Memorex DBS - 1991 - US
"This is a superior type I Memorex tape! Like many manufacturers, they outsourced their production in the 80s and especially in the 90s. In this tape's case, to Saehan, who made very good cassettes. All these need is a bit of negative bias and NR to make great recordings. These cassettes just scream 80s. Indeed these cassettes are very endearing, and everyone remembers them. They were very popular... especially with the ladies." Tony Villa
Iconic and getting difficult to find new and sealed.
Note 1: 60 Minutes: Made in PRC: SOLD OUT.
Note 2: 90 Minutes: Made in PRC: All of these have small blemishes on their wrappers, tiny rip(s), some repaired to avoid further tearing. Still too insignificant to grade them lower. Slightly different parts when compared to the ones made in South Korea. These look better to me for some reason. Very few available.
Note 3: 90 Minutes: Made in SK: All of these are box-fresh cassettes. Very few available.
Note 2: 90 Minutes: Made in PRC: B-Grade One (1) available. Two visible hairline cracks on the front of the case. See picture.
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Watch below a video by Tony Villa, on some of these iconic Memorex "Clown" tapes:
About Memorex:
Memorex began in 1961 in Silicon Valley as a magnetic‑media company specializing in computer tape and quickly expanded into consumer audio cassettes during the 1970s. Their “Is it live or is it Memorex?” campaign made the brand a household name, and throughout the 1980s and early ’90s they offered a wide range of ferric and chrome tapes, many produced through a shifting OEM lineage that moved from SKC to Saehan and later CMC as global manufacturing consolidated.
Memorex became known for accessible, mass‑market formulations that balanced affordability with dependable everyday performance, helping the brand dominate retail shelves across North America. As the cassette era faded, Memorex branched into small electronics, blank CDs, optical media, and storage accessories, maintaining strong visibility in office‑supply and consumer‑tech channels. Today, the brand still exists under new ownership, focusing mainly on storage and accessories, but its cassette legacy remains one of the most recognizable and culturally enduring in the format’s history.
Memorex DBS - 1991 - US - Made in CHINA (CN) or South Korea (KR)