8 track tapes stopped being produced in the early 2000s.
8 track tapes stopped being produced in the early 2000s.
when did 8 track tapes stop being produced?
early 2000s
Na
Na
after taking a ride with muntz in a 4-track player-outfitted car, bill lear, maker of the lear jet, modified the 4-track technology to create the stereo 8 cartridge, widely known as the 8-track. most notably, eight tracks were squeezed onto the same ¼" tape, reducing potential audio quality, but allowing twice as much music to be put onto the same length of tape. the pinch roller was also an integral part of the 8-track cartridge, although many early rubber rollers would suffer from deterioration because the rubber had not been fully cured. once this was discovered, all later rubber pinch rollers were "fully cured" (hard) rubber, or plastic rollers (introduced by rca in 1970) were used instead. thanks to his connection to motorola, which made radios for ford motors cars, lear was able to ensure that 8-track players would be included in many ford cars, and they became popular mainly during the early- to mid-1970s. 4-track tapes gradually faded away and were gone by late 1970, as most people switched to 8-tracks, although players compatible with both 4-track and 8-track tapes were sometimes made. inexpensive adapters were available that permitted 4-track tapes to be played in 8-track players. the adapter was a rubber pinch roller attached to a small metal plate that would clip into the opening in the 4-track cartridge. 4-track tapes are still in-demand by collectors.
stereo-pak