3M Scotch Scream'R - 1990 - US
Scotch / 3M's version of the much loved, classic, Memorex dBS-I "Clown" cassette.
The similarities are more than just aesthetics, these were also made by SKC, like the Memorex dBS-I.
A very decent Type 1, which was never released outside of North America, so really hard to find in Europe.
NOTE 1: October 20, 2021 This is an underrated Type I tape and getting harder to find (lots of 45 minutes though!). Some are managing to sell it for about $13.00USD each, you know where...
NOTE 2: A word about B-Grade and C-Grade tapes: Back in ~May of 2024, a gentleman from one of the Scandinavian countries sent me an e-mail or a message that I never able to retrieve and consequently reply back to him regarding "what determines what a B-Grade or a C-Grade sealed cassette is?". My apologies. Since there is no official grading system for determining the condition of the cassettes, a simple method was introduced back in 2019 by Tony Villa, in his most honest attempt to convey to his customers what to expect in terms of overall condition whenever they bought blank sealed cassettes from him. I have maintained to the best of my ability Tony Villa's standards with regards to grading the condition of blank cassette tapes. This is not a science and so it goes somewhat as follows:
B-Grade: This tape will have a noticeably scuffed wrapper and it may have one or several tiny rips (1-2mm), any larger and it should be noted somewhere. The plastic case may also have one or more, small 1-5 cms hairline cracks(s) and the buyer should be made aware, either written or through pictures. The cassette itself cannot have sustained any damaged and neither should the J-Card.
C-Grade: There cannot exist visible signs that the cassette tape itself may have sustained any damage. The J-Card may have sustained some insignificant damage. The plastic outer case may sustained some serious cracks and some pieces may actually be missing. Overall the cassette case will remain mostly sealed with significant rips or pieces missing.
Miscellaneous: Other tapes with other blemishes not mentioned here may also be graded either B or C to best achieve the most transparent assessment by the seller. I will be introducing a more elaborate grading system in the near future (before the year is up, 2024) so that we can all benefit from it, as we sell and/or trade amongst the various selling platforms. I welcome your input before and after I release such a grading system. Best of health and joy to everyone. Sept. 08, 2024
About 3M Scotch:
Five businessmen founded 3M in Two Harbors, Minnesota, in 1902.[7] Originally a mining venture, the goal was to mine corundum, but this failed because the mine's mineral holdings were anorthosite, which had no commercial value.[7] Co-founder John Dwan solicited funds in exchange for stock and Edgar Ober and Lucius Ordway took over the company in 1905.[7] The company moved to Duluth and began research and producing sandpaper products.[7] William L. McKnight, later a key executive, joined the company in 1907, and A. G. Bush joined in 1909.[7] 3M finally became financially stable in 1916 and was able to pay dividends.[7]
The company moved to St. Paul in 1910, where it remained for 52 years before outgrowing the campus and moving to its current headquarters at 3M Center in Maplewood, Minnesota in 1962.[8]
The company began by mining stone from quarries for use in grinding wheels. M Struggling with quality and marketing of its products, management supported its workers to innovate and develop new products, which became its core business.[9] Twelve years after its inception, 3M developed its first exclusive product: Three-M-ite cloth. Other innovations in this era included masking tape, waterproof sandpaper, and Scotch brand tapes. By 1929, 3M had made its first moves toward international expansion by forming Durex to conduct business in Europe. The same year, the company's stock was first traded over the counter and in 1946 listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The company is currently a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and of the S&P 500.