TDK SA - 1985 - US/CA
A most brilliant and nostalgic design.
The mid-80's were the best years for the highest quality cassettes manufactured by TDK (this is also true for its competitors). Most improvements on the tape formulations were achieved by about 1984-85.
Going forward, only slight tape formulation improvements if any, the look of the shells and the colourful cassette wrappers are what drives sales. The quicker they would release a new look, the more they would sell. Gradually, their choice of materials and quality begin to dive as they scramble to keep profits up. They know the cassette is on the way out, as the CD has arrived. It was time to now cash in on the reputation of their brand, a brand that held to very high standards for last 10-15 years. (1975~1990). the same can be argued for Maxell, Sony, Fuji, Denon, BASF, That's... well, you get the idea.
NOTE 1: 60 Minutes: Low inventory. 100% Box-fresh tapes.
NOTE 2: 90 Minutes: Low stock. Nearly perfect wrappers.
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Since 1997 TDK has gradually withdrawn from the production of compact cassettes.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 The SA ("Super Avilyn") and D ("Dynamic") lines were withdrawn in 2012 under Imation ownership.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]
TDK SA - 1985 - US/CA - Made in Japan