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Yes, I agree with you Steve that the problem is
sometimes seen as "spoking"-- those stress lines radiating out from the
center of the tape pack, though I don't recall whether spoking is caused more by
a slot in the hub or by expansion and contraction due to changes in humidity and
temperature. I do know, though, that I've definitely seen tapes with a visible
crease that is clearly caused by the pressure of the wound pack pushing the
inner windings into the slot. On occasion the crease has been pronounced enough
to cause drop outs in the last few minutes of a reel-- not a problem if the tape
hasn't been recorded all the way to the end-- but sometimes a
problem.
The array of conditions and problems arising with
open reel tape is interesting and sometimes surprising. Not to wax romantic over
open reel tape, but seeing all these conditions is more interesting (to me) than
having a crashed hard disk or a CD that's unplayable.
Anyway, call them what you will-- "reels with
slotless hubs" or "slotless reels"-- in another few years talking about
them will probably get some of us about as far as mentioning LPs to a teenager
does today. People won't believe we actually put up with a linear
format.
Why do I think the question about slotless reels
was tongue in cheek in the first place? :>)
Best wishes all,
Steve Green
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