The death of the licence fee would be the death of radio

[gymno]

Don't forget the 8-track tapes which ran on a continuous loop. Their cassettes were much larger. I remember having to buy an adapter to be able to play normal cassettes in one.

My first ever experience of an 8-Track was while watching Julien Temple's film about the sex pistols - 'The great rock n' roll swindle'.

There's a scene where somebody in a (brown) mkII escort or whatever with a (brown) interior shoves this huge white cartridge thing into the dashboard.
I'm old enough to remember watching uncles playing space invaders on an atari 2600 'woody', yet i've never seen one of those clod-hoppers in the flesh.

[FelixTCat]

I worked and lived in Japan for a while in the early 70's and I must have had one in my car there, because I brought home some of the tapes. As a result, I must have fitted one in my car here. I say "must" because I cannot think why else I had an 8-track player. When the tapes became obsolete, I bought a cassette adapter. The first was powered from the player, and wasn't reliable; the second had an internal battery and was fine. When I replaced that car, I just fitted a normal cassette player in the new one. I must say that I had pretty much forgotten about it until today. (Knowing me and my squirreling habits, it might even be in the loft!)

[Scubbie]

I've just taken a quick look on eBay to see what 8-Track tapes are available there. There are quite a few typically ranging in price from £3-£4 P&P.

I guess that there are still a few out there who still love this format. Who knows, with enough people getting interested it could make a comeback, just as Vinyl has done.

[lettice]

I've just taken a quick look on eBay to see what 8-Track tapes are available there. There are quite a few typically ranging in price from £3-£4 P&P.

I guess that there are still a few out there who still love this format. Who knows, with enough people getting interested it could make a comeback, just as Vinyl has done.

Although its nice to see many lovers of vinyl still around, I always feel its sad that they have to look online to purchase them. Part of the fun was walking down to the record store, having a chat and flicking through the thousands of lps, having no idea what you might find. Then walking or sitting on a bus reading the cover from top to bottom, until you could get home and play it.
I worked in Woolworths in my youth as a Saturday and holiday job, mainly in furniture and electricals, but often helped out in the record section. It was great fun, loved unpacking all the new releases, fitting the 45 spindle adapter to all the US singles as they still never came with them, keeping the listening booths clean/tidy/working and helping updating the chart boards and filling out all the chart sheets that got submitted.

Not sure why anyone but a serious historical collector would want an 8 track tape for. They were not that reliable from what I have been reading, so you would not risk playing them. Just found out they had no rewind facility.

[Isitme]

Until a few years ago an 8 track player/recorder was the main device in my bowling clubs sound system. It was eventually replaced as good tapes became very difficult to find. Although you could record over a used tape, eventually the previous recording would come through in the background, spoiling the new recording. It was replaced with a cassette player/recorder, until the present CD system was installed.

I had an 8 track player in my car all the time I worked in Africa in the 60s. They were excellent never giving any problems. Storing the large cassettes in the car was the only problem, There was not a lot of storage space in a Cortina GT or a VX 4/90.

[Scubbie]

@Lettice: Next time that you visit Gunwharf Quays take a look in the HMV store. They have Vinyl for sale there.

Of course the selection is nothing compared to the range of CDs that are available.

[lettice]

@Lettice: Next time that you visit Gunwharf Quays take a look in the HMV store. They have Vinyl for sale there.

Of course the selection is nothing compared to the range of CDs that are available.

I thought HMV went bust a few years back.
Did go into that store many years ago, it was all games.
Probably only been in any hmv store only a few times in my life, they never really appealed, much like the old virgin record stores and tower records.
They were all just too commercial, losing that local store touch, but all ended in the administration and the takeover dustbin of life.
They tried competing with the likes of apple and others for online music and it cost them.
Sky seem to be one of the few getting the online area right, reading the recent success of the sky store and box sets and especially Game of Thrones.

Not been to Gunwharf for a long time, normally get the ferry and walk/bus to cascades and Southsea.
Love the looking at the tower everyday from my street, best view this side.

[Scubbie]

I often pop into Gunwharf to watch a film or two. I was there yesterday watching Minions.

Yes the view is a little better from Gosport as you get to see it with Portsmouth in the background. Looking from Gunwharf with the Spinnaker tower in full view is different, but still nice. I've a few pictures from this perspective that I like.

Sadly they are painting the Spinnaker Tower at the moment. No longer will it be just white, instead it'll be a mixture of blue, gold, red and white. I guess when they've finished painting it I'll have to get some more piccies.

Sure the large stores don't have that local touch, but then most of our town centres lost that decades ago. There are some small local shops still around, but sadly not as many as there used to be.