Vintage Playtape 1200 Portable 2-Track Tape Player with Carrying Case and Cartridges

Story

In 1966, Frank Stanton launched Playtape to bring portable music to the youth market. For a brief moment, these tiny 2-track cartridges rivaled 8-tracks, even securing a deal with The Beatles before being eclipsed by the cassette tape.

Maker / Origin

Playtape was the brainchild of businessman Frank Stanton, who envisioned a cheap, pocket-sized music format for teenagers. The company partnered with major record labels to release hits by top artists of the era, but the rapid rise of the standardized compact cassette format quickly pushed Playtape out of the market by the early 1970s.

Condition & Value

The player and carrying case appear to be in very good cosmetic condition with minimal yellowing of the plastic. The vinyl case shows light wear but retains its bright graphics; functionality of the player and the state of the internal belts are untested.