Someone asked if I knew of any documentation on the web about Stereoptape, but I haven?t seen much. So I wrote a brief history. Please send me any comments, corrections, additions, or questions.
Stereotape started as Bell & Howell Magnetic tape division and manufactured and distributed the WB/Reprise/Elektra, Decca US, United Artists, and others in the late 60s/early 70s. In 1971-72, they changed their name to Magtec (don?t know if they were sold or just a name change). They continued to use up old tape boxes and reel labels. Reels style varied widely, but were almost always black as I recall.
Around 1972-73, they changed their name to Stereotape, division of Magtec. By this time, they also contracts with Polydor (DDG, ECM, Verve) and RCA. Again using up old stocks of labels, etc. However, sometimes they put a label over the old back stripe which identified the tape manufacturer, i.e. below the reproduced lp graphics. Around late 74/1975, they changed their focus, realizing the consumer reel to reel market was getting more and more an audiophile market. In 1975, they released many discrete quadraphonic tapes, both popular on the WB labels, and RCA, and classical on RCA.
After Ampex stopped reel to reel production, they also gained rights to London and Threshold. Also, they started producing all tapes at 7 1/2ips (except for the popular 3hour Airline tapes) and releasing all future tapes with Dolby B. Given the high duplication speed, this made a major difference in sound quality during the day.
In 1978, Stereotape was bought out by a reel enthusiast (or group) and became a mailorder (only?) business under the name ?The Reel Society? and continued until ~1981. During the last year, they shipped some tapes without graphics with the promise of shipping boxes later. But the boxes never shipped and they closed. (They had done this previously and did.)
Unfortunately, their quality varied greatly regardless who they were, likely because they did not QA the masters they received from the record copies. (This was something that B-C did on an extensive basis. This usually caused 2-3 year delay in the release and sometimes them not to release as they could not get an acceptable master.) Probably, best in the late Stereotape and Reel Society days. However, there are many cherished recordings like:
- Moody Blues (Threshold/Stereotape) ? Discrete quadraphonic recordings
- Keith Jarrett (ECM/Stereotape) ? Koln Concert and Solo Concert
- Woody Herman Live at Carnegie Hall (Verve/Reel Society)
- Rachmaninoff ? The Bells (RCA/Stereotape)
- Saint-Saens: Organ Symphony with Reiner (RCA/remastered dolby Stereotape)
- Classic Film Music Series (RCA/Stereotape) ? Discrete quadraphonic recordings
- Sondheim: Two by Two (RCA/Coverless Reel Society)
Reel Zealot