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Author Topic: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes  (Read 24102 times)

Offline docb

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Re: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes
« Reply #15 on: August 29, 2007, 11:23:48 AM »
Quote
I've always had a large hub 7 inch plastic reel for a take-up reel.  I've found this very helpful on with the typical  pre-recorded tape that's also on a large hub 7 inch reel because you don't get the large mis-match in back tension.

I think that's a great idea.
Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
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Managing Director - retired, The Tape Project

Offline High and Outside

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Re: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes
« Reply #16 on: August 30, 2007, 02:01:36 AM »
Quote
I've always had a large hub 7 inch plastic reel for a take-up reel.  I've found this very helpful on with the typical  pre-recorded tape that's also on a large hub 7 inch reel because you don't get the large mis-match in back tension.

I think that's a great idea.

Me too.
Paul Stubblebine
Managing Director, The TapeProject

Offline ironbut

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Re: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes
« Reply #17 on: December 06, 2007, 11:45:05 PM »
I haven't posted in this thread for a while because, frankly, I haven't been buying many BC's lately. Well, I got a couple a few weeks ago and between the TP releases and some other tapes that have been keeping my attention, I hadn't listened to them till now. They are both excellent for very different reasons. The first is William Boyce, Symphonies 1-7. These 18th century symphonies are 6-10 minutes in length and played by Nevelle Marriner and St. Martin In-The-Fields with a harpsichord continuo. Marriner and the small ensemble do their usual wonderful job of keeping the balance between energy and respect for the composers original intentions sound just plain fun. The tape probably sounds better than it would have if it had been a more extensive gathering. There's nothing like being able to hear around period instuments in a nice reverberant hall. This is a wonderful sounding tape and if you enjoy the contrast between a group of musicians enjoying themselves with the discipline of harmonic theory, this may be just what the doctor ordered.
The second BC is Saint-Saens "Carnaval des Animaux" and Ravel " Ma Mere l'Oye". This is dup'ed from a "digital" master! Yikes! Memories of those awful records cut from PCM masters that were all boom and no heart. Well, the sound is all that. And while the playback
 may not have a whole lot of body, the heart is supplied by the Pittsburgh Symphony and Andre' Previn. I can't remember the name of that Sunday afternoon show that Previn hosted back in the '70s but the way he could coax the best out of a large ensemble really pays off in this performance. There's an ease to his reading of complex polyrhythms that really puts the piece in order. I think this adds to the depth of the listeners understanding and ultimately the enjoyment of other similar works. This might not be the best sounding BC in my collection, but it's right up there with the most memorable.
steve koto
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Re: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes
« Reply #18 on: February 11, 2008, 06:46:17 PM »
Has anyone played a BC quad tape on a non quad deck?
Results?
I had no idea that BC produced tapes for use in flight by American Airlines.
That probably made as much or more money for them than sales to regular folks.
Has anyone ever tried to contact the new iteration of the company to see if the original founders are still around?
They might find the TP of interest.
I am sure they would find some of the recent BC Ebay prices amusing as well!

Offline ironbut

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Re: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes
« Reply #19 on: February 11, 2008, 07:07:46 PM »
Actually, about 12 of my BC's are from Barclay's estate. There was a guy in Hollywood that had his complete collection and was selling them for pretty high ($25) prices at the time. That was in my early Ebay days and nobody, and I mean nobody would ever bid against me. Then I started looking around and realized that $12-15 was the going rate for them. I can't remember who it was, but one of the members visited the Poughkeepsie factory when they were still in business. (as I recall, he lives in Rochester NY, nice town) The Barclay-Crocker that sell the men's toiletry is one and the same and are based in NYNY.
American Airlines huh? I didn't know that. I guess they don't teach the proper use of hold down tape or attaching leader in flight attendant school!
steve koto
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Offline astrotoy

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Re: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes
« Reply #20 on: March 24, 2008, 07:15:32 PM »
I've started looking for B-C tapes to add to my collection. I currently have 119 tapes with 112 titles and 7 two reel sets. About a dozen are dbx II encoded. I bought just about all of them from B-C back in the early to mid 80's before they went out of business. I think I paid about $8 per tape, which was about what a record cost in those days. Here is the problem - for some reason B-C tapes on eBay have been selling at around $75. This is crazy. It makes me think about dubbing my B-C tapes and then putting the originals up on eBay. Since I just started looking, has this been going on for a long time?  One of the vinyl vendors I patronize typically has a fair number of precorded R2R, with a few B-C's from time to time. But they sell them for around $15 - a reasonable price.  Larry
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Offline ironbut

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Re: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes
« Reply #21 on: March 24, 2008, 08:18:21 PM »
Hey Larry, the prices on all the better classical tapes (BC included) have been on a real roller coaster the last year or so. I almost never pay more than $20 for a BC unless it's still sealed or a double tape. I guess it depends on how big of a hurry you're in. That's the only reason I can come up with why anyone would pay more than $30 for one you don't know the particulars about. $75 is more in line with what I might pay for a Mercury 2 track, a Blue Note or other famous jazz releases. BTW, the big jazz releases have been pretty big bucks for a while now. Big bucks to me at least (over $40). The starting prices of BC's have gone up a couple of dollars. It's the buyers who've gotten out of hand.
steve koto
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Re: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes
« Reply #22 on: March 25, 2008, 07:30:42 PM »
Nobody said that Ebay was a place to get bargains; although it does happen every once and awhile.
To paraphrase the New Testament, when two or more are gathered on Ebay there is an auction.
I believe there are several good reasons to explain the price phenomenon;
1. Favorable comments concerning BC and other label titles on this forum among others.  Remember what HP's comment on the soundtrack to Casino Royale did to the resale cost of that record?
2. The apparent rise of interest in rtr in general, and hi fidelity rtr in particular fostered by this forum and others.
3. The general desire to justify the expense of these modded/refurbed machines by acquiring quality software.  Who wants to spend $6,000 +/- to play 10 TP tapes no matter how good they sound?
4. The favorable exchange rate against the dollar.
5. The median age of long time audio devotees but newer rtr enthusiasts does not lend itself to patience.
6. Older format  Music software availability seems to run in cycles and probably lags slightly behind the retirement/mortality curve as it makes its' way through the secondary market.  Availability does not seem to be linear in my experience.
I am sure there are other reasons including chance.
The good news/bad news about prices is that they are up; but the higher prices are also causing current owners to liquidate their collections while the high prices are in evidence.  This means that more titles are being made available than otherwise might be the case.
I expect almost everything about this niche will continue to become more expensive as the secret gets out.
Software is the logical leading edge.
Machines even the plentiful models such as the Otari 5050 series will soon follow suit.
The good old days are already leaving; wave good bye.
The ironic thing is that as much as we hate to see them leave, go they must if this format is to gain broader acceptance.
That is my take.


 

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Re: Barclay-Crocker collecting notes
« Reply #23 on: March 31, 2008, 03:19:20 PM »
For those in the forum tired of getting pounded on Ebay and having difficulty finding other sources for BC titles, I may have an individual that you wish to contact.
I have cleared this post with 'Doc'.
The individual has approximately 100 titles available.
He prefers to sell them in lots, rather than individual titles.
I have no financial interest at all in any dealings you may have.
I have not received and will not receive any form of consideration for this post.
If you are interested, please send an email to me and I will give you the link to the seller.
You can find my address in the member information section of the Forum.
After that I am out of the loop.
Whatever you decide to do after you have contacted the seller is between you and him.
Neither I, The Tape Project, The Tape Project Owners or The Tape Project Forum are responsible for the outcome of your transaction.
That disclaimer being duly noted, I would not post this if I thought there was a problem.