VHS tapes from different manufacturers. Click the images for higher resolution
An earlier 80s Scotch T120. Scotch also produced many Beta format tapes of similar design, which can be seen on the Beta page | |||
The Scotch EG T120. The nondescript plastic sleeve doesn't specifically mention that it is an "EG" tape, only the cassette labels | |||
The higher-grade EXG T120 with a gold-foiled plastic sleeve | |||
The 1987 plastic sleeve Scotch EG advertising Scotch's Olympics sponsorship | |||
The 1987 cardboard sleeve T120 EG with Olympics sponsorship | |||
The 1987 EXG Pro T120 in hard plastic case. Although VHS never gained widespread broadcast use, other professional applications often benefited from the availability and cross-compatibility with domestic equipment, with pro gear generally just being higher quality | |||
The spine and back card are removable and have a recording log printed on the back | |||
A fairly comprehensive label sheet with many duplicate stickers | |||
The 1988 Scotch EG changed to a nice thick cardboard sleeve that can take a lot of abuse | |||
The 1989 Scotch tapes changed to this silver, rotated back design | |||
The 1991 Scotch EG variant | |||
I quite like Scotch's remaining time stickers. By putting it over part of the takeup spool window it allows you to eyeball how much time is left | |||
I wonder where this would end up if I mailed it in? | |||
The later 1991 EG, displaying Scotch's Olympics sponsorship for 1992 | |||
Later 1991 EG+ with the Olympic sponsorship mark | |||
The 1992 EG+ variant with a different text layout. The EG+ is now the "extra quality" tape instead of the "everyday plus" tape | |||
A T160 variant of the
EG+. The majority of blank VHS tapes sold for home use
were T120s, but Scotch and other manufacturers produced
longer-length higher grade tapes |
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Redesigned 1992 Scotch High Standard T120 that dropped the EG name | |||
1993 redesign of the Scotch High Standard T120. The Performance High Grade blurb makes a specific mention of the T160 variant | |||
A Scotch hifi tape that presumably would have had a more informative wrapper |
Although Sony did not sell VHS VCRs until 1988, they began selling VHS tapes in 1982. This Dynamicron T120 is made in Japan and has the Sony "dots" logo and resembles the Beta of the time | |||
Made in USA T120 Dynamicron variant | |||
Mid 80s diagonal stripe Dynamicron | |||
ES variant of the mid 80s Dynamicron | |||
The 1988 ES. Sony's 80s VHS tapes all had direct Beta counterparts, as can be seen in the Beta gallery | |||
In the 90s Sony started using a big "V" for their cassettes, like this later 90s T120VF | |||
Made in Mexico version of the Sony V T120 | |||
Sony V labels | |||
Sony used this blue-purple color scheme to differentiate their T120 and T160 tapes for several generations | |||
Slight variant of the Sony V labels, shared between T120 and T160 releases | |||
The T120VE | |||
In addition to cheaper, flimsier slipcases, these tapes also had far less comprehensive labels | |||
Sony Premium Grade T160 V | |||
The 2002 "everyday" Sony T120VL | |||
A sealed 2002 T160VL premium grade. A High Grade T120 was also still available | |||
The 2008 Sony T160VR |
A "studio grade" tape originally from the mid 80s marketed by MGM | |||
Bilingual variant of the MGM T120 |
A stripy bilingual Memorex HS High Standard T120 | |||
A Memorex "Pro Series" T120 in a hard plastic case | |||
A very 1990s Memorex. The Beta version of this design used a bluish band at the top instead of pink | |||
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A sealed 1997 Memorex High Grade T120 | ||
A 1998 Memorex T120 assembled in Canada |
Sunkyong sold a few grades of VHS as well as at least one Beta tape in the mid 80s under the trademark SKC. They were endorsed by Good Housekeeping magazine | |||
An SKC Maxplay T120 |
Kodak offered a few different grades of VHS tape, but the standard is by far the most common | |||
The HS high standard variant, which also advertises other higher grade Kodak tapes on the back |
Konica cassettes came in a deep blue color with nice, quality slipcases with interesting designs |
Tozai also sold VHS rewinders and other paraphernalia | |||
A more 90s disposable cup-like design. It seems that this variant used the same labels |
A Radio Shack Supertape T120. Radio Shack continued to sell VHS (and Beta) tapes under their house brand well into the 2000s |
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Wal-Mart "Extra Quality" T160 |
A 1993 Target store brand cassette that apparently sold for two dollars. Target also resold cassette tapes |