Unwrapping BASF Reference II Master
6(No Talking) - Cassette unwrapping of a BASF Reference II Master (Type II) ferro-cobalt (1996).
This is another no-frills, no-talking unwrapping of a beautifully shelled cassette. The wrapper did not come off gracefully, but I still linger on the details, as in my prior AXIA Metal unwrapping at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJVdj3EuwwA
BASF Reference II Master: This beautiful cassette and shell date from the start of the EMTEC era, but on tapeheads.net, Wilhelm has this background to share:
"BASF sold off the tape division in October of 1996 to Kohap, a Korean base film manufacturer who apparently believed the BASF executives who promised a long life for tape. (VHS sales, for example, were supposed to climb slowly until they peaked this year 2010 and then begin a slow decline for another 10 years!) In North America all retail consumer sales ended, but the professional division continued; and cassette sales still went to that division. The removal of "Maxima" and replacement of "Master" may possibly be due to that change.
"The tape is a top-of-the line ferro-cobalt in a housing that is stable up to temperatures of 85 degrees C. (185 degrees F.) with the use of special high-temperature plastics. The clear windows are co-injected, that is, not welded or glued into place but formed in the same mold as the dark plastic. The high temperature ability of the cassette meant two changes: 1) chrome could not be used because of its lower Curie point and 2) the housing needed to be welded instead of screwed for the best stability. This is true for all cassettes. In order to allow emergency repairs to the tape, however, a plastic cap was screwed onto the head opening to allow access for splicing."
https://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=4968
The seeming 'hinges' in this unique design are actually small slots that clamp the grey guard in place. What lies underneath is revealed in a photoset of a teardown of the Maxima (same shell): They are notches to secure the grey piece in place, whose removal gives access for splicing if needed. Presumably the only kind of repair they figured you'd need to do. The one screw allows you to slide that protective brace away. Scan about halfway through this photoset...
http://compactcassette.weebly.com/basf-reference-maxima-tpii--1993-1994.html