AUR - 

asa se poate supranumi acest prim model al casetei-compact Philips = EL1903, inventata de ing. Lodewijk (Lou) F. Ottens (vezi poza in colectia mea alaturata – carti si documente) si prezentata publicului in 1963 (la targul international de radio, Berlin, aug-sept. ) odata cu aparatul corespunzator (Philips EL3300, vezi alaturi). E AUR pt. ca e foarte rara  (eu o caut de cativa ani; s-a fabricat doar intre 1963-1965) si are unele deosebiri fata de modelele urmatoare: nu are sigurante pt evitarea stergerii intamplatoare, cutia/ambalaj era din carton (nu din plastic), folia interioara anti-frecare era din Al, nu are marcaj tiparit privind durata. 

Compact-cassette (TM) a fost cel mai vandut tip de caseta audio din lume;

 Alaturi de discuri de vinil si benzi de magnetofon, a fost un foarte raspandit suport sonor de uz general in perioada 1968-1990;  a reprezentat - pentru cca. 25 de ani - un suport facil, modern, foarte ieftin si fiabil de inregistrare ÅŸi ascultare a melodiilor preferate; banda fabricata initial de BASF tip PES-18, are o latime de 3,81 mm si este antrenata cu o viteza de 4,75 cm/sec (rareori 9,5 cm/sec - v. Tascam 234, pt. facilitati HIFI)  intre cele 2 role pe care este bobinata, fiind realizata pe mai multe tipuri de calitate/straturi magnetice:  FeO2, FeCr, CrO2; realizată iniÅ£ial în variante de 60, 90, 120 minute (functie de grosimea si lungimea benzii), ulterior fiind realizate ÅŸi pt. alte "durate" precum ÅŸi minicasete de 2 x 15 (30) minute pt. reportofoane ÅŸi roboÅ£i telefonici; mecanica simpla, usor de reparat in cazul deteriorarii  benzii ; in foto 2 apare si primul model de caseta compact vanduta in SUA sub marca Norelco (1964, sus dr.) si al 2-lea model de caseta Philips (jos), cu imbunatatiri , fabricata intre 1966-1970.

acest suport sonor a detronat - ca vanzari- discul din vinil in anul 1986, si a fost intrecut la randul sau, in jurul anului 1993, de catre compact disc. 

                                                GOLD -

this could be -for a collector - the nickname of this first type of Philips compact-cassette(TM) = EL 1903, invented by eng. Lodewijk (Lou) F. Ottens (see picture in my next collection - books and documents) and presented with the EL3300 portable recorder (see attached) at the international radio fair IFA - Berlin, August - Sept. 1963.This first model has been produced between 1963-1965, using BASF type PES-18 magnetic tape and did not have cutouts to avoid accidental deletion, the box / packaging was made of cardboard (not plastic), the inner anti-rubbing foil was made of Al, it has no printed mark on the duration.

compact-cassette(TM) was most sold type of audio cassette/cartridge  ever made;

many areas of using (audio, teaching foreign languages, data recordings, medicine (cardio)-recorders, etc.); dimensions: 103 x 64 x 11,5 mm; time: 2 sides  x 15/30/45/60 min ;  tape speed: 4,76 or (rare) 9,5 cm/sec;  tape breadth: 3,81 mm; low cost ; easy to fix, by comparison with another cassettes; sound quality increased by  FeCrO2  or  CrO2  tape; used even in profi products /recordings .;

the second photo presents also the first compact-cassette marketed by Philips under its USA branch/trade mark Norelco and also the second model of Philips compact-cassette(TM), which have few improvements comparing the first model. Number of compact-cassettes copies sold has exceeded that of vinyl LPs in 1986, and it was surpassed by the CDs around 1993.