Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing (3M) Company Ad
March 1958 Radio News

March 1958 Radio & TV News
March 1958 Radio & TV News Cover - RF Cafe[Table of Contents]

Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio & Television News, published 1919-1959. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.

Advertisements for this Scotch 200 magnetic tape product appeared many time in electronics magazines during the big stereo era that ran from the 1950s through to the 1980s. High Fidelity (Hi-Fi) was a big deal as major improvements in receivers, tape decks, phonographs, amplifiers, and speakers were being made. I decided to highlight this one in particular for a couple reasons. First is that when I was in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Robins AFB, Georgia (1979-1982), one of the roommates I had in the barracks had a father whom, at least per his claim, invented reflective tape for 3M. The guy was a true Lennon fanatic, and even wore faux Lennon glasses when off duty. He didn't look the part. When Mark David Chapman shot and killed Lennon on December 8, 1980, his entire raison d'ĂȘtre came to an end. I'm surprised he didn't (maybe he did) go for psychiatric counseling. Second, did you know (or care) that "3M" stands for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing? Third, the headline in the advertisement states, "The magnetic tape that can't be copied!" Does that imply that there is some mechanism for copy protection designed into the Scotch 200 Magnetic Tape medium that can prevent unauthorized duplication? Nay; it is merely a claim that the quality cannot be copied which, of course, is largely an objective opinion. Any protection provided by their tape is the lubrication that helps safeguard the magnetic read / write head from abrasive damage.

Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company Ad

Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing (3M) Company Ad, March 1958 Radio News - RF CafeThe magnetic tape that can't be copied!

Others try to imitate it ... but no tape equals Scotch 200 Tensilized Double-Length Tape!

This is the original no-break, no-stretch tape that plays twice as long ... and you can't buy better! "Scotch" Brand waited until it had perfected an extended play tape of unmatched quality. Now, here it is - "Scotch" 200 Tensilized Double-Length Tape - first to give you a Polyester backing with an ultimate tensile strength of 6.8 lbs! And it's the only tape of its kind that offers silicone lubrication, genuine built-in protection for your recorder head. Why settle for imitations when the original and best costs no more? Today, see your dealer for a reel of "Scotch" 200 Tensilized Double-Length Tape, newest of the "Tapes you can trust".

Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company

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The term "Scotch" is a registered trademark of 3M Company. St. Paul 6. Minn. Export: 99 Park Avenue, New York, Canada: London, Ontario. © 3M Co., 1958.

 

 

Posted January 29, 2020