Eugene Rogers wrote:

> This may seem like a silly question, but I am trying to mend some
> torn rolls and was wondering should the tape be placed on the back
> side of the roll paper or the top side.

Never use the back side.  I did so decades ago when I first got into
players but they are now unplayable.  Better to tape them on the top
side.  BUT be sure to spread the roll out over an oatmeal box or other
cylinder shape to tape it.  This keeps the curve and prevents puckering
which happens when you tape it flat and it spends most of its life curved
on the roll.

D. L. Bullock  Piano World St. Louis