Tape Cartridge

Tape Cartridge

The RCA tape cartridge aka Magazine Loading Cartridge, was designed to offer stereo 1/4", 3 3/4 ips reel-to-reel in a convenient format for the consumer market.
Brought to market in 1958, after four years of development, the timing collided with the launch of the stereo LP. 
RCA also offered an adapter for Cartridge machines to enable them to play back and record existing 5" reels.
Tape cartridges cost $4.50 in 1960 compared to a 1,200 foot reel of tape @ $3.50.
RCA was slow to produce machines and license prerecorded music tapes.
RCA planned to have 65 titles in stores by Christmas 1959. That never happened.

The RCA tape cartridge was of limited success and the format disappeared from retail stores by 1964.