LET'S TALK TAPE
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Year Published: 1960s
Format: 16mm
Description: This longform advertisement from the early to mid-1960s, titled "Let’s Talk Tape" and produced by Kodak, promotes a line of magnetic tape used for recording made by the Magnetic Products Division of the Eastman Kodak Company. The film consists primarily of a tour of the Kodak recording tape factory, with quality control methods highlighted, as well as a sales pitch for Kodak products made in a studio showroom. At the very beginning and end of the film, recording tape is shown in action being used for recording music, instructions, radio, educational materials, and other applications. Keywords: recording tape factory, late 1950s / early 1960s factory, manufacturing, magnetic tape, Kodak company, history of advertising, factory quality control, Durol base recording tape, degaussing, splicing recording tape, playing time, tape players, print-through on tape recording, etc. Detailed summary: Lone woman singing playing acoustic guitar against black background - "Go Away from My Window" -- it's Joan Baez (0:11). Tape recorder in operation (0:21). Title: "Let’s Talk Tape" (0:30). Man presents in clean room with tape recorders ("Kodak tape, a name that’s known and respected all over the world") (magnetic sound tape) (0:37). Salesman in clean white factory uniform gives presentation on product quality in active Kodak tape factory (1:30). Tape manufacturing employee operates factory machine (1:45). Factory workers cut strips of recording tape emerging from machine and begin rolling tape, hanging strips (2:10). Kodak factory technician studies recording tape under microscope—"high-precision magnetic oxide coating" (2:58). Factory worker feeds recording tape into machine (3:05). Backing of recording tape—cellulose triacetate / Durol base (3:07). Clean break of recording tape demonstrated (no stretching) (3:15). Worker arranges rough working model of coating operation with improved binder on table—plastic resin particles explained (3:30). Kodak recording tape factory workers amid active machinery; 1960s American factory work (4:06). Coating in process, factory durability tests (4:15). Precision slitting machine in action; slitting recording tape in factory (4:28). Slitting of recording tape studied through microscope (4:50). Workers in uniform busy at tape testing laboratory (quality control) (5:00). Recording tape spins on factory machine, buttons and various devices to test quality at factory: undistorted output ("Sensitive Research Instrument Corporation," unity), low and high- frequency sensitivity (A.C. Volts, Decibels, Ballantine Laboratories), uniformity (5:15). Final packaging area of factory; electronically clearing—degaussing recording tape in 1960s (5:45). Salesman pulls Kodak recording tape from roll, displays "Eastman Kodak" label, factory code numbers, product information ("polyester base," "1 mil extra play") ("when Kodak puts their name on it, you can depend on it") (5:55). Man removes uniform at busy recording tape factory (6:50). Back at showroom, salesman displays various kinds of tape: Kodak Type 31A (general purpose—low-print oxide, print-through ratio, base thickness, oxide type, acetate) (7:00). Salesman runs recorded Kodak tape on R Califone stereo tape player; display of recording tape (high frequency sensitivity, undistorted output, low stretch) (7:44). Kodak Type 34A tape final packaging—high output tape (8:15). Kodak Type 21A tape final packaging—extra playing time; Type 21P tape—polyester; Type 11P tape—Double Play; Type 12P tape—Triple Play (8:44). Full line of Kodak recording tapes in showroom (9:01). One-piece Thread Easy reel, frosted section for marking, measurements, smooth edges, groove for easily splicing recording tape (9:20). Spliced recording tape (10:10). Recording tape spinning quickly on reel (10:28). Kodak salesman in showroom again (10:30). Sign on door for "Language Lab" (10:55). Female student learning Spanish speaks into recording device while reading from textbook (Bell recorded tape device) (10:57). Various 1960s scenes in which recording tape is being used—businessman at desk with small desktop recorder readings from document/script, young girl on bed recording into small tape device, professional radio station using tape recorders, jazz trio recording in studio (11:00). Tape box ("if it says Kodak, you’re safe") (11:30). The End (11:45).
Complete Record: This longform advertisement from the early to mid-1960s, titled "Let’s Talk Tape" and produced by Kodak, promotes a line of magnetic tape used for recording made by the Magnetic Products Division of the Eastman Kodak Company. The film consists primarily of a tour of the Kodak recording tape factory, with quality control methods highlighted, as well as a sales pitch for Kodak products made in a studio showroom. At the very beginning and end of the film, recording tape is shown in action being used for recording music, instructions, radio, educational materials, and other applications. Keywords: recording tape factory, late 1950s / early 1960s factory, manufacturing, magnetic tape, Kodak company, history of advertising, factory quality control, Durol base recording tape, degaussing, splicing recording tape, playing time, tape players, print-through on tape recording, etc. Detailed summary: Lone woman singing playing acoustic guitar against black background - "Go Away from My Window" -- it's Joan Baez (0:11). Tape recorder in operation (0:21). Title: "Let’s Talk Tape" (0:30). Man presents in clean room with tape recorders ("Kodak tape, a name that’s known and respected all over the world") (magnetic sound tape) (0:37). Salesman in clean white factory uniform gives presentation on product quality in active Kodak tape factory (1:30). Tape manufacturing employee operates factory machine (1:45). Factory workers cut strips of recording tape emerging from machine and begin rolling tape, hanging strips (2:10). Kodak factory technician studies recording tape under microscope—"high-precision magnetic oxide coating" (2:58). Factory worker feeds recording tape into machine (3:05). Backing of recording tape—cellulose triacetate / Durol base (3:07). Clean break of recording tape demonstrated (no stretching) (3:15). Worker arranges rough working model of coating operation with improved binder on table—plastic resin particles explained (3:30). Kodak recording tape factory workers amid active machinery; 1960s American factory work (4:06). Coating in process, factory durability tests (4:15). Precision slitting machine in action; slitting recording tape in factory (4:28). Slitting of recording tape studied through microscope (4:50). Workers in uniform busy at tape testing laboratory (quality control) (5:00). Recording tape spins on factory machine, buttons and various devices to test quality at factory: undistorted output ("Sensitive Research Instrument Corporation," unity), low and high- frequency sensitivity (A.C. Volts, Decibels, Ballantine Laboratories), uniformity (5:15). Final packaging area of factory; electronically clearing—degaussing recording tape in 1960s (5:45). Salesman pulls Kodak recording tape from roll, displays "Eastman Kodak" label, factory code numbers, product information ("polyester base," "1 mil extra play") ("when Kodak puts their name on it, you can depend on it") (5:55). Man removes uniform at busy recording tape factory (6:50). Back at showroom, salesman displays various kinds of tape: Kodak Type 31A (general purpose—low-print oxide, print-through ratio, base thickness, oxide type, acetate) (7:00). Salesman runs recorded Kodak tape on R Califone stereo tape player; display of recording tape (high frequency sensitivity, undistorted output, low stretch) (7:44). Kodak Type 34A tape final packaging—high output tape (8:15). Kodak Type 21A tape final packaging—extra playing time; Type 21P tape—polyester; Type 11P tape—Double Play; Type 12P tape—Triple Play (8:44). Full line of Kodak recording tapes in showroom (9:01). One-piece Thread Easy reel, frosted section for marking, measurements, smooth edges, groove for easily splicing recording tape (9:20). Spliced recording tape (10:10). Recording tape spinning quickly on reel (10:28). Kodak salesman in showroom again (10:30). Sign on door for "Language Lab" (10:55). Female student learning Spanish speaks into recording device while reading from textbook (Bell recorded tape device) (10:57). Various 1960s scenes in which recording tape is being used—businessman at desk with small desktop recorder readings from document/script, young girl on bed recording into small tape device, professional radio station using tape recorders, jazz trio recording in studio (11:00). Tape box ("if it says Kodak, you’re safe") (11:30). The End (11:45).
Transcription
[Music] [Music] so go away from my window go away from my door go away from my bedside [Music] bother me no more talk about tape here's a product that speaks for itself kodak tape a name that's known and respected all over the world last year some 30 billion feet of magnetic sound tape were sold in the united states alone 30 million dollars worth we believe that as long as people are spending this kind of money they're entitled to know what they're getting now i use tape i sell tape it's my business in fact you might say i'm a nut about tape and high quality sound to get the real low down i went to rochester new york eastman kodak headquarters what's that oh you didn't know that kodak makes tape well let me take you behind the scenes right into the factory come on i've got a pass door lab this cap and gown routine is no joke here at kodak it's a way of life they insist on such extreme cleanliness in the plant a guy can get quarantined if he has dandruff [Music] in sensitive areas they even clean the air every six minutes they're just as fussy about their tapes as they always have been about their kodachrome film now people ask is one tape as good as another well how can it be unless [Music] look this is usually off limits but let's see how it all starts here's where the first and biggest difference in tape quality begins in what goes into the basic stock and the way in which it's coated figure it out for yourself kodak has not only tremendous machinery and equipment but through the years kodak engineers have acquired a pretty broad background of experience particularly when it comes to coding sensitive photographic film it's only natural that the same techniques they developed in handling film are applied to tape and it's the high precision magnetic oxide coating that gives kodak tape its prime recording quality the backing for new kodak sound recording tape is called dural base this is a special base of cellulose triacetate which is not only smooth it's tough and durable but it has a built-in shear pin action if kodak tape breaks accidentally it breaks clean with practically no stretching this rough working model of the coating operation might help convey something you really can't see the totally new and improved binder that is built into each roll it's a unique plastic resin which envelops the individual magnetic particles and disperses them uniformly anchors them to the base the binder is also responsible for the excellent wearability of kodak tape because it can be coated to a hard yet incredibly smooth surface this machine for instance is running constantly to test the durability the strength of kodak tape here's another big difference in kodak tape in the way it is slick and whether you know it or not precision slitting is a very vital factor in the way tape performs on your recorder kodak edge slitting is razor sharp smooth right down the line roll after roll this means no frayed edges no loose particles getting in the recording head maybe you can get a better idea through the microscope see the clean cut edges the trueness the accuracy of the slitting contributes a great deal to the ultimate audio quality here in one of kodak's tape testing laboratories the electromagnetic aspects of tape are subjected to continuous checks this is one of the key areas that help kodak maintain its rigid quality control for instance they test for undistorted output to assure you of distortion free recordings they test for low frequency sensitivity or high frequency sensitivity these same frequencies are tested for uniformity of output in the final packaging area every role is electronically cleared of any foreign signal it might have picked up during the manufacturing process they call this degaussing before we leave i want to show you something that you'll find on the back of every roll of kodak tape look here every 15 inches kodak is identified as the manufacturer the code numbers pinpoint the equipment on which it was made the date and the role this ensures total quality control every 30 inches product information is printed on the tape describing base material based thickness and playing time this back printing information is unique with kodak because they're proud to put their name on it when you see the name kodak you know you have top quality tape not unknown unidentified tape that is sometimes sold under little-known brand names when kodak puts their name on it you can depend on it now come on back to the shop and i'll give you a quick rundown on kodak's line of sound recording tapes type 31a is general purpose tape the finest product of its kind on the market its low print oxide has a terrific print through ratio better by 5 db than other general purpose tapes in fact 31a has a better print through ratio than most premium priced low print tapes so you can always tell the first digit identifies the thickness of the base one half of three means one and a half mil support the second digit denotes the oxide type one means low print general purpose obviously a stands for acetate the high frequency sensitivity and undistorted output of type 31a have been increased some 33 percent over the standard general purpose tapes this gives you more vibrant highs more natural balance between highs and lows kodak type 31a is stronger than conventional tape in addition in case of a tape break kodak's dural base limits stretch to a low one percent as compared to ten percent for conventional acetate [Music] type 34a also on one and a half mil dural base is kodak's high output tape designed to give you over 125 percent the undistorted output of conventional general purpose tapes and this high output characteristic has been attained without the usual sacrifice in print through in addition kodak makes type 21a on a one mil dural base for extended playing time 21p for those who want the toughness of a polyester support 11p on half mil polyester for twice the playing time and 12p for triple playing time so here's a line of kodak tapes designed to meet every requirement of sound recording no high noise level no signal dropouts because of uneven coating no squealing tapes because there are not enough lubricants these are the things that can drive a tape man to distraction now take a long look at kodak's unique thread easy reel because of its one piece construction kodak engineers have been able to make the reel dynamically balanced this means freedom from wobble pulsation and throbbing on your recorder at any speed the name thread easy means what it says just watch this and try threading this rapidly with any other reel there's also a frosted area on each side so you can mark the number right on the reel and a footage guide on the side to help you find that portion of the recording you want take a look at the edges on this reel they're all smooth and beveled really guaranteed to treat your tape with tender loving care you'll find a little groove in the reel a handy jig for making splices in a hurry little things sure but it's nice to know that kodak is thinking about the needs of the customer and they really have been with israel you really have a premium package but not at a premium price and that's the best part about it no wonder the kodak thread izzy reel has been such a success today kodak sound recording tape combines the highest quality and the greatest convenience ever packed in one box the fact is no other sound recording tape has been more completely engineered to give the customer the best possible enjoyment maniamo spencer borden yo vivo and la dad de nueva new york correct please write world tv press 257 park avenue when i received the tapes you send and know that i can talk to you the same way in the interest of public safety station koad urges that you wait for the green light cross only [Music] so if you want to play it smart and get the best what do you look for look for the name on the box and on the tape if it says kodak you're safe [Music] you
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