Agfa PE-36
The catalog files it under cameras, but every surviving magazine calls it a reel of tape - and the tape is the one with the measurements.
Overview
The awkward part first. The VTA catalog shelves the Agfa PE-36 as a camera, and the period record disagrees. Every magazine source that mentions the PE-36 describes an open-reel magnetic recording tape - a 1-mil polyester, plastic-case tape with leader - not a camera body. No listing, no advertisement, no review of an Agfa PE-36 camera has surfaced in the material examined. Anyone chasing a PE-36 should know which product they're hunting.
What the tape was is clearer. Period coverage places it in Agfa's Low Noise series, the same family as the PE-46 (Double Play) and the PE-66 (Triple Play). Retail and archival listings call it "HiFi Low Noise" / "Hi-Fi Low-Noise" tape. One source rates the formulation as type 3 (low noise/high output), but that claim sits in a passage mainly about the tapes that succeeded the PE-36 and PE-46, so treat it with suspicion.
The measurements are the real find. Audio (May 1973, p.22) put the PE-36 on the bench and reported output of +1 dB, signal/noise of 67 dB, and distortion of 1.1% at 0 VU rising to 2.5% at +3 VU. Those are respectable numbers for a consumer tape of the period.
Key Features
1-mil Polyester, Plastic Case, Leader Tape
The construction is plain: 1-mil polyester base, a plastic case, and a leader tape spliced on. The 1-mil thickness is the standard consumer gauge, and the plastic case is the everyday storage arrangement rather than a metal can. Nothing exotic. This was working tape, meant to be spooled, stored, and spooled again.
Measured Output and Signal/Noise
Audio (May 1973, p.22) measured output at +1 dB and signal/noise at 67 dB. The S/N figure is the one that matters in practice. At 67 dB, hiss sits well below the music on most consumer decks of the era. The +1 dB output suggests the tape runs a touch hot compared to reference, which helps when a machine's meters are calibrated conservatively.
Distortion at 0 VU and +3 VU
The same Audio test (May 1973, p.22) recorded 1.1% distortion at 0 VU and 2.5% at +3 VU. The tape is clean at reference level and degrades gracefully when pushed three VU beyond it.
DIN Hole (Trident) Hub
Listings for the tape describe a DIN hole (trident) hub - the three-prong center that mates with European reel tables. Owners with DIN-spindle machines will find it a natural fit. Anyone running a machine with a different hub arrangement should check compatibility before buying.
Plastic Box Packaging
Multiple listings describe the tape arriving in a plastic box. It's a storage detail, not a sonic one, but it likely explains why so many surviving reels turn up with their original housings intact.
Historical Context
The PE-36 belonged to Agfa's Low Noise family, sharing the catalog with the PE-46 (Double Play) and PE-66 (Triple Play). Later high-output consumer tapes from Agfa are described as having replaced the PE-36 and PE-46, which puts the PE-36 in the earlier generation of the company's Low Noise line. For family context, sources note that Agfa's PE39 (Long Play) and PE49 (Double Play) were German-made tapes not generally available in the United States. No production years for the PE-36 itself have been confirmed in the available documentation.
Collectibility & Value
Prices are scattered and the sources don't agree on much. One listing shows a sale price of £16.99. A low-reliability aggregator cites a range of $10.00 to $66.85, which should be taken with a grain of salt. Condition descriptions range from "refurbished - 90 day warranty" to "brand new unused" to "rare, with original box," and at least one seller lists the tape as no longer available. On longevity, one archival source notes that Agfa tapes of this vintage shed less than others due to the high quality of the binder. That matters for anyone buying sealed or lightly used reels, since shedding is the usual failure mode that kills old tape.
A caution for buyers: the eBay listings that surface under a "PE-36" search are largely Panasonic PE-36S electronic flash units, a different product entirely, priced around $39 and $70. Those listings must not be read as Agfa PE-36 values. The tape itself is a niche item with a thin market and no confirmed canonical length. Sources variously cite 1200 ft, 1800 ft, 4200 ft, and 540 m capacities across different reel sizes, so verify which variant a seller is offering before bidding.
eBay Listings
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