Opera Tapes

[Redox]

Hello everyone. I have acquired a job lot of twenty-four 7" tapes. These look to be almost semi-professional in their presentation.

They are labelled and numbered. I guess these would have been produced by an enthusiast back in the day. I dont think these would have been purchased as a commercial opera set.

What do people think about this and also possible source of the operas?

3160831609316103161131612

[Barry]

Hello everyone. I have acquired a job lot of twenty-four 7" tapes. These look to be almost semi-professional in their presentation.

They are labelled and numbered. I guess these would have been produced by an enthusiast back in the day. I dont think these would have been purchased as a commercial opera set.

What do people think about this and also possible source of the operas?

3160831609316103161131612

There is not a lot to add to what you have already written. Obviously recorded from an alternative source, such as from an LP or from the radio, the originator has taken care with the labeling of the content and of the recording artists; orchestra and conductor etc.

The big question is what is the head configuration of the tape recorder used to record and later play back the performance.
All the tapes are 7" in diameter, meaning they could hold a 1,200', 1,800' or 2,400' length of tape. It is unlikely the tape is 2,400' long, as it would be too thin and prone to stretching with use.

That leaves either 1,200' or 1,800' to choose from. In the case of Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld", this operetta lasts about an hour. So if either thickness tape is used, the entire work could be stored with a two-track recorder running at 3.75ips, or a four-track recorder running at 7.5ips.

I suspect the recordings were made at 3.75ips using a two track recorder, as that would obviate the necessity of having to stop the recording halfway through in order to turn the tape around, but only you can find out by actually playing a tape.

Good luck with your findings.