"D Peter Maus" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"none" ""dave\"@(none)" wrote in message
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Telamon wrote:
In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:

The problem with these over many years is the tape formulation kept
changing to improve the high end so you needed to have amplifiers
with
selection switches depending on the tape formulation. Some even
required
different heads (gap) depending on the ferro grain size in the tape.
I never experienced that. By 1960, the format for 2 track mono
(forward and reverse) and, later, for two track stereo were the same
in consumer and boradcast applications. You are likely thinking of the
mid to late 50's stuff, which was not as standardized.
Nope. Before my time.

Consumer decks used 4 tr stereo, 2 tracks in each direction.

Not all of them. The early ones like the Wollensak were mono, one track
each way. And many consumer decks, like the Sony 777 series, came as
either two or 4 track, depending on the consumer need. The break point
was around $500 with those below that cost being as you describe, and
those above having options. Even the $2000 Otari of the late 70's and
80's came with either configuration.


The Wollensak T-1500 series, common as crabgrass, was available mono
record/Stereo reproduce. Ampex 600 series could be had with a stereo play
head, as well. Both half track.

There were a fair number of those mono record, stereo play. A couple, and I
don't remember which, used a combined record/play head for mono, and had a
separate stereo head. Others did two track mono, in both play directions, or
one direction stereo... in both cases, there were only two tracks.