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).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com