Scully 280B 8-Track Tape Machine
Early in my career, I worked with a Scully 280B 8 track tape machine. It was a workhorse with a great sound and a transport like a rocket, but it lacked basic things like a tape counter. It wasn’t a problem though. After a time, I naturally developed a feel for where I was when rewinding or fast-forwarding the tape. It’s kind of like driving without navigation. Yeah, we had maps, but we also had a feel for knowing where we were and where we were going. We didn’t worry about it. Now don’t get me wrong; I’m not a Luddite, and I love my MacBook. However, the other day, I was enjoying cutting a slice of bread from a fresh loaf. It was a pleasure knowing I could cut any thickness I wanted, maybe a little thicker for a sandwich or little thinner for toast. Pre-sliced bread was a simple innovation, a time saver, and it became the norm, but it took something from us.