The Cassette Turns 50 Years Old Today

Time to celebrate! The cassette tape turns 50 years old today! In 1963, Philips Electronics officially introduced the “compact cassette” with the intention to replace the bulkier reel-to-reel tape used for dictation. They used high-quality polyester 1/8-inch tape produced by BASF and both recording and playback ran at a speed of 1.7/8 inches per second. The consumer’s demand for blank tape used for personal music-recording was unanticipated by Philips and it certainly changed the history of music.

Cassettes are still around, but it is clear that their time has passed. It is odd seeing people collecting cassettes for nostalgia’s sake, but they do. Chances are that you have some in your closet!