The 8-track tape. These tapes played songs just like a record or a cd. The best way I can describe it to you is that it came after a record and before the compact disc. It's main feature was that it could play in a loop, repeating the songs over and over again. It was very popular before the beginning of the 1980s. My household actually has an 8-track player and some tapes and we used them until the late 1980s to listen to a bunch of different bands.

Basically the 8-track tapes were not cost efficient and only stayed on the market when they were created with cheaper materials. Then when the compact disc was introduced they basically vanished and were banned to garage sales across the country.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereo_8

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It's one of two things - a continuous loop video tape, use for surveillance or an early Muzak catridge. A continuous loop video tape can be put in a video recorder and left there, recording images from a video camera (usually for security purposes). When the tape reaches the "end" it will start recording over the first image, and so on. I have seen many versions of these things. If the location you found it in has a video security system that was probably what it was used for.

If there's no video system nearby, then it's most likely an early Muzak tape. These tapes also ran on a continuous loop. Muzak owned the early patent on audio transmission, so they had a ton of innovative, pioneering technologies.

The real test will be the size of the cassette case and the size of the tape. Almost all tape media from before 1980 is 1/2 inch or larger. If the tape in the case is less than 1/2 inch then it could be a modern product, like a DAT back-up tape. If the tape is 1/2 inch or larger then it could only be one of these two custom products.
Source(s):
http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FF6423CE8D34E294A07A53D06...

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I know of a Vintage Video History website that might be helpful to you.
Source(s):
http://www.videointerchange.com/video-history.htm

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