New vs Old Maxell tape

[Numone]

A used 10.5” Maxell UD or XLI, fortunately both of which I have never had an issue, are still pretty reasonable at circa $40 - $50 a tape. I’ve only ever bought one NOS Maxell, an XLI, about 4 years ago and that was $25, so well before hardware and more recently, software, went nuts.
Here in the U.K. a 10.5” plastic reel of SM900 is $55 shipped and LPR 90 $62. ATR tape is insane money - $120 for 10.5” reel.

 

[stoutblock]

Yes, you are correct if you are referring to the total thickness of the tape. It is common practice, however, for tape manufacturers to identify their tapes as 1 mil or 1.5 mil based on the tape base thickness. ATR and Capture tapes are identified in this manner as were Maxell tapes. A 7” reel would typically hold 1800 feet of 1 mil tape but only 1200 feet of 1.5 mil tape. For 10.5” reels, the tape lengths would be 3600 feet and 2500 feet respectively. If you refer to the catalogue information for RTM tapes, their LPR 35 tape is offered as 1800 feet on 7” reels and 3608 feet on 10.5” reels

I guess I knew that but purged those brain cells,,,thanks for the reboot!