Is rust magnetic?

[Panic Button]

My son was asked at school if rust was magnetic. He asked me, but I'm not sure if the iron loses its magnetism when it reacts with oxygen

[sddsddean]

Yes it is. The first audio magnetic tapes used Iron Oxide (Rust) as the 'active' element and I can remember using 'Ferric' cassette tapes to record LP's etc in my youth (long, long ago!)

[Panic Button]

Oh I remember, those cassettes with a sort of rust coloured tape that wound its way round the rubber wheel.

Once you got it out your favourite track went all wobbly at the best bit.

[sddsddean]

Thats the ones! Good old Boots C90's. Of course they went a bit wobbly when they got stretched/chewed as well! I've still got several with sellotape repairs!

[Panic Button]

I remember what it is called - the pinch roller.

I had a load of cassettes with lime green labels by BASF.

The young today have it too easy with their CD's being burnt and their MP3 players.

Do you remember using your finger to wind the tape to the beginning, or counting 6 seconds after pressing play, stopping the tape, presiing pause and then the play and record buttons together. Then you put the stylus onto the vinyl record and released the pause button to start the recording. Unfortunately your mate who lent you the record wasn't as careful with his records as you were so there were loads of clicks on the record.

[sddsddean]

Ah memories!!!