Hello MMD.  Since reading Mark Reinhart's article in the AMICA
Bulletin, and I agree that it was quite a long time ago, I have changed
from Scotch Tape to archival tape for roll repairs.

I use Filmoplast Tape, manufactured in Germany.  It is very satis-
factory to use but I do question one claim that is made for it.  That
is: it is supposed to be removable even after a long time if it is
dampened.

On the couple of occasions when I have been obliged to remove a bit
of mis-applied tape it has certainly come off again, but the adhesive
hasn't.  It has taken quite a bit of subsequent dampening and rubbing
to remove that and the paper surface shows the wear thereafter.
Have you had any trouble like this Mark, and if so, did you find a
way around it?

For a long time I even made bridging or chaining tape for taming
troublesome long unbridged roll perforations out of Filmoplast.  I
have a small many-toothed punch for doing this.  However there is a
disadvantage to using a sticky tape in this way.  The bit of each
bridge that crosses the perforation is in contact with the underlying
paper when the roll is rolled up, and it sticks to it.  The stickiness
can be subdued by applying talcum powder to the underside of the roll
but it's difficult to remove it entirely.  This causes alarming little
ripping sounds next time the roll is played as the bridges come unstuck
again.  So far I've never had a disaster but the possibility certainly
detracts from the enjoyment of the music!

These days I make my bridging tape out of an iron-on tissue.  It's a
bit fiddly to use because it requires a Teflon ironing sheet between
the tape and the iron, but once you learn to hold your tongue in the
right configuration, it's not too bad, and there's certainly no
stickiness afterwards.

Can it be removed again?  Sorry; I don't know.

John Phillips in Hobart, Tasmania.