Agfa, BASF, and IG Farben Audio Open Reel Tapes

Copyright - 2006 by Friedrich K. Engel. Reproduction in any form prohibited without the permission of Friedrich K. Engel.

See abbreviations and notes at bottom.

Manufacturer and Product Name

Est. Prod. Start

Est. Prod. End

Appli-

cation

Oxide

Base

Base Thickn.

Oxide Thickn.

Total

Matt Back*

Coer--

civity

Coer--

civity

Reten--

tivity

Reten--

tivity

Remanent

Sat. Flux

Remarks

Material

-m

-m

Thickn.

Oe

kA/m

Gauss

mT

nWb/m

-m

Agfa F

1948

1953

GEN

cub

AC

-.-

16

-.-

no

86

6.8

337

34

540

-.-

Agfa F-2851

REF

AC

40

12

52

no

110

8,7

-.-

-.-

460

Reference Tape

Agfa FR

1954

1956

BRC

cub

AC

40

26

66

no

240

19

750

75

1110

-.-

Agfa FR 22

1959

1963

STM

cub

AC

39

23

60

no

300

24

980

98

2250

-.-

Agfa FR 25

1961

1961

BRC

acic++

AC

40

18

58

no

250

20

930

93

1670

-.-

Agfa FR 4

1954

1965

BRC

cub

AC

42

16

58

no

310

24.7

850

85

1360

-.-

Agfa FR 6

1956

BRC

cub, acic

AC

-.-

24

-.-

no

250

20

500

50

1200

-.-

Agfa FR 6004

REF

cub

AC

40

15

55

no

240

19

1110

Reference Tape

Agfa FS

1951

1954

DOM

cub

AC

-.-

-.-

50

no

-.-

-.-

-.-

-.-

-.-

Agfa FSP

1954

1958

DOM

cub

PVC

35

15

50

no

300

24

900

90

1350

-.-

Agfa PE 22

1959

1963

STM

cub

PE

25

25

50

no

300

24

980

98

2250

-.-

Agfa PE 31

1958

1968

DOM

cub

PE

20

14.5

35

no

295

23.5

950

95

1380

-.-

Agfa PE 36

1968

DOM

acic

PE

23

12

35

no

300

24

1050

105

1260

-.-

Agfa PE 39

1986

1990

DOM

acic

PE

23

8

31

no

340

27.2

1350

135

1080

-.-

Agfa PE 41

1958

1968

DOM

cub

PE

15

10.5

26

no

295

23.5

900

90

950

-.-

Agfa PE 46

1968

DOM

acic

PE

15

10

25

no

300

24

1050

105

1050

-.-

Agfa PE 49

1986

1990

DOM

acic

PE

15

8

23

no

340

27.2

1350

135

1080

-.-

Agfa PE 65

1961

1968

DOM

acic

PE

12

6

18

no

290

23.1

1000

100

600

-.-

Agfa PE 66

1968

DOM

acic

PE

12

6

18

no

300

24

1050

105

630

-.-

Agfa PEM 268

1973

DOM

acic

PE

15

10

27

2 / black

330

26.4

1150

115

1150

-.-

Agfa PEM 368

1973

1990

DOM

acic

PE

21

10

33

2 / black

330

26.4

1150

115

1150

-.-

Agfa PEM 369

1988

1990

DOM

acic

PE

20

11.5

33

1.5 / black

340

27.2

1350

115

1350

-.-

Agfa PEM 455

1974

CDMT

acic

PE

30

13

45

2 / black

300

24

1000

100

1300

Loop bin tape

Agfa PEM 468

1975

2003

STM

acic

PE

30

15

48.5

3.5 / black

380

30.4

1340

134

2010

-.-

Agfa PEM 469

1984

1990

STM

acic

PE

30

15

48.5

3.5 / black

305

24.2

1320

132

1980

-.-

Agfa PEM 526

1982

1996

CDMT

acic

PE

36

16

53

1 / black

300

23.9

910

91

1450

-.-

Agfa PER

1961

1963

BRC

acic

PE

33

17

52

red

240

19.2

96

1630

-.-

Agfa PER 368

1984

1990

BRC

acic

PE

20

10

33

3 / white

355

28.4

1150

111

1110

-.-

Agfa PER 525

1963

1967

BRC

acic

PE

30

12

50

red

300

24

1000

100

1200

-.-

Agfa PER 525 stereo

1967

1981

BRC

acic

PE

30

13

50

red

300

1000

100

1300

-.-

Agfa PER 528

1981

1990

BRC

acic

PE

30

15

48

3 / white

355

28.4

1150

115

1725

-.-

Agfa PER 555

1963

BRC

acic

PE

30

18

56

white

300

24

1000

100

1800

-.-

BASF DP 26

1966

1970

DOM

acic

PVC, PE

16

10

26

no

300

24

900

90

900

-.-

BASF DP 26

1996

DOM

acic

PE

15.5

9

26

1.5 / black

325

26

1450

145

1300

-.-

BASF DP 26 LH

1970

1982

DOM

acic

PE

16

10

26

no

310

24.7

1100

110

1100

-.-

BASF DP 26 LHS

1975

1978

DOM

acic

PE

15

10

25

no

320

25

1400

140

1400

-.-

BASF DPR 26 LH

1973

1984

DOM

acic

PE

15

10

29

black

325

25.9

1200

120

1200

-.-

BASF DSM 931

1993

1996

DMT

CrO2

PE

19.5

6

27

1.5 / black

670

53

1400

140

840

Digital Master Tape

BASF DSM 26 CR

1983

1984

DMT

CrO2

PE

19

4

23

no

630

50

1570

157

625

Digital Master Tape

BASF DSM 930

1984

1993

DMT

CrO2

PE

20

4

28

black

630

50

1570

157

625

Digital Master Tape

BASF Typ L-extra

1949

1954

GEN

cub

PVC

55

55

55

no

240

19

220

22

1210

homogeneous

BASF Typ LG / LGN

1948

1952

GEN

cub

PVC

30 ?

26

56 ?

no

81

6.4

264

26

-.-

-.-

BASF LGH

1950

1954

DOM

cub

PVC

43

20

63

no

237

18.8

400

40

800

-.-

BASF LGR

1956

1967

BRC

acic

PVC

35

13

51

red

300

24

900

90

1170

-.-

BASF LGR 30

1967

1968

BRC

acic

PVC

33

13.5

50

red

310

24.7

970

97

1310

-.-

BASF LGR 30 P

1968

1981

BRC

acic

P **

32

13

50

red

310

24.7

1050

105

1365

-.-

BASF LGR 40

1981

BRCLP

acic

PE

23

9

40

green

340

27.5

1200

120

1080

-.-

BASF LGR 50

1981

1998

BRC

acic

PE

33

16

52

4 / white

340

27.5

1200

110

1760

-.-

BASF LGR 51

1986

BRC

acic

PE

33

17

53

white

345

27

1360

136

2310

-.-

BASF LGS 26

1958

1969

DOM

acic

PVC

16

10

26

no

300

24

850

85

850

-.-

BASF LGS 35

1953

1969

DOM

acic

PVC

25

10

34

no

310

24.7

900

90

900

-.-

BASF LGS 52

1953

1969

GEN

acic

PVC

35

13

48

no

300

24

900

90

1170

-.-

BASF LM 526

1995

CDMT

acic

PE

36

12

49

1

300

24

1570

157

1890

Loop bin tape

BASF LM 920

1984

1995

CDMT

CrO2

PE

30

12

45

black

510

40.3

1370

137

1640

Loop bin tape

BASF LP 35 LH

1969

1982

DOM

acic

PE

25

10

35

no

310

1100

110

1100

-.-

BASF LP 35 LHS

1975

1978

DOM

acic

PE

25

10

35

no

320

25

1400

140

1400

-.-

BASF LPR 35

1996

DOM

acic

PE

20

11

35

4 / black

320

25

1650

165

1800

-.-

BASF LPR 35 LH

1971

1984

DOM

acic

PE

20

11

36

black

325

25.9

1200

120

1320

-.-

BASF LR 56

1960

1969

STM

acic

PVC

34

15

52

yellow

300

1000

100

1500

-.-

BASF LR 56 P

1969

1973

STM

acic

PE

32

17

54

yellow

310

24.7

1000

100

1700

-.-

BASF PER 368

1991

2003

BRC

acic

PE

20

11

35

4 / white

375

30

1750

175

1925

-.-

BASF PER 528

1991

2003

BRC

acic

PE

30

14

48

4 / white

377

30

1370

137

1920

-.-

BASF PES 18

1961

1969

DOM

acic

PE

12

6

18

no

320

25.5

1000

100

600

-.-

BASF PES 26

1958

1969

DOM

acic

PE+

16

10

26

no

300

24

850

85

850

-.-

BASF PES 35

1958

1969

DOM

acic

PE+

25

10

34

no

310

24.7

900

90

900

-.-

BASF PES 35 LH

1967

DOM

acic

PE

23.5

11.5

35

no

320

25.5

1150

115

1320

-.-

BASF PES 40

1958

BRCLP

acic

PE

23

10

36

yellow

310

24.7

1050

105

1050

-.-

BASF SM 468

1991

2003

STM

acic

PE

30

14

48

black

380

30.4

1400

140

1960

-.-

BASF SM 900

1995

2003

STM

acic

PE

30

18

52

black

360

28.6

1340

134

2410

-.-

BASF SM 910

1984

1986

STM

acic

PE

33

15

52

black

325

25.9

1440

144

2160

-.-

BASF SM 911

1986

2003

STM

acic

PE

30

16

50

black

320

25.5

1450

145

2320

-.-

BASF SP 50 M

1972

CDMT

acic

PE

35

13

48

no

300

23.9

1100

110

1430

Loop bin tape

BASF SP 52 P

1972

GEN

acic

PE

35

13

48

no

310

24.7

1000

100

1300

-.-

BASF SP 54 R

1983

GEN

acic

PE

33

12

50

black

330

26.5

1050

105

1260

-.-

BASF SPM 50 CR

1983

CDMT

CrO2

PE

30

12

42

no

510

40.3

1370

137

1640

Loop bin tape

BASF SPR 50 LH

1973

1984

STM

acic

PE

33

15.5

51

black

345

27.5

1100

110

1700

-.-

BASF SPR 50 LHL

1976

1984

STM

acic

PE

33

16

52

black

340

27

1050

105

1650

-.-

BASF TP 18

1970

DOM

acic

PE

12

6

18

no

300

23.9

900

90

540

-.-

BASF TP 18 LH

1970

DOM

acic

PE

12

6

18

no

310

24.7

1100

110

660

-.-

BASF Typ LG

1948

1949

GEN

cub

PVC

32

26

58

no

81

6.4

264

26

690

-.-

IGF Typ C

1935

1936

GEN

spheric

AC

30

32

62

no

37

2.9

237

24

760

Carbonyl iron (grey)

IGF Typ C

1936

1939

GEN

cub

AC

28

37

65

no

95

7.5

260

26

960

Fe3O4(black)

IGF Typ C

1939

1943

GEN

cub

AC

30 ?

25 ?

55 ?

no

105

8.4

-.-

-.-

-.-

g-Fe2O3(red, brown)

IGF Typ L

1943

1947

GEN

cub

PVC

50

50

50

no

86

6.8

350

35

-.-

homogeneous

IGF Typ LG, Typ LGN

1945

1948

GEN

cub

PVC

30 ?

26

56 ?

no

81

6.4

264

26

-.-

-.-

Abbreviations and Explanations:

AC

Cellulose acetate base

acic

Oxide is g-Fe2O3, acicular

BRC

Broadcast Tape

BRCLP

Broadcast Tape, long play

CDMT

Cassette Duplication Master Tape

CrO2

Oxide is CrO2

cub

Oxide is g-Fe2O3 , cubic 

DMT

Digital Master Tape

DOM

Domestic Tape

GEN

General Purpose Tape

IGF

I.G. Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschaft (1925 - 1948)

PE

Polyester base

REF

Reference Tape (Bezugsbandleerteil)

PVC

PVC base

STM

Studio Master Type

Thicknesses given in -m (25.4 -m = 1 mil; 0.039 mil = 1 -m). 

* Matt Back: number gives the matt back thickness in -m, followed by color.

** Originally (2006-07-15) incorrectly shown as "PVC"; corrected 2007-12-13 per F. E.

+  Originally (2006-07-15) incorrectly shown as "PVC"; corrected 2009-06-24 per F. E.

++ Originally (2006-07-15) incorrectly shown as "cub"; corrected 2009-06-24 per F. E.

Sources: Various data sheets by Agfa and BASF. Early tape data are selected from M-ller, Rudolf, "On Improvements of Magnetic Tape Shown by Measurements on Early and Newer Tapes", Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, 1988 October, p. 802 - 820 ; and Krones, Friedrich, "Die Theorie des Magnetspeichers", in Winckel, Fritz (ed.), "Technik der Magnetspeicher", Springer Berlin / G-ttingen / Heidelberg 1960

Reference tapes are unrecorded magnetic tapes with specified characteristics, not to be confused with calibration tapes, magnetic tapes on which signals have been recorded, mostly used to calibrate reproducing amplifiers. See IEC 60094-5, Clauses 2.4 and 2.5.