4-Track Cartridge Tapes
You must have a 4-track deck to play these. Four-track was the precursor to the 8-track. These tapes do not have an internal pinch roller (it is contained in the player itself). Mechanically, they are more or less identical to the cart machines used in broadcast studios. In terms of track formatting they are very similar to a 3 3/4 IPS 4-track prerecorded open reel tape (except that the 4 tracks all run in the same direction).
I AM LOOKING FOR any high-quality 4-track decks: wide frequency response and low wow & flutter are a must. Even if you aren't selling, I would like to know the make & model of any such equipment!
ALSO, if there is anybody reading this who is willing or able to convert a broadcast-type cart machine to play prerecorded 4-tracks, PLEASE contact me. Cart machines seem to be readily available secondhand. I would imagine a stereo cart machine would need to be modified as follows: a 4-channel head installed, some sort of switch for the electronics to switch tracks within the head (I don't even want to consider using a moveable stereo head), mods to the power supply or motor to run at 3 3/4 IPS (if necessary), and possibly mods to the output stage and / or jacks to be compatible with the RCA inputs of home audio gear (impedance matching, output level etc.) Ideally I would want to end up with a machine with S/N, distortion, frequency response and wow & flutter specs similar to a modern high-quality cassette deck, at least.
On to the listings...
IMPORTANT: unless noted, all of these are white cart ITCC in original title tag sleeves. Most are sealed. Any quantity stock is noted in (parentheses) before the price, otherwise only one copy avalable of each. Very nice items here; these 4-tracks are getting impossible to find used and finding NOS store stock like this is basically unheard of at this late date! None are cutouts, either!
Association-Birthday-WB-SS; LS; Muntz clear-top cart $15
Bee Gees-1st-Atco-SS; LS/TT (2) $15
Buffalo Springfield-Again-Atco-SS; LS/TT very nice item! $20
Collectors-Grass & Wild Strawberries-WB-M-; LS; Muntz cart orig $15
Cowsills-The Cowsills In Concert-MGM-SS; LS/TT (2) $4
Dion-Abraham, Martin & John-Laurie-SS; LS/TT (4) $4
Elephant's Memory-Buddah-SS; LS/TT; cool psych w/ killer track "Old Man Willow" $5
The 5 Stairsteps & Cubie-A Family Portrait-Buddah-SS; LS/TT (4) $4
Barry Goldberg-Two Jews Blues-Buddah-SS; LS/TT $3
The Barry Goldberg Reunion-There's No Hole In My Soul (Only In My Head)-Buddah-SS; LS/TT (3) $3
Rimsky-Korsakov / Prokofiev-Suite From Le Coq D'or / Three Oranges Suite-Pickwick-M-; w/ very rare 4/8 adaptor included, held in place by "4/8 Converter / Remove only when used in 4 track player" sticker; instructions sticker on bottom about how to play the tape in a 8T deck; fresh pads; found another one of these, amazingly enough $20
Tamba 4-We & The Sea-A&M-SS; LS/TT; very cool Brasilian group (3) $4
We Five-Make Someone Happy-A&M-SS; LS/TT; nice folkrock-pop $4
The Young Sound Vol. 2-Scepter / Wand Group-SS; LS/TT; another tape-only comp w/ Bobby Hebb, Maxine Brown, Chuck Jackson, Roscoe Robinson, Theola Kilgore (2) $4