A continuous loop of audio tape in a cartridge that could be mounted on a standard reel-to-reel tape recorder. The tape could hold anywhere from 15 sec. to 30 min. of audio (Cousino Inc. c. 1960, p. 2). It was intended for point-of-sale and other repetitive applications. Its basic principles were used in subsequent Cousino cartridges, as well as Fidelipac, 8-track and similar continuous cartridges.

The reel in this example is mounted on the supply spindle and the tape is threaded as usual through the head block. The arm positions a tape guide at the takeup spindle on the opposite side of the recorder, preserving the normal path for the tape, even though the tape in this case simply returns to the supply reel and is wound back onto the outside of the reel. While running, the capstan pulls the tape from the inside of the reel at a constant speed.

The idea of pulling the tape out of the center and winding it back onto the outside was not new. It had been patented for movie film as early as 1918 (Ponon 1918). Later variations were patented multiple times for both film and audio tape before Cousino patented the Audio Vendor. In fact, Cousino cited all these in his own patent (Cousino 1957). Cousino made two innovations: a mechanism to control the tension of the tape and an effective means of lubricating the tape using a synthetic colloidal graphite on both sides.