@neauoire sticky/disintegrating synthetic rubber plagues a *lot* of European electronics of that era, dealing with it is also a big task for restorers of hifi and audiovisual equipment (there has also increasingly been some success using 3d printing techniques to recreate failed components)

@neauoire some of these tapes were doing that in the 80s and i never knew why. a retensioning procedure was recommended but didn't seem to help.

@neauoire @cstross Oof. Reading TFA just brings sweat to my brow and shaking to my hands.

@neauoire I still have a drive from a SInclair computer, an endless reel of tape in a small case