Cassette Tape Technology
The cassette tape was a plastic cartridge with two spools that magnetic tape would round back and forth on and allow recordings on the tape. Magnetic tape is a technology that has been around for decades before the cassette tape, but it was the compact size of the cassette tape that led to its popularity. Although short-lived, the capabilities and portability that cassette tapes offer a convenience never seen before it. It offered an analog recording capability that could be replayed repeatedly.
The popularity of the cassette tape is due primarily to Sony and the development of the Walkman. This allowed individuals to listen to music at any time on the go, even if running, walking or roller skating. The cassette tape player made its way into automobile manufacturing that spanned nearly a half a century. The cassette truly paved the way for follow on technology such as the CD player, MP3 and even satellite radio by offering entertainment on the go.
Timeline
1962: The cassette tape was invented
1965: The first car had an eight-track player in it
1968: Phillips developed first in dash cassette tape and radio player
1979: Sony Walkman developed/ cassette tape popularity rose
1982: The Compact Disc developed
1983: Cassette tape outsells vinyl music records
1985: Dire Straits released Brothers in Arms. The CD version of this album would be the first CD release to ever outsell cassettes
1991: Compact Discs outsell cassette tapes
2009: Jadakiss’ The Last Kiss, the last major music label to release on cassette
2010: Lexus SC430, the last car to have a factory installed cassette tape player
2017: Cassette tape sales up 35%, to 176,000 tapes sold lead by Guardians of the Galaxy cassettes
2022: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 cassettes sell 17,000 tapes
References
Abrams, S. (2017). The Rise and Fall of Cassettes. The Trojan Tribune. https://pvhsnews.com/628/archives/the-rise-and-fall-of-cassettes/
Austin, J. (2021, April 5). Innovation: How Lou Ottens Accidentally Revolutionized Music. Creative Innovation Group. https://creativeinnovationgroup.com/inventor-of-the-cassette-tape/
BERKOWITZ, J. (2010, October 25). The History of Car Radios. Car and Driver; Car and Driver. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15128476/the-history-of-car-radios/
Muncy, J. (2018, January 6). Guardians of the Galaxy Is Leading The Unlikely Cassette Tape Revival. Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-is-leading-the-unlikely-cassett-1821838451
The cassette tape is making a comeback thanks to a family-run company in Missouri [Radio broadcast transcript]. (2024, June 7). All Things Considered, NA. https://link-gale-com.pittstate.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A796830908/AONE?u=psu_main&sid=summon&xid=6e9ef7d4
Interview
I was able to interview my mom, Roberta Montgomery (although everyone calls her Christine or Chris for short)
Matt: Go ahead and introduce yourself.
Chris: My name is Christine Montgomery. I graduated in High school from Georgetown, Illinois. And then after I graduated, Lockyear College of business in Evansville Indiana. And I learned how to take shorthand…and…that was pretty much it. I mean, we didn’t take much longer than that, we just did the minimum.
Matt: OK
Chris: And then I went in December 1973…I got my first job…no no no. 1974. I got my first job ever as a campaign secretary for a man who was running for United States Congress. And that ran until November and then he lost.
Matt: So you graduated from high school in 72 and Lockyear in 74?
Chris: yes, he ran until the election in 74. Ya that’s it.
Matt: ok
Chris: and then a few days later, I went to work for attorneys for a legal secretary and I worked there for three hours and another firm for five days for five attorneys and that was pretty much it.
Matt: SO you spent most of your life as a legal secretary?
Chris: uh ya. For all intents and purposes for 40 years I served as a legal secretary.
Matt: ok, what do you first remember when you first learned about cassette tapes, and what were your initial thoughts when they came out or at least when they became popular?
Chris: For music or for otherwise?
Matt: for either one, if you used them for your career or your personal use, what were your initial thoughts?
Chris: I didn’t care for the cassettes for music. But I did like the cassettes for the attorneys where they worked so much, for dictation. What would happen is they would be able to make the things on you know give their own what they thought was best and different. It allowed the attorney to give their opinion. I could type what they were saying and go back and listen to it over and over and over again to make she got it right.
Matt: OK, you kinda already talked about it, as far as another question, about how your used them in your profession career. But do you remember what the first cassette tape that you had for music.
Chris: The Lettermen. It was the Lettermen because I always used you know records instead of cassettes. Make sense? The only time I ever used a cassette was for my work was when I worked from 8:30 to 5.
Matt: Do you think they, that the cassette tapes changed the way you worked or thought more made it easier.
Chris: yes, it made it much easier, because I could listen to it and if I didn’t understand it or didn’t like how it finished, I could listen to it again and call it you know, the way I really wanted it. Sometimes I made more sense than the attorney did. So, I would change it so that it was a much better work ya.
Matt: I got it. So, in music, the CD outsold the cassette in the early 90s, when I was like five years old. Did you ever notice a delay in the use of CD’s as a legal secretary?
Chris: No, I don’t believe I did. It kinda kept progressing. If that makes sense, it progressed because we didn’t use everything it helped to keep things moving.
Matt as far as being able to use a CD or cassette?
Chris: Cassette, CDs were much longer.
Matt: There was a big delay at least on the legal side using CDs to dictate or record interviews as opposed to using the cassettes?
The recording was disconnected.
Matt: Although CDs were better for music, what are your thoughts on the cassettes surviving at least in your professional area because they were easier to use and harder to manipulate? Do you think that is why?
She started to struggle with comprehending questions, so my sister Megan helped her answer the remaining questions.
Megan: Sure, Sounds good. The CDs couldn't use them again. But she could use the tapes again.
Matt: over and over again?
Megan: Over and over again.
Matt; Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Megan: She didn’t really benefit from CDs in her time, she used cassettes.
