8-track half-inch tape transfer

Tascam Model 38 curca 1985 being used to transfer a tape that has been baked to minimize sticky-shed-syndrome (SSS). Note the white cloth over the erase and record heads used to clean the tape during transfer. this reduces the risk of stray oxide clogging the repro head, reducing treble. the reason the tape is playing backwards is that it is risky to fast wind tapes that suffer from SSS. sometimes the oxide will adhere to the black, anti-static back-coating... So, however the tape was stored - typically played / tail out - it gets played and transferred twice, in this case, backwards and forwards... the cloth is especially useful for determining "baking efficacy." If, for example, the cloth is clogged with oxide, it can slowly be moved to a clean spot, after which the tape must be re-baked at 135F for at least another 24 hours. please note that if the tape was not stored as played, the giveaway will be uneven tape pack. this means NO high temp baking, which will damage the exposed edges of the tape. low temp baking over several days will allow the tape to be playable enough to get a cleaning pass and good tape pack. the tape will now be ready for high temp bake.