(U2) Cassettes are Cool

Originally posted by BigGiRL:[..]
with certificate of provenance, of course

Originally posted by BigGiRL:[..]
...more like a souvenir from a great time

Originally posted by BigGiRL:[..]

Eh no, probably not... Like I said: I worked at the PolyGram Cassette factory.
I manufactured this one myself (and took it legally with me!).

I placed a white (empty) shell in the machine that winds the pre-recorded audio tape (the "pancakes") in: the TapeMatic 2002 (see picture).

Then I kept the then still unprinted cassette in my pocket and waited for an opportunity to get the print on (APEX print).

That's the story...

[image]
in this promo pic you see red shells, but usually they were transparent.
But sometimes there were colors - or black, or white cassettes.

#thisishowwedidit

Originally posted by Anam:[..]
That is one of the coolest U2 or tape stories I've ever heard! Lovely tape. I really want a go of the TapeMatic2002.

Originally posted by BigGiRL:[..]
Back in those days we had 8 hour shifts (with 1 hour break: 2×15 + 1×30); one morning, one afternoon, and one night shift.
An operator could handle 6 to 7 machines with an average (total) output of 11,000 cassettes per shift. My record was something like 19,000 at the time we produced Elton John's Candle In The Wind (1997).
And mind you, PolyGram had just one plant for Western Europe, and still millions of cassettes were produced and sold.

Originally posted by BigGiRL:Wouldn't be so sure. I think cassettes these days are all 1:1 duplicating.
Perhaps TapeMatic's are still used to make blanks. For high-speed duplicating you also need a copy department. Such an organization is only doable when you can really put out serious volumes.

Originally posted by Fly40:a friend of mine,a record dealer,told me that there in the US the tape is coming back to life.and they're even building cars with stereos for cassettes....right?