Sorry your machine ate your tape. I hated when that happened. Back in the brief (thankfully) history of the eight track this was so common. Same with over used or cheaply made cassettes. Now I have a recalled memory of driving behind someone who thoughtlessly tossed their failed media out the car window, ribbons of mylar sailing behind.
That last is a great point. I often think about the fact that for all the grumbling about the “Hanks effect” and the increasing prices of vintage typewriters, they’re still far less expensive than they were when new, especially when adjusted for inflation. I can’t think of many other collectibles of which that is true.
The perils of cassette tapes. Even the best of the best studio decks will sometimes eat a tape. I used to only buy cassettes put together with screws (most all broadcast tapes) so I could hopefully repair an eaten tape.
I keep and store my mini cassettes the same as I do all my tapes — in a somewhat controlled environment so the tape does not too hot/humid and stick together. Most all are dated, all are numbered, and the number is cross referenced in a log as to contents.
You are right, this IS a time of abundance. The cost of the typical old writing machine is a small fraction of what it was originally worth, even if it’s working beautifully, so we can enjoy a smorgasbord.
Sorry your machine ate your tape. I hated when that happened. Back in the brief (thankfully) history of the eight track this was so common. Same with over used or cheaply made cassettes. Now I have a recalled memory of driving behind someone who thoughtlessly tossed their failed media out the car window, ribbons of mylar sailing behind.
That last is a great point. I often think about the fact that for all the grumbling about the “Hanks effect” and the increasing prices of vintage typewriters, they’re still far less expensive than they were when new, especially when adjusted for inflation. I can’t think of many other collectibles of which that is true.
The perils of cassette tapes. Even the best of the best studio decks will sometimes eat a tape. I used to only buy cassettes put together with screws (most all broadcast tapes) so I could hopefully repair an eaten tape.
I keep and store my mini cassettes the same as I do all my tapes — in a somewhat controlled environment so the tape does not too hot/humid and stick together. Most all are dated, all are numbered, and the number is cross referenced in a log as to contents.
You are right, this IS a time of abundance. The cost of the typical old writing machine is a small fraction of what it was originally worth, even if it’s working beautifully, so we can enjoy a smorgasbord.