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

[Nak_novice]

Fantastic detail Matt, thanks for collating all this and presenting it so clearly.

[vinyldavid]

Thank you Des!

I was sent a Black and Gold box UDXL 10.5" still sealed by a VERY good friend.....

[Des-Lab]

Glad you like it. Thankfully, it was nowhere near as varied and in depth as the cassette counterpart to this one. That beast took several DAYS to assemble. At least this one only took a few hours.

So what's up with the free UD-XL eh David? Someone is showing you some love. Sounds like you are getting well stocked. Wonder who else contributed? :-?

Seriously though. You will like it. It's a great tape.

[vinyldavid]

So what's up with the free UD-XL eh David? Someone is showing you some love. Sounds like you are getting well stocked. Wonder who else contributed? :-?

Seriously though. You will like it. It's a great tape.

That's actually it...I don't have many 10.5" tapes at all...maybe 10 or so....the guy found it at a thrift for $1 and sent it to me, knowing that I could use it....

I will use it for a live recording...when ever I get to record one...!jam!

[Web Police]

Great information on Maxell RTR tapes. If I ever get back into RTR this will come in handy.