TDK MA-X - 1990 - US
A no frills TDK yet superbly capable Metal type IV cassette. The same tape inside this can be found in the crikey expensive MA-XG, the one that has a shell made out of alloy.
You've got to be rich to buy this to open and record on, but this is a fantastic Type IV if that's what you want.
Note 1: The 100 Minutes are box-fresh flawless cassettes. The magnetic tape visibly has that white powder that is widely known now. Do your research on this. There are videos on YouTube about all of this. Apparently Fast Forwarding and Rewinding the tape from beginning to end and back a couple of times removes this powder, and it is good to go. You can always go a step further and try to remove any residual traces of that powder afterwards but you will need to be careful. Opening cassettes is not everyone as you need a lot patience and a steady hand.
Note 2: The 90 Minutes tape (only 1 available), has some light scuffing and it does not appear to have any of that visible white powder over the magnetic tape. SOLD!
About TDK:
TDK was founded in Tokyo, Japan, on 7 December 1935 to manufacture the iron-based magnetic material ferrite, which had been recently invented by Yogoro Kato and Takeshi Takei.[3] In 1952 and 1957 they began production of magnetic tapes, with compact cassette tapes following in 1966; it is for these that the company is most widely noted. TDK used to manufacture an extensive portfolio of magnetic and optical media, including several formats of videotape and blank CD-R and recordable DVD discs until the recording business was sold to Imation in 2007.
Operations in the USA began in 1965 with a New York City office,[4] and European operations began in 1970 with an office in Frankfurt, West Germany.[5]
Since 1997 TDK has gradually withdrawn from the production of compact cassettes. First with the MA-X and AR ("Acoustic Response"), then the AD ("Acoustic Dynamic") and SA-X line in 2001 and 2002 respectively, then the MA ("Metal Alloy") line in 2004. The SA ("Super Avilyn") and D ("Dynamic") lines were withdrawn in 2012 under Imation ownership. Industry trends see the company moving into new forms of media; in 2004 TDK was the first media manufacturer to join the companies developing BD post-DVD technology.[4] TDK operated a semiconductor division in California for about a decade, but divested it in 2005.
In late 2007, Imation acquired TDK's recording business, including flash media, optical media, magnetic tape, and accessories, for $300 million.[6][7] This also included a license to use the "TDK Life on Record" brand on data storage and audio products[8] for 25 years.[6] In September 2015, Imation announced that it had agreed to relinquish this license[9] and would cease selling TDK-branded products by the end of the year.[10]