Sony’s pioneering business activities spread cassette tapes around the world!
In 1946, Masaru Ibuka (井深大), Akio Morita (盛田昭夫) and Shozaburo Tachikawa (太刀川正三郎) founded the electrical manufacturing company Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo in Nihonbashi, Chuo Ward, Tokyo. This was the future Sony. In 1950, it introduced Japan’s first tape recorder. Having become a major manufacturer, Sony took an interest in the compact cassette technology held by the Dutch company Philips and asked to use it. Remarkably, it made royalty-free use of the patent a condition and persuaded Philips to agree. This prompted TDK, Maxell and other companies to enter the market. Cassette tapes went on to spread around the world.
1. The Philips patent
Sony prompted the move to royalty-free use of Philips’ cassette tape patent.
2. TYPE III
Sony released the world’s first TYPE III (ferrichrome) cassette tape.
3. The Walkman
The arrival of the Walkman had an enormous impact on the spread of cassette tapes.
4. An ultra high-end cassette
Sony released an ultra high-end cassette tape in a case made of aluminum and resin.