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8 Track and Cassettes

What I found way out in the way of this relic format were the high prices that some of the portables are going for...like though the roof in come cases.

I've got a 40 pounder 8 track portable, with a split body that offers a two speaker stereo even! And it runs on with AC or 8 C batteries. :eek: Then it weighs 40+ pounds. I sits on the gear stand, but still works...even the radio portion. It def is a "conversation piece".:biggrin:

Yes, 62v some of us are "lost causes".

Q
 
Marine0811 said:
It’s funny to me that a lot of us have admitted to throwing 8 track tapes out the window, never realizing we are also admitting to littering! Lol! Now that’s funny
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Back in those days, any drive over a few miles long would usually result in seeing
a. an eaten 8 track tape
b. a rusty muffler
c. both of the above
laying along the side of the road.
 
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MCS, I had EXACTLY this 8-track player in my parents' 1966 Plymouth Fury III wagon (383 c.i. with three-speed on the column!) When they
traded it in, I got the tape player and it went into my '65 Ford Galaxie...oh man, Blues Project, Vanilla Fudge, Otis Redding...now THAT was automotive listening, LOL
 
My first (and only) stereo receiver was an Electrophonic T600 with a built in 8 track acquired when I was 13. What I remember most about them was knowing exactly where in the middle of songs you'd hear the "thunk thunk" as it changed to a different track pair. :)

electrophonic_t600.jpg
 
Quadman2 said:
Oh man, me thinks that this 8 track malady doth engulf the globe!:eek:

I too have found artists who I've never encountered in other formats. Eventually I am going to transfer these into either CD or on SD micro.

There is a collector who has a museum in Texas dedicated to the 8 track.

And, any time in the next year or two y'all want to enlarge your collection by 1800 or so, then get back to me.

Take care and have great listening, in whatever way that you can, 62 Vauxhall...and is it an Envoy?

Q
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Not anymore, I believe it’s closed now
Smokey
 
According to their Facebook page, the Eight-Track Museum in Dallas, Texas closed in July 2015. They were looking for a new location, but apparently that never happened.
 
I made decent gas money as a kid fixing 8-track tapes for the gang. I understood the mystery of the Moebius loop so was able to charge $2 each to get 'em playing again.:)
 
I've still got hundreds of 8 Tracks left .. actually part of my Mom's estate (left them with my parents) when I left home in 1980. Found a 24 unit 8 Track case that I used back then with the 8 Tracks (<< posted what they were last year) still in them.

Only real value to me is as a "time capsule" of what I was listening too in the close of the 70's.
 
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I'd check out the cassettes for obscure heavy metal and punk. Cassettes are making a comeback like vinyl did and some of them are fetching decent money. Also any three head cassette machines would be a good find. I would go through all of it and pick up any oddball VHS, especially Horror/ Slasher stuff. Check out eBay's completed bids (highest first) on VHS, cassettes and 8 tracks and make sure you're sitting down.
 
dudes

I smell 8-track flipper millions. buy for a couple bucks, clean with cartridge, lemon pledge on
walnut vinyl, shine with brasso, and sell for 100+.

rock collections of 8-tracks? sky's the limit.
 
srunge55 said:
Are there any particular 8 track player brands/models to look for?
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There's a number of desirable units out there. My favorite is my Wollensak model 8075. I can't remember all the model numbers off the top of my head, but pioneer made a nice deck something like HR99 or a Dolby version maybe 100. Technics and akai both made quad units that are very sought after. Those are recorders as well as playback, but the best playback only quadraphonic unit I ever had was a Harman Kardon model 10. If you're looking for things at tag sales and flea markets for resale, the quads are a find. If you want to own and use them, be aware the quad tapes themselves are hard to find and usually expensive...probably more expensive than they should be. On the bright side quad players work just fine with stereo tapes. I've heard other units with good sound quality...within the limitations of 8 track tape...but most don't command high prices, unless there is something else that makes them of interest. The mod looking portables in bright colors sell well. I once saw a marantz eight track/cassette silver faced combine sell for a couple hundred bucks at an auction. I've only seen that unit the one time, so I would assume it's rare. Still....you never know.
 
srunge55 said:
Quad, are you talking about car 8 tracks only or 8 track decks for home stereo?
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There were home (AC), car/truck 12V), and portable players (AC&DC).

As in any audio sales market, there were the cheapies that had a glut for the tape, and the more sophisticated models, with lots of controls, and had even the ability to record. Some were even lookers, encased in different woods. A tape mishap was rare with the upper enders. Usually it was the cartridge that was the tape's greatest enemy.

Even today, some of the more high tech players (an oxymoron) for some, were available that put out a decent sound for the day...I stress for the day! Found several on "Pinterest" that offers some really strange, "way out" designs, but that was the trend for that time, eh? The "Space Age Mod" by Weltron was one of those, trying to captures the sense of space travel that was paramount during that period.

Even on eBay today, the prices range from a few dollars right up to the "Columbia" GP-K800 that is going for $850. Some of the better built, cosmetic types run in the low $100's. A neat little model I like is called the "Panasonic TNT". There's one selling for $540 right out of the box. There is an 8track that was meant for the counsel optioned '69 Camaro. They still sell for well over a $1000 even today, if you can find one. I had an 8 track player (under dash) for a '69 Camaro that I sold for $400. Some said that I gave it away at the time. For a player I had an orig GM unit, and they range from $300 to $600. If you had a convertible, there was no use having rear speakers, because with the roof down, they couldn't be heard! So, to boost the volume and quality I added two smaller amps hooked into the 8 track and a "Bazooka" woofer in the trunk. The resulting sound wasn't bad. Even won an audio trophy for it at a car meet. Maybe they felt sorry for me?:D

So, as you can see, the prices of these out of date tape player devices are all over the map.

If you check my avatar, it is a GM audio multiplex (under dash), that changes the mono signal into stereo. With the size of the radios at the time, and the Cams with auto trannies?... both audio units wouldn't fit in the dash, so this under dash application resulted. Decided to keep it even though the Cam and I parted recently. Not sure what I'll do with it? A shrine?;)


Have a great day all, and even better listening.:music:

Q
 
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