My TDK Cassettes Collection

In general run of the mill, TDK SA-X 60, but this edition:
https://images.app.goo.gl/5NCnC1PRpd8PSX418
Been looking for a box of these for a while.
but my favourite TDK SA tapes are the SA-X 60s from 1988.
60 is my preferred length, which makes it even tougher to find as 90 min are what sold the most.
I've only started collecting (very few so far) blank tapes, but not purposely initially. More because I know the cassettes are no longer made and are becoming hard to find. Nothing I'd consider rare yet. just a bunch of mostly Sonys and JVC types I and ii.

 

Sorry for late answering, i`ve got no information about new postings... I never have seen this tapes with the mechanism, otherwise i would buy two - one for collection, one for checking, how they works.
And here - trara , the first update of my collection - the first little parcel arrived.


Interesting cross-section of the collection - HC is from 1979/80, the CDing is from 2000, and the C-90F Maverick is from 1968/69 ( very difficult to find one in good condition ). The Maverick came with a paper cassette case - and it was produced to ship for - adress label on the back.
2B Continued

 

Here`s an update, new cassettes for collection arrived :


Now i have 3 of 8 Freddie, and all the 3 Dela Cassettes.

 

And here - is a new update, i post the new cassettes, i`ve got in the last days. There is only one new cassette model, i still looked for, - the EC6 from 1982, the other 5 are versions of the cassettes i already have.
They only differ by tape length or declaration / region.
In the next weeks i will get a bigger parcel with 20 new cassettes, it remains exciting.

 

Meanwhile i´ve got two additional fine cassettes - the D90 is from 1972, one of the oldest, i have. And the SA-X has a different declaration.

 

Very early ones! Did you see the video by westlife about sealed cassettes from end of the 60s? Opening & playing sealed 54-year-old cassette tapes - YouTube

 

Thank you for the link, just in the moment i have no doubles to open it. By the way - the very old cassettes all can be recognized by the stylized crystal, like here :
http://agfabasf.com/catalog/tdk/tdk-1968/
Unfortunally TDK in some of the early years has produced tapes with wrapping foil, that lost the plasticizer. And so there are only a few of undamaged ones to find. The cassettes are very sensitive for rougher handling, the foil is like glass... and everytime it is very exciting to wait for after buying them, because shipment could destroy the foil...

 

Tataa - a new parcel arrived


Now i can change some placeholders with non-90-minutes playtime ;-). And i now have the full Toys - edition - here an abriviated excerpt from my databank


the D90 from 1982 is a typical US - Canadian Brand with the English-French declaration ( it`s the 10th D90 from 82 in my collection ... )


I very long looked for the CUE Black with 90 minutes, same with japanese SA from 92, and some of the CDing are only to find with 46,54 or different minutes too, but none with 90 .
By the way, some cassettes like SM Pro and Power CD wasn`t produced with 90 minutes in the annual edition.
The collection now has 479 cassettes - and there are 13 additional waiting for shipment. It`s working.
Good weekend for all..

 

Impressive!

In a recently purchased Japanese book about Walkmans.
In it are also some overviews of tapes, given you interest you might already have them.
Here is the Denon overview:

 

Seems to be a very interesting book, is there a side with TDK ? I look for a catalogue with all TDK-tapes - the only one i found was in Japanese.
I have sold all my Denon, Maxell, Sony, That`s, BASF, Hitachi, Nakamichi, Kenwood, TEAC and AGFA cassettes to have more money and place...

 

Since my Japanese is as good as my Chinese, I had to grab the book and browse through it.
Here are the cover page and the 2 pages of the TDK overview.
I did not know Hello Kitty was a mid-70s cultural thing.

 

Yes, Hello Kitty is a Sanrio design - used for gifts and so on. TDK has also edited "Minna no tabo" and "Cheery Chums" - cassettes, same Sanrio thing.


i`m a little bit amazed, that the "Picnic Basket" - cassette is shown there - D - line, 1985, it belongs to the merchandise tapes, like these

but these are not shown in the book. May be, it`s only an example.
Anyway, - it`s a good overview, all the mainstream cassettes are in. And i have the most ( except "Synchro" ) - first TDK... and even "Basket" - i found one in Russia - but it`s very difficult to get.
One i miss - the SA-XG, don`t no why it`s not published...

 

Cassette info galore! There are more pages in this book specifically for the higher end tapes. When I have a bit of time, I will send a few more snippets. I recommend buying the book if you are interested in Walkmans too, it contains great overviews.
My phone runs hot though as I need to continuously use the camera feature of Google Translate.

 

I never used the tool... and Walkmans are not really muy area of interest, sorry, that would mean much more time . But i`m interested in what the book says about High End Cassettes.
That's where opinions differ, it also depends on what deck is used. And for example in the TDK list of categories are the best cassettes not intended for walkman.
That doesn't mean you can't use them, but they are overqualified ;-)

 

Here`s a little update to the collection - it`s even more difficult to find cassettes, i need for collection


The 2 CDing are from 1989, and i longer has overlooked them, because the design is similar to some other CDing. Like from 1990/91/92...
They came also without 90-minutes-versions.
The DJ 2 was for the Europian market, you can see it in the green "90".
And the Head Cleaner is one of the Oldies - from 1970/71, unfortunally unsealed - but i can use it as placeholder, it wasn?t expensive...

 

Yes, it`s a little museum and about 18 cassettes are still on their way to me. But i also know from about 50 cassettes, i still need, very rar things... like the complete Alignment serie

 

The Alignment serie includes measure tapes, like here https://www.45spaces.com/audio-compact-cassette-blank-tapes/45m_search.php?sq=TDK+Alignment
I think all together counts 10 cassettes. Different measure tones, Azimuth tuning, tape length and others. I almost was able to buy a box, but price was about 2000 $