What is the best way to manually wind a tape that ........?

Question

has became unwound due to my tape player ate the tape? I managed to get the line of tape out of the player, but now every way I try to rewind it, it doesnt seem to be winding back up into the tape...but it doest seem to be getting longer either!! HELP! Thanks alot!!

Answer 1

From what you say, the tape must have snapped.
You will have to splice the tape to remove the mangled section and be able to use the tape again. You can buy splicing kits or just do this very carefully:
Open up the case (if the case has screws - if not you will have to break open the case and rehouse the tape in another case when you have spliced it)
Carefully remove the tape and locate the break stick a small piece if tape on the back of the two remaining tape ends - try to keep it as straight as possible otherwise it won't travel well when winding on the tape transport. (also cut off any mangled bits first - these bits are lost forever..!)
Obviously you may have trouble playing the tape in future so copy it or transfer it into digital format for the future...
Put it back into the case and away you go....
If you are struggling with this get in touch with a tape specialist:
http://www.cassette2cd.co.uk
or equivalent if you are not UK-based.
Just to finish off, be VERY CAREFUL if you have not done this before, you could end up with masses of unwound tape around your feet..make sure you always know which way round the tape should be and ..... be very ..... CAREFUL, don't touch the tape where you don't have to.

Answer 2

Get a paper clip and bend the narrow, inside U into a crank shape. Insert the larger U into the left-hand spindle (looking at the tape with the A-side facing you) and turn counterclockwise. You can also do this with a pencil or pencap.