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I think _all_ of us would be interested in a picture of said tape/box, and a discussion like this could be easily aided with visuals. However, a listserv is not the best location for such a presentation. Perhaps such a conversation could take place on the AAA message board, provided any future asker has the time to take a picture and upload it to flickr/photobucket/etc. At 12:38 PM 2/11/2009, you wrote: >Hi Marie, > >If you measure the hub diameter and the thickness of the pack, I can >compute the tape thickness. You'll need to measure as accurately as >possible. I measure to the nearest 0.005" (0.3 mm) to get very good >results (I use digital calipers). I'll assume that the tape is 500 M >in length. If you have a really accurate thickness gauge, you can >always measure a pack of 10 tape layers directly. The overall >thickness will at least help eliminate a few candidate brands/models >of tape. > >Could you tell us more about the tape, like color of the oxide? If >you have handled the tape, does it "feel" like a 1-mil or 1.5-mil base? >Presumably no back-coating? Color of the base tape? > >I'm wondering if AT-220 is "Ampex Tape" model 220. Maybe they >purchased bulk tape from Ampex and spooled and packaged it in >China. If you lurk on the Ampex Listserv, one of the Ampex old-timers >might be able to tell you if they distributed bulk tape to China. > >Maybe the reel itself could provide a clue? Does the reel have any >markings? Maybe there's a hint from the shape of the reel flange >holes or hub diameter? Is it a slotted hub? > >Last but not least, maybe a post to this list for native Chinese >readers might help you locate someone who can translate the characters >if you have a scan of the box. > >Eric Jacobs > >The Audio Archive, Inc. >tel: 408.221.2128 >fax: 408.549.9867 >mailto:[log in to unmask] >http://www.TheAudioArchive.com >Disc and Tape Audio Transfer Services and Preservation Consulting > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List >[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Marie O'Connell >Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 10:23 AM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Magnetic tape brand > > >Hi Jeff > >It is 1/4" inch, polyester, and actually looks as if it has never been used >as it is only a pancake still in its plastic bag inside the pale blue box. >The tape measures 9 inches in diameter. I don't think it is that new, I >would say it is possibly 20 odd years old. It has 7 chinese symbols above >the AT-220 with the 500 M written under that. Also written on the box is >Stereo Magnetic Tape (in English) and Made in China (in English). There is >a doodle of a baby's face on the back of the box done in biro!! If there is >no audio on it then the doodle, if drawn by the donor, could be the most >important part! > >I know nothing about the chinese language and just jumped in with a totally >uneducated guess, EMITAPE, only due to the 7 symbols '-) >On Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 4:42 AM, Jeff Willens <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > Marie, > > > > Anything else you can tell us about the tape? Acetate/Polyester? Is it a > > fairly new reel? > > > > -Jeff Willens > > Audio Restoration Engineer > > VidiPax > > [log in to unmask] > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Marie O'Connell [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > > Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 7:55 PM > > Subject: Magnetic tape brand > > > > > > I was hoping to get some advice regarding a tape I am presently > > accessioning. It is made in China, is a pancake only which measures 9 > > inches across, and on the box it says - Stereo Magnetic Tape, AT-220 500 >M. > > Unfortunately the brand name itself is in Chinese, I presume. Any ideas? > > I > > tried googling AT-220 but no luck. > > > > Cheers > > Marie > >