Photographs that make identification easier
Place the item on a plain surface in good light. Photograph the entire front, rear and spine, then take close-ups of logos, model numbers and handwritten labels. Include a ruler in one image for an unknown reel or cassette. Photograph the original box separately because it may carry more technical information than the media itself.
- Front face with the complete label visible.
- Rear face, including screw pattern and record-protect controls.
- Spine or end label.
- Any open window, reel hub or cassette door without moving it.
- Original box, insert, cue sheet or camera/recorder note.
- A ruler beside the object when scale is uncertain.
Common cassette families
| What it looks like | Likely family | Next page |
|---|---|---|
| Large rectangular home-video cassette | VHS, S-VHS or possibly a related professional/data use | VHS & VHS-C |
| Small cassette used in a camcorder | VHS-C, Video8/Hi8/Digital8, MiniDV, MicroMV or CVC | Compare the exact shell and logo; do not use an adaptor until identified. |
| Cassette marked Beta | Domestic Betamax or professional Betacam family | Betamax or Betacam |
| Large professional cassette marked U-matic | U-matic low-band, high-band, SP or PCM carrier | U-matic |
| Square early Philips cassette | Philips VCR or VCR-LP | Philips VCR & Video 2000 |
| Large reversible cassette marked VCC or Video 2000 | Philips Video 2000 / V2000 | Priced and transferred by recorded side. |
Names written by family members are not always technical. “Small video”, “camcorder”, “Beta” or “master” should be treated as clues, not final identification.
Open reels: start with tape width
Measure the tape itself rather than the reel flange. Quarter-inch tape is common for domestic and professional audio. Half-inch can be audio multitrack or early open-reel video. One-inch and two-inch tape are strongly associated with professional audio or video systems, but the format still depends on the recording machine and track/head arrangement.
Cine film and photographic media
Cine film is identified by width, perforations, reel size and whether an optical or magnetic sound track is present. Standard 8 and Super 8 are both 8mm wide but have different perforation patterns and image areas. 9.5mm has a distinctive central perforation. 16mm and 35mm may be silent or carry optical or magnetic sound.
- Photograph several frames against a light source without unwinding a large length.
- Measure the film width and reel diameter.
- Show the perforation pattern at the edge or centre.
- Retain labels describing sound, speed, dates or reel order.
- Do not run brittle film through a projector simply to identify it.
Model numbers and recording history
A recorder or camcorder model number can be as useful as the tape label. Countries and dates help distinguish PAL and NTSC equipment. Studio paperwork can identify track layout, timecode, PCM systems or machine standards. Even a company name on a reel box may point to the type of facility that made it.
Useful notes include: country of recording, approximate year, camera/recorder model, whether the material is home video or a professional master, expected running time, sound format and any history of water, mould or failed playback.
What not to do before identification
- Do not force a cassette into a machine or adaptor.
- Do not open a cassette shell unless you already service that exact format.
- Do not wipe magnetic tape with household cleaners.
- Do not bake, heat or freeze media at home.
- Do not pull tape from a reel to “see what is on it”.
- Do not discard boxes, leaders, labels or loose pieces.
Send the photographs first. Identification is faster and safer than trying a sequence of old machines.
Questions customers commonly ask
Can you identify a tape from one photograph?
Sometimes, but front, rear, spine and scale photographs are much more reliable, especially for compact camcorder and professional cassettes.
Should I send the old camera or recorder?
Not unless agreed. Its model number and photographs are useful, but studio playback equipment is normally used for the transfer.
What if a box and reel do not match?
Photograph both. Media was often moved between boxes, so the tape or cassette itself must also be assessed.
Is there a charge for asking what a format is?
Normal identification guidance supplied with an enquiry is free. Technical testing, machine setup or detailed archive surveys may be quoted where required.