So far one might have the idea that Z’s first name was ‘Paul’. Now one might assume that Z’s last name could have been e.g. ‘Ventura’ or ‘Montgomery’.

viewtopic.php?f=78&t=2797

To be creative..

Paul Montgomery
Paul Ventura

would be an interesting approach..

QT

Another reference to "scotch" and "metallic" and it could be used to tie someone up. It was in homes around that time. More information on Wiki. Also, "scotch" could be a play on words, so, I might consider the cassette "tape" as well.

True..however haven’t seen any names on the bottom lid of such thing, yet. In the badlands movie Z had referred to, three hints are given: super x ammo, Philipps 66 maps and recording..nevertheless these metal recording tapes were made by the same company, so it’s St. Paul again..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCOTCH-METAL-TA … 1485420452

Assuming Z was recording or showing something, there are few options: Audio or movies..could even be a detective recording other criminals’ confessions..at least hip to have access to such equipment that early.

QT

QT

I think your topic is interesting. It is something to be curious about. That led me to ponder the names like Philips, TDK, Ma-x, Maxwell that are found on the cassettes…other than that I would have to do more research to do it any justice. And I do not like research, I prefer working the ciphers, so I leave that to you and others.

I look at this whole thing in a different way. Here is the letter in question, with the point I mean to make highlighted:

I am the ZODIAC and I am in control of all things. I am going to tell you a secret. I like friction tape. I like to have it around in case I need to truss someone up in a hurry….I have my real name on a small metallic tape. You see, while you have it in your possession, I want you to know it belongs to me and you think I may have left it accidentally. I am athletic. It could be swim fins, or a piece of scuba gear. But maybe you play chess with me. I have several cheap sets in closets all over. I have my name on the bottom of the lid with the scotch tape….My tape is waiting for me all over California. Do you know me? I am the ZODIAC and I am in control.

The way I read this, the writer has several cheap chess sets "all over" with his named taped on the bottom of the chess set lids.
I’ve heard of chess sets (I play) but I’ve certainly never heard of a "tape set" whatever that would be.

So yeah, name taped to the bottom of a chess set lid makes sense. Name taped on a tape set lid – not so much…

That’s just the way that I read that part of this strangely tape-obsessed letter, which I do not believe was really from Z in any case.

-glurk

I look at is as a riddle. To me it sounds as if he is speaking of two ways in which his name is disclosed (if I am to assume he is trying to give us his name) 1. The first part describing the metallic tape. 2. The second part in describing the name at the bottom of the lid.

I do not necessarily think that the sentence he wrote "I have my name on the bottom of the lid with the scotch tape" means he is still refering to the chess set….I kind of separate each sentence as a different thought.

What the heck…..with the swim fins or scuba gear and and what that statement is referring to….I have not a clue how that ties into metallic tape or chess sets. So I look at each sentence individually and possibly not relating to the one before it.

Agree..the chess set could be something with bishop or king or similar..the scuba fins are still mysterious as a hint..maybe a link to his flashlight being a navy flashlight?

http://www.vintagescubasupply.com/accsview.html

QT

Would have liked to have seen the actual copy of this

I am the ZODIAC and I am in control of all things.

I am going to tell you a secret. I like friction tape. I like to have it around in case I need to truss someone up in a hurry.

I have my real name on a small metallic tape. You see, while you have it in your possession, I want you to know it belongs to me and you think I may have left it accidentally.

I am athletic. It could be swim fins, or a piece of scuba gear.

But maybe you play chess with me. I have several cheap sets in closets all over. I have my name on the bottom of the lid with the scotch tape.

My tape is waiting for me all over California. Do you know me? I am the ZODIAC and I am in control.

For consideration:

I look at this as airplane/airport related, which, wouldn’t be too far out of the realm for a zodiac connection given the zodiac’s many mentions of airplane/airport within his letters.

Friction tape is used for longeron truss protection on airplanes. So here you have friction tape and trusses.

The small metallic tape could be the tape used for flight data recorders. The writer states you may have thought I left it accidentally. So here you have flight data recorder and accident.

In 1950 Aqueon created a type of scuba fin gear that was designed similar to that of the wings of an airplane. A current maker would be PowerSwim.

As for chess sets, not really sure, but I have seen vintage world war two flight chess sets.

I am in control could be a reference to a flight control tower.

Soze

A bit of irony maybe:

The writer states he has his name on a small metallic tape that we may have thought he left accidentally. I came up with flight data recorder given the tape and accident/accidentally. The flight data recorder is known as an FDR. Most of the stamps the zodiac used was that of FDR.

Just thought it interesting.

Soze

A REGULATOR Chess Game is known as a chess variety..and it is a piece of scuba gear, too.

QT

More thoughts…..

Chess brothers’ company

Leonard bought a stake in a record company called Aristocrat Records in 1947; in 1950, Leonard brought his brother, Phil into the operation and they became sole owners of the company, renaming it as Chess Records.

Just noting how the cassette may tie into the name "Philips" a long with chess sets and scuba gear from that time period.

I am not sure what year the logo was made but the scuba company out of Muncie IN was up and running during those years. And their older logos may have been similar.

What would you say if we had found a PAUL R. KNIGHT who was born in VALLEJO?

Here you go:

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse. … ml_rpos=33

Question is if we can place that guy e.g. to Riverside, too. Just speculation, I know.

QT

One search result……

Paul Lemaire D’Augerville, a Paris dentist who in 1820 invented the firsts scuba diving apparatus.

QT
Just trying to help….. Lol

Doing a search with the name (Paul) and "chess sets" pulls up several results with the name Paul connected with the box sets.