Date:         Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:51:09 EDT
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         Tim Brooks <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Scotch Master 90 cassette sticking
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My apologies if this has been answered in the past, but can anyone suggest  
how to get Scotch Master 90 cassettes that are sticking to play through at 
least  once for transfer to a new medium?
 
These are consumer cassettes from the 1970s or 80s in which the tape winds  
around a fixed (not rotating) metal post, across the recording/playback pad,  
around another post at the other corner of the front of the shell, and then 
back  to the takeup pack. The tape stops dead repeatedly, especially in mid-reel. 
 
There does not seem to be any evidence of flaking and when disassembled  (the 
shell is held together by phillips head screws) the interior is clean. My  
suspicion is that the tape has dried out and is sticking either to itself or to  
the metal posts. I've seen some suggestions that problematic cassette tapes 
be  lifted out and placed in a new shell, but would this help if the tape 
itself is  the problem? Would some type of lubricant work?
 
Thanks for any suggestions.
Tim Brooks
 
 



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