PlayTapes: Vintage 2-track mini-tape cartridges

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PlayTapes
Vintage 2-track mini-tape cartridges

FIND PLAYTAPES FOR SALE

PlayTapes are highly collectible, and a very unique artifact from the so-called music tape wars of the 1960s. Different formats battled for dominance; 8-track tapes and cassettes won out. Others, like reel-to-reel tapes, continued and appealed to higher-end audiophiles. Cartridges like the 4-track and the obscure mini-twin 4-track format fought the good fight but petered out. And then there were endless-loop PlayTapes.

The PlayTape was a kind of 8-track cartridge in miniature form. Smaller and thinner than a standard 8-track or 4-track tape, PlayTapes were shorter and somewhat analogous to EPs. Or, perhaps, a prototypical cassingle, even.

PlayTapes were marketed, and proved fairly popular, from roughly 1966 to 1968. They used 1/8″ tape — the same width as cassettes. (8-track tapes, 4-track tapes, and reel-to-reels used 1/4″ tape.) PlayTapes behaved sort of like 4-tracks: you play through the length of tape inside twice, hearing two different sections. Both sections had 2-4 songs on average. With a maximum length of 24 minutes, but most with a shorter playing time, PlayTapes were basically even more-portable, miniature versions of 8-track tapes for those on the go.

More on MegaMinistore: Reel-to-reel tapes: Vintage collectibles with pristine quality

Listen to PlayTapes with a vintage player

There were a few different PlayTape players, as well as cases and other accessories. PlayTape players were generally portable, with a speaker built into the unit. Perfect for the beach.

Volkswagen even offered PlayTape players (the “Sapphire” line of models) in some of their cars, both with and without a radio. The portable players are not too hard to find for sale, though the Sapphires are much more rare.

Obviously collectible and interesting to vintage music format fans, PlayTapes include several titles by the likes of The Beatles, The Grass Roots, and other popular 1960s artists. Three thousand titles were available, many with text-only labels but a few with album cover pictures. Surprisingly, many PlayTapes for sale online these days are still sealed. 

PlayTapes for sale

Currently showing our favorite 58 offers from eBay vendors. Click for shipping details and money-back guarantee info. PlayTapes listings are chosen using MegaMinistore's original custom technology. We show you only the latest and best listings from safe, trusted vendors. Offers are updated and refreshed every day.

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Showing 1 - 10 of 58

Playtape Lot of 5 Tapes MGM Verve Hank Williams Ray Charles Louis Armstrong

Seller: humbleglutton ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.9% (8,779 ratings)
Location: United States

$69.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ The Beach Boys – Surfin' U.S.A. T-1890,​ Playtape,​ US,​ 1966

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (1,074 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$149.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Disneyland - Walt Disney's Cinderella,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Tape,​ US,​ 1960s

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (1,074 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Ramsey Lewis – Maiden Voyage,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Cartridge,​ US,​ 1968

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (1,074 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Frank Sinatra ‎– September Of My Years,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Tape,​ US,​ 1965

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (1,074 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Trini Lopez ‎– The Love Album,​ PlayTape,​ 2-track cartridge,​ US,​ 1964

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (1,074 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Ray Charles - Ray's Moods,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Cartridge,​ US,​ 1966

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (1,074 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Steppenwolf ‎– The Second,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Cartridge,​ US,​ 1968

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (1,074 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$149.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Steve Alaimo,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Cartridge,​ US,​ 1965

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (1,074 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Frank Sinatra – Softly As I Leave You,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Tape,​ US,​ 1964

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (1,074 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

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