Re: [ARSCLIST] Early stereo mass market tapes

[Roger and Allison Kulp <thorenstd124@xxxxxxxxx>]

When you go around picking through junk to sell on
eBay,tou find all sorts of stuff.I have found m number
of tapes over the years,that I have sold.I can supply
sme names of companies,but no specifics about
history.There was Omegatape,who was initially set up
as a tape-only label.They put out a bunch of
titles,that were later issued on Lp.The ones I sold
were by Ataufo Arghenta,later released,by Omega on
Lp,and Art pepper,released by blue Note,on LP,in
1980.These tapes dated from 1957-58.There was also
Audiophile,who put out tapes of traditional/dixieland
jazz,early on.RCA,and Westminster,put out tapes,in
19556-56.These are easily spotted,as they have
different box designs,than the Lp covers.

   I think the early history of this would be
facinating,where would you learn more about it ?
                                 Roger Kulp

--- Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hi All:
> 
> I'm trying to find out some history of the early
> stereo hifi era, specifically the handful of 
> companies that sprang up to make and market stereo
> tapes. This would be circa 1955-56, when the 
> first commercial mass-duped 2-tracks were out. What
> was the business model for a company like 
> Livingston or Bel Canto? Were they basically run
> like boutique record labels or differently? Aside 
> from those two and Stereotapes, who else was making
> original recordings as opposed to licensing and 
> releasing stuff from major labels or European
> sources?
> 
> Also, we talked about Emory Cook and I believe
> there's someone on-list here who actually worked
> with 
> Cook. Did he jump into stereo tapes or stick with
> his two-cartridge grooved disks?
> 
> Finally, does anyone have any sales estimates on the
> first generation of tapes? I know they were 
> priced a bit higher than mono LP records and the
> playback decks were expensive by mid-50s standards, 
> so it was a niche market. But, reel to reel tape
> obviously caught on enough that by the 
> quarter-track era (1958 or so onward), there was
> enough demand to allow for a lot of catalog variety 
> and many duping operations around the country. By
> the late 60's, I think it was down to Bel Canto, 
> Ampex Tapes and a handful of smaller dupers but I
> might be wrong on that.
> 
> OK, thanks in advance for any facts anyone can
> share.
> 
> -- Tom Fine
> 


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