes with these models... they may change names but same shit...
1983 vic20 & 3k-16k ram expansion....
Post Reply