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Tape manufacturers: Difference between revisions
→How to tell
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* WCI Home Video/Warner Home Video
* 3M
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
** Columbia Pictures Videocassette Services
* Technicolor Video Services
** AstralTech
** The CBS/Fox Company
===How to tell===
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* Time-Life Video
* WCI Home Video
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
* Technicolor Video Services
===How to tell===
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* Warner Home Video (1987-2007)
* MGM Home Entertainment (1987-2007)
**
===Known duplicators===
* Allied Digital
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
** Video Technology Services
* Mirror Image Duplication Services
* Premiere Video
* Technicolor Video Services
===How to tell===
* Tapes manufactured after 2001 have "TTGNIC" moulded on the back of the cassette, usually next to the supply reel.
* Tapes manufactured prior to 1990 would have the safety notice on the tape guard engraved in white, while tapes manufactured after would have it moulded in a cheesier font.
* Tapes are duplicated using thermal magnetic duplication, which requires chromium dioxide tape (a BASF exclusive). Many are branded under license as 3M, Agfa-Gevaert, Memorex, PDM Magnetics, Sony, and TDK, among others.
==Fujifilm==
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** Touchstone Home Video
** Walt Disney Home Video
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
** Columbia Pictures Videocassette Services
** Video Technology Services
* Media Home Entertainment
* Technicolor Video Services
** AstralTech
** The CBS/Fox Company
===How to tell===
* Tapes manufactured prior to 1990 may have the Fuji name on the tape guard.
* During the 1990s, some tapes had dark ink code information, including the day-year code
** For example, if the code reads "8 200 91 1311", then that means that the side of the tape is labeled 8 and that the tape was manufactured on the 200th day of 1991, or July 19, 1991, at 01:11 PM.
<gallery>
File:Entertaining_Angels_(2000_Paulist_Press).jpg
</gallery>
==JVC==
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* Magnetic Video Corporation
* Media Home Entertainment
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
* Media Home Entertainment
* Technicolor Video Services
** The CBS/Fox Company
===How to tell===
* Very early tapes would have the text, "DON'T TOUCH TAPE INSIDE - KEEP CLOSED", written on the top of the tape guard.
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===Customers===
* Congress Video
* Paramount Home Video
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
===How to tell===
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===Customers===
* Active Home Video
* Roadshow Home Video [Australian]
* Video Gems
===Known duplicators===
* Roadshow Home Video [Australian]
* Video Gems
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**** Troy Gold (1987-1989)
** Starmaker Entertainment
===Known duplicators===
* Allied Digital
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
** Republic Pictures Home Video
* Full Perspective Video Services
* Technicolor Video Services
** The CBS/Fox Company
===How to tell===
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** Allied Artists Video
* Sony Music Entertainment (1991-2003)
* ADV Films
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
* Full Perspective Video Services
* MediaCopy, Inc.
* Scenewise, Inc.
* Technicolor Video Services
===How to tell===
* Many 1979-1998 tapes have one of four distinct shell designs, the most memorable being one with the top and bottom of the front having squares of horizontal bevels going across the surface. Since 1983, many such tapes have a white release button instead of the standard black release button. Some tapes duplicated by RVSA/Deluxe since the '90s alternatively have a green release button.
* Some 1987-1998 tapes have “Made in U.S.A.” or "MADE IN U.S.A." moulded on the back right of the cassette.
* Some 1987-2003 tapes have dark ink code information, including the day-year code.
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File:Dark Ink Label (Technicolor) (Poltergeist III, 1989 MGM).jpg|This is an example of what the dark ink code on a Memorex tape looks like. In this picture, the code reads "8 003 89 2130", which means the side of the tape is labeled 8 and the tape was manufactured on the 3rd day of 1989 (January 3, 1989) at 09:30 PM.
File:Dark Ink Code (Memorex) (Mutator, 1991 Prism).jpg|This is another example of what the dark ink code on a Memorex tape looks like. This time, the code reads "2 332 90 0313", which means the side of the tape is labeled 2 and the tape was manufactured on the 332nd day of 1990 (November 28, 1990) at 03:13 AM.
File:The Best of Ernie and Bert 1996 Front.jpg|Front of a Memorex tape.
File:The Best of Ernie and Bert 1996 Back.jpg|Back of a Memorex tape. In this picture, "MADE IN U.S.A." is moulded on the back right.
File:William Wegman's Mother Goose 1997 Front.jpg|Front of a Memorex tape.
File:William Wegman's Mother Goose 1997 Back.jpg|Back of a Memorex tape.
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* Family Home Entertainment
* RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
** Video Technology Services
* Technicolor Video Services
** The CBS/Fox Company
===How to tell===
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** Walt Disney Home Video
** Touchstone Home Video
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
* Technicolor Video Services
** The CBS/Fox Company
===How to tell===
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** Walt Disney Home Video
* Warner Home Video
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
** Video Technology Services
* Technicolor Video Services
===How to tell===
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** Walt Disney Home Video
* WCI Home Video/Warner Home Video
===Known duplicators===
* Deluxe Media Entertainment
** Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment
** Video Technology Services
* Media Home Entertainment
* Technicolor Video Services
** AstralTech
** The CBS/Fox Company
===How to tell===
* The TDK logo can be found above the record tab.
* Tapes manufactured from 1978 to 1987 may have a year-week code printed above the record tab.
** The first number is the last number of the year the tape was manufactured, and the last two numbers indicate the week.
*** E.G. if the code reads "AKAF413", it could mean the tape was manufactured on the 13th week of 1984.
** On Betamax tapes, the code may be printed on the bottom spine.
<gallery>
File:Record Tab (TDK) (The Three Caballeros, 1985 Disney).jpg|An example of the TDK logo and a year-week code found above the record tab. The code shown on this image reads "AKAD423", meaning it was manufactured on the 23rd week of 1984.
</gallery>
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===Customers===
===How to tell===
==Unknown tape manufacturers==
See also information on other tape manufacturers that are [[Unknown tape manufacturers|currently unknown]].
==Notes==
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