The Maxell Reel To Reel Tape Collection

[Des-Lab]

This post is to provide a quick reference guide to most of the Maxell reel to reel tapes from throughout the years. All examples show 10" X 3600' length boxes, though all were also made in 7" size as well. It will cover all but the oldest examples of the product lines history. If anyone can provide some examples of the earlier tapes and/or knows of any gaps I may have overlooked, please advise.

For reference, here is a list of all known lengths, thicknesses, and configurations:
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18-180: 7" reel. 0.5 mil thickness, 3600'. 96 minutes playing time each way @ 7½ ips speed.

25-120: 7" reel. 0.75 mil thickness. 2400'. 66 minutes playing time each way @ 7½ ips speed.

50-60: 7" reel. 1.5 mil thickness. 1200'. 33 minutes playing time each way @ 7½ ips speed.

35-90: 7" reel. 1.0 mil thickness. 1800' 48 minutes playing time each way @ 7½ ips speed.

50-120: 10" reel. 1.5 mil thickness. 2400'. 66 minutes playing time each way @ 7½ ips speed.

35-180: 10" reel. 1.0 mil thickness. 3600'. 96 minutes playing time each way @ 7½ ips speed.
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B=indicates Back Coated tape.
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REEL STYLES

Type 1: Three-hole flange cutouts with tape end slot. Large label attached to reel.

Type 2: Three hole flange cutouts without tape end slot. Maxell logo stamped on reel. No label unless user affixed.

Type 3: Two hole flange cutouts. Maxell "Double M" stamped on each side of reel symetrically opposed to the cutouts. No label unless user affixed.

Type 3A: Same as Type 3, but for XLII "EE" tapes only. Only one "Double M" emblem stamped on reel. Opposite side has "XLII EE" stamped in lieu of second "M".

[Des-Lab]

Earliest generation of tapes featured here. Believed to date from around 1970-1975. Both models came with Reel Type 1. Leader tapes were: Leading edge: solid blue w/ 'long play' repeated in white lettering. Trailing edge: solid unmarked red.

1. "Low Noise". Red oxide tape for basic recording.
2. "Ultra Dynamic". Standard oxide for higher fidelity.

NOTE: There were no less than two other examples known to exist in this lineup. Both were "A" (for Acetate based). Identical packaging but one version had green lettering and the other had pink. I do not have examples of either to post.

[Des-Lab]

Second generation, dating from about 1975-1976. All tapes in this lineup were enclosed with Type 2 reels. Leaders were: leading edge: opaque white with red timing marks printed every 7 ½ inches. The LN had the words "low noise" written in blue adjacent to the timing marks. Both versions of UD had the words "ultra dynamic" written in green. Trailing leaders for all three were also opaque white with the red timing marks and no text. Also note that the exterior box itself was adorned with the product information as an adhesive label.

1. LN (Low Noise)
2. UD (Ultra Dynamic)
3. UD-B (back coated version of UD).

[Des-Lab]

Third generation. Circa 1976-1980. All tapes in this series came with Type 3 reels enclosed. Leaders were similar to the previous line: Both ends opaque white with timing marks printed every 7 ½ inches. But no other text or lettering of any kind appears on the leaders. Trailing edge on all had red color timing marks. Also note that the exterior product information was stamped directly on the box as opposed to being an adhesive label.

1. UD. Leading edge leader timing marks were orange.

2. UD-XL (back coated). Leading edge leader timing marks were black.

[Des-Lab]

Fourth generation, circa 1980-1983. All tapes in this series came with Type 3 reels enclosed. Leader tapes remained opaque white with timing marks corresponding to the grade of tape. Trailing edge leader remained standardized with red color timing marks.

1. UD: Blue timing marks.
2. XLI (sucessor to UD-XL): Gray timing marks.
3. XLII (EE [Extra Efficiency]) tape: Brown timing marks.

[Des-Lab]

Fifth generation: Circa 1983-1987. UD and XLI series tapes came enclosed with Type 3 reels and the XLII came enclosed with a Type 3A. Leaders unchanged from previous versions.

1. UD
2. XLI
3. XLII

[Des-Lab]

Sixth and final generation, 1987-2002*. The longest running versions of the series. UD and XLI tapes came enclosed with Type 3 reels and the XLII came enclosed with Type 3A reel. Leaders: Leading edge opaque white, with the 'timing' marks actually consisting of the tape thickness printed in microscale (for instance, if it was a "35" thickness tape, the numbers 35 would be seen printed). Color coding was the same as previous versions. Trailing edge leader was the same on all three. Opaque white/pink microscale 'checkerboard' pattern.

*=Only UD and XLI remained in production until 2002. The XLII was discontinued in or around 1990.

1. UD
2. XLI
3. XLII

[DaveInVA]

Its from the mid 60s when they still called it Hitachi-Maxell LTD. Its Model E25-7, 2400ft "Long Play 200". Still has Maxell logo'd bag and insert and fancy purple leader with "Long Play 200" on it. I also have an even older ones in a yellow box. I will post a pic of it when I can find it :)

Dave

[TheReeler]

Some 7" Maxell tapes:


Box:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell1.jpg

Inside:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell6.jpg


Box:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell2.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell3.jpg


Inside:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell7.jpg


Box:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell4.jpg


Inside:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell8.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell9.jpg


Box:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell5.jpg


Inside:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell10.jpg

[howdogg]

I have 2 Type 2 Maxell metal reels, one with tape and one empty. I am going to put them on ebay but wondered if you knew what they are worth. I see many, many type 3, 4, 5, etc. all with the big M, but never any of these. I bought them in 1973 or 74 I believe to use with a Revox A77, but it is gone now. Howdogg.

[speakerman1]

I just bought a Maxell LN 35-90 that says New and Improved. What would be new about it. I paid 5.00 fot it .Is it worth more?

[TheReeler]

I have 2 Type 2 Maxell metal reels, one with tape and one empty. I am going to put them on ebay but wondered if you knew what they are worth. I see many, many type 3, 4, 5, etc. all with the big M, but never any of these. I bought them in 1973 or 74 I believe to use with a Revox A77, but it is gone now. Howdogg.
Do you have a pic so that we can see them?

[TheReeler]

I just bought a Maxell LN 35-90 that says New and Improved. What would be new about it. I paid 5.00 fot it .Is it worth more?
No, it's on the price.

[robert1946]

Hi,

Does any know the run date, / production coding for Maxell 35-180:

Blue Box. A24907E27, A2200025, (1987-2002)
Gray Box F19651, A31541, (1983-1987)
Whit Box B21341 (1980-1983)

[justin31972]

I have a box of Maxell UD-XL's that are 50-46B's. They have a larger hub than the standard 7" reel. I also have a 35-60. Has anyone else seen these?

[Des-Lab]

I'd definitely consider those to be odd lengths. You have pictures to show us?

[Des-Lab]

I just bought a Maxell LN 35-90 that says New and Improved. What would be new about it. I paid 5.00 fot it .Is it worth more?

Well the original early makes of LN was that of a low grade red-oxide tape. If you've ever seen a Scotch #150, you'll get the idea. Shortly before it was discontinued, it was radically changed to a more conventional darker texture low noise tape that both looked and sounded a lot like its UD counterpart. LN, for being a bottom end tape, wasn't all that bad, all things considered.

[audiodtek]

Hi

I have one maxell XLI 35-90B exactly as the left one in the pic:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell3.jpg (http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/maxell3.jpg)

and one maxell UD 35-90

Should I use "low noise" or "wide range" on tape selector for each one?

My RTR is an AKAI GX-630DB. The manual says that the recommended tapes are "akai LN-150-7" and "scotch #211". Regular tapes are not recommended!

I did not knew that when I bought two EMTEC/BASF per528 NOS tapes. These are some of the best NOS 2003 available, but as I don't have controls for bias/level, I noticed while making some recordings on the 630DB using this tape that it changes the sound. It adds some bass.

I read here (http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/45519-32-tape-akai-630d) that JIS tape are recommended for these decks and japan made tapes have no problems and are appropriate for japan RTR's!

[edriz]

I really like this thread. The dats help alot when buying tape. Do the dates for the 10.5's match the 7" also?

[ke4mcl]

reviving an old thread.

is there a logical correlation between first number and tape thickness? i see the logic of the second number but first makes no sense.

[Big Kelv]

reviving an old thread.

is there a logical correlation between first number and tape thickness? i see the logic of the second number but first makes no sense.

The first figure is the tape thickness in microns (millionth of a meter or 25.5 microns = one thousandth of an inch).

The second number is at a guess is roughly the playing time in minutes at 7.5ips (as all the Maxell reels I own quote a playing time close to the second digit at 7.5).

Regards, Kelv