Thread: How can I tell the difference between reel to reel tapes and early movie tapes?

I have a box of tapes that are mostly from the Voice of Prophecy or various religious missionary groups, from the early sixties. I can't tell if they are sound recordings or movies. The diameter of the reel is 5", the boxes are 5.5" square, and the width of the tape is roughly 8mm, which makes me think they must be movies. Any hints?

If they are movies, you should be able to see each frame (like a photo film).

both audio tape and 8mm movies are 6mm size (1/4 inch). don't ask why 8mm movies are only 6mm size, but they are. same with 16mm movies are 12.5 mm width! anyway movies would be stiff plastic with sprocket holes and you can see the tiny pictures. audio tape would be solid brown or black oxide and really thin. Also, movie reels have a square hole on one side to prevent mounting on the projector backwards, and audiotape reels are identical on both sides, they are made to be flipped over. The Voice of Prophecy distributed its radio programs on audio tape to the broadcast stations in the days before satellite. It might be a set of radio programs that didn't get returned.