PlayTapes: Vintage 2-track mini-tape cartridges

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PlayTapes
Vintage 2-track mini-tape cartridges

FIND PLAYTAPES FOR SALE

PlayTapes are highly collectible, and a very unique artifact from the so-called music tape wars of the 1960s. Different formats battled for dominance; 8-track tapes and cassettes won out. Others, like reel-to-reel tapes, continued and appealed to higher-end audiophiles. Cartridges like the 4-track and the obscure mini-twin 4-track format fought the good fight but petered out. And then there were endless-loop PlayTapes.

The PlayTape was a kind of 8-track cartridge in miniature form. Smaller and thinner than a standard 8-track or 4-track tape, PlayTapes were shorter and somewhat analogous to EPs. Or, perhaps, a prototypical cassingle, even.

PlayTapes were marketed, and proved fairly popular, from roughly 1966 to 1968. They used 1/8″ tape — the same width as cassettes. (8-track tapes, 4-track tapes, and reel-to-reels used 1/4″ tape.) PlayTapes behaved sort of like 4-tracks: you play through the length of tape inside twice, hearing two different sections. Both sections had 2-4 songs on average. With a maximum length of 24 minutes, but most with a shorter playing time, PlayTapes were basically even more-portable, miniature versions of 8-track tapes for those on the go.

8-track tape cartridge repair tutorial (fully illustrated)

Listen to PlayTapes with a vintage player

There were a few different PlayTape players, as well as cases and other accessories. PlayTape players were generally portable, with a speaker built into the unit. Perfect for the beach.

Volkswagen even offered PlayTape players (the “Sapphire” line of models) in some of their cars, both with and without a radio. The portable players are not too hard to find for sale, though the Sapphires are much more rare.

Obviously collectible and interesting to vintage music format fans, PlayTapes include several titles by the likes of The Beatles, The Grass Roots, and other popular 1960s artists. Three thousand titles were available, many with text-only labels but a few with album cover pictures. Surprisingly, many PlayTapes for sale online these days are still sealed. 

PlayTapes for sale

Currently showing our top 42 sales from eBay vendors. Click for shipping details and money-back guarantee info. PlayTapes listings are chosen using MegaMinistore's original custom technology. We show you only the latest and best listings from safe, trusted sellers. Offers are updated and refreshed every day.

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Showing 1 - 10 of 42

Vintage CADET Records LPS 317 playtape Cartridge Aladdin Rotary Connection #0937

Seller: positivelifeforever ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.1% (2,269 ratings)
Location: United States

19% OFF
$90.00
$72.90 or best offer

Limited-time deal. Buy It Now Price

Vintage Disneyland Walt Disney playtape Cartridge Lady And The Tramp 7038

Seller: positivelifeforever ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.1% (2,269 ratings)
Location: United States

19% OFF
$90.00
$72.90 or best offer

Limited-time deal. Buy It Now Price

Vintage Disneyland Walt Disney playtape Cartridge Winnie The Pooh 7043

Seller: positivelifeforever ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.1% (2,269 ratings)
Location: United States

19% OFF
$90.00
$72.90 or best offer

Limited-time deal. Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Storytime - Danny Kaye Stories,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Cartridge,​ US,​ 1960's

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (831 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Steppenwolf ‎– The Second,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Cartridge,​ US,​ 1968

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (831 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$149.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Eydie Gorme ‎– I Feel So Spanish,​ PlayTape,​ 2-track cartridge,​ US

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (831 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme 0100,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Cartridge,​ US,​ 1960

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (831 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ The Impressions,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Cartridge,​ US,​ 1963

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (831 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Frank Sinatra – Softly As I Leave You,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Tape,​ US,​ 1964

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (831 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

SEALED,​ Chubby Checker,​ Playtape,​ 2-Track Cartridge,​ US,​ 1966

Seller: audiophile_records_store ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (831 ratings)
Location: Moldova

$99.99 or best offer

Buy It Now Price

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