ATC recordings around 1960

[Four Wings]

Can anybody please advise if ATC communications (especially 'tower' conversations) were routinely taped around 1960? The question particularly applies to what I would call 'second tier' airports (e.g. Speke and Eastleigh in UK).
The question came up recently in conversation with a non-aviation researcher who was commenting on the allegedly mysterious loss of a tape shortly after an incident in 1961. I expressed scepticism as they were quite early days in tape recorders - by coincidence I bought a Ferrograph in 1961, with short recording times and tapes were repeatedly re-used.

[chevvron]

I believe they were recorded but not necessarily on magnetic tape; got a vague recollection of seeing a recording machine (1962) using something which looked like 35mm film.
Nowadays the tapes must be kept for a minimum of 30 days before being re-used, but having said that, it's probable most ATC units use digital media nowadays and the recording is kept for longer.