Don't forget "4 track". Same thing but on two channels. I know, 'cause
there us one that came out of the '3 sitting one the shelf. I never saw
tapes for this one after about '68 or '69.
kengano@advant.com
downstate illinois
1959 TR3A TS57756L
1958 Model 10 Sedan TBE9239LDLB
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of William Elliott
> Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 1998 3:43 PM
> To: IPM Return Requested
> Subject: Re: 8-track (No Triumph content!)
>
>
>
> Gernot Vonhoegen wrote:
>
> >> can sombody enlighten me on what an 8-track is and if this is of any
> >> use? I believe its some form of old fashioned cassette thingy.
>
> Andy replied:
> >>This was the brainchild of Bill Lear (of Lear Jet fame), and
> was a sort of
> "cassette tape", circa 1965. The cartridges were about the size of a
> "Walkman" type radio. They were more or less a "continuous-loop" tape,
> with four "programs" on each tape (and, being stereo, two channels, so
> 4x2=8 -- the 8-track). The "format" was pretty rigid in terms of length;
> some prerecorded music on 8-track was arranged in a different order than
> one would be used to finding on the vinyl album or cassette tape to fit
> the time constraints. Either that, or a song might be interrupted by
> clicks and such while the player changed from one program to the next. One
> could easily move through programs 1,2,3,4, but rewinding was not
> possible. Recording your own 8-track was possible, but nowhere near as
> commonplace as with cassettes.
>
> It was interesting, and it was quite popular for some time, until cassette
> tapes really came into their own. 8-track format pretty much disappeared
> in the 1980s. It's primarily a novelty artifact now, IMHO, although it's
> undoubtedly considered collectible by some.>>
>
> Excellent summary! But you forgot the pinnacle of
> 8-track achievement: the Quadraphonic 8-track.
> Took a special machine and tapes. Had two tape
> heads: one read Program1 (l&r) and the other
> Program 3 (l&r) (or on Track 2: Programs 2 and 4)
> simultaneously!
>
> This gave four individual channels of sound, but
> only two usable tracks, meaning the tape was twice
> as long. I still have an unopened John Lennon "Walls
> and Bridges" Quad 8-track... but alas no player. (On a
> normal player, you only get 2 of the 4 channels at a time....
> essentially like a stereo turned completely to one channel.)
>
> I do, however, have an 8-track recorder ....with Dolby!
> Since these were technology paths crossing in the night,
> I'm told it's rare. Still plays my 200+ tapes well. Would
> record well, too if I could find new blanks. (No erase head,
> (I think) so recording over old tapes is not great.)
>
> Of course, one other problem you missed
> was that the tapes wear out quickly and cannot
> be repaired. I finally lost an irreplaceable bootleg
> of a live ELO concert circa 1972!
>
> One last thought.... at a flea market last week I found
> a piece of history: a cassette adapter for an 8-track...
> new in the box! This allowed you to play those new-
> fangled cassette thingies in your 8-track. Had one.
> Was horrible! I passed on it, even at $0.25!
>
> Oh, for the record, I'm 33 and no longer have 8-tracks
> in any of my vehicles. I do still have 400+ LP's and a
> programmable turntable (reads the tracks with a laser).
> My 14-yr-old stepson finds them all very amusing.
>
> Bill Elliott
> Lake Mills, WI
>
>
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