In Digest 980611 Tom Steuer mentioned problems with a Pianocorder.

I have repaired many such units, as well as owning one of the Vorsetzer
units sitting in front of my 1919 6'1" Stoddard-Ampico Knabe.  (The
piano and cabinet have been redone, but, sadly, the player mechanism
sits idly by in boxes, due to not enough time to finish the job!)

Don't assume that the problem with a Pianocorder tracking is due to the
tape deck itself.  What someone needs to do is check the condition of
the *pressure pad* _inside_ the cassette tape _itself_.

Pick up a cassette and look into the bottom of the tape where the head
and pinch roller go up inside the cassette when you press "play" on the
tape deck.  Look in the middle of the opening; there should be a little
_felt_ pad mounted on the little copper/brass/bronze spring.  It is
glued to the spring; the tape head pushes against the felt pad and
spring, which keeps the tape in contact with the head.

If you have a tape that is acting up, check the felt pad.  Chances
are that:  (a) The pad has fallen down and is not right in the center
of the spring, (b) The pad has fallen OUT and is missing completely!

If either of the above happens, the tape will not stay in constant
contact with the head.  It will bounce away from the head, causing
dropouts, starts/stops of the playback, or the tracking control will
have little/no effect.

I have seen _many_ tapes that this has happened to.  If the pad is
still in the cassette, you can glue it back into place.  If it is
missing, then all you can do is replace it.  I have scrounged several
pads from other cassettes (audio), and had good luck doing that.

I hope this helps!

Mike Carey
mcarey@usit.net