Scotch Master III - FeCr 90 - 1979 - US
"Scotch / 3M were pioneers in tape. Their Reel To Reel tape was used in many a studio. Their cassettes were around from the early days too (...) These Master III, Ferri-Chrome tapes, made in the USA, don't need much introduction when it comes to rarity and quality." Tony Villa
Collector's Corner: A limited selection of superb pre-owned examples offers a more affordable way to explore this rare tape. The tape surfaces are smooth and glossy, with no visible track marks. Cassettes are available with the original owner’s recordings or bulk-erased on request using a Nortronics QM 230 ‘Sound Off’ cassette eraser. Packaging options include a new clear case with a TDK SA60 J-card or the original stackable case shown in the photos. Please specify your recording and case preferences. Rare in this condition.
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Note 1: 90 Minutes: Box-fresh. Wrapper may be lightly scuffed, but after 47 years, it's to be expected. These are immensely rare. Pictures 4, 5, and 6 are older pictures left in this listing for reference purposes only. Only 1 available
Note 2: 90 Minutes: USED: Read the Collector's Corner annotation. It's about these previously owned choice. Only 5 available. SOLD
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About SCOTCH / 3M
Scotch, a magnetic‑media brand under 3M, entered the recording‑tape market in the early 1950s and quickly became one of North America’s most established names in professional reel‑to‑reel stock. 3M’s early oxide formulations were widely used in broadcasting, education, and studio environments, giving the company a strong foundation as the cassette era approached.
By the late 1960s, Scotch expanded into Compact Cassettes, manufacturing ferric and chrome tapes directly in 3M’s U.S. facilities. These early Scotch cassettes were known for dependable coatings, stable performance, and broad retail distribution across department stores and electronics chains. As cassette demand grew through the 1970s and 1980s, Scotch became a familiar household brand for everyday recording, school use, and home audio.
In the 1980s and 199s, as global tape production consolidated, Scotch’s cassette manufacturing transitioned to OEM partners, first SKC in South Korea, then CMC in Taiwan, mirroring the industry’s shift away from domestic production. With the rise of digital media, 3M gradually exited consumer tape manufacturing, leaving Scotch’s magnetic‑media legacy as a notable chapter in early American recording history.