Submitted for your bidding consideration is a NEW/UNUSED 15 ml. (.5 oz.) bottle of silicone dressing fluid to keep your reel to reel tape recorder in top mechanical shape.  Enough fluid for hundreds of preventive applications.  The perfect item to add to your general maintenance kit.  All natural and recorder-friendly cotton swab applicators included.  Instructions sheet.  Bottle may vary.

Conventional audio tape is manufactured with a microscopic silicone film that permits the tape to come into contact with the recording and playback heads, guides and tension arms in a continual smooth and fluid motion without binding and reducing friction.  The oxide particles which contain the audio recording are both caustic and abrasive, and would grind the metal heads down quickly if left unlubricated.  So a thin dry layer of silicone is applied to the tape in order to promote the smooth passage of the audio tape as it travels through the headblock.  But, as tapes are played repeatedly, the thin layer of silicone may begin to wear thin and if left unattended can eventually cause irrepairable damage to the heads and other contact areas.

Vintage manufacturers recommend treatment of tapes and tapepaths with routine silicone service as a regularly scheduled maintenance program.  Some of those manufacturers such as Akai, provided a spring-loaded "tape-cleaner" that would drop an encapsulated cotton applicator as a carrier for the silicone fluid into the tapepath as the tape was being played, thereby lubricating both tape and tapepath simultaneously.  Others recommended treatment of both tapestock and tapepath with regular applications using "jockey cloths", a soft flannel fabric square containing the fluid silicone lubricant. 

So if your recordings have seemed a little flat in their fidelity, or you have been experiencing some unfamiliar noises, squeaks, and whines upon playback...you may need to turn your attention to the headblock.  Lack of lubrication may also cause the tape to drag and sound like it is playing at a slower speed.  Too often, this simple neglected maintenance chore can mean the difference between many years of continual enjoyment, or frustration to the point of unnecessary sale or discarding of the machine.

NOTE:  Not all silicone based products are suitable for use on delicate tapepaths or tapestock.  Some are designed with a chemical binder which will rapidly deteriorate audio tape and carmelize over time to saturate the tapepath with a sticky goo.  As a matter of fact, some similar products may be more harmful to your machine if used, rather than if not used altogether.  And by all means please DO NOT use the fuser type silicone oils typically formulated for use with copy machines and treadmills.  Read your owner's manuals, check for yourself about tapestock construction, and silicone treatments.  For your protection as well as that of your vintage machine, this auction item is "....non-toxic, non-irritating, non-corrosive."   No  harmful additives.  Please review photos for more detail.

Successful bidder must contact me within three calendar days of end of auction, AND, payment must be received/transfered within eight calendar days.  Your bid indicates that you agree with these provisions.

Please feel free to contact me for any other questions that you may have prior to bidding.  Shipping costs may reflect a small handling and/or materials charge already included.  Auction restricted to USA only.  Please check out my other listings for similar items and thank you for taking a peek.....good luck!!