[Dave A]

Thanks NoPeg for noting me as the local 2" go-to but others here are well qualified also. It is my ancestry in broadcasting but I hope my elders can help.

Eric...That tape is moderately scary looking at the crud of ages. I have seen worse. Most of the local dust/mold can be dusted off with a paint brush. After that, it a gamble that the quad head would catch something from the far edge. The usual tape wrap is so tight that only something on the edge may get in. Tape sluffing on the mainside is another story. Under the open reel spaces, the tape is probably ok if it is not shedding like a dog. If there is a hint of moisture...all bets are off. I do have a local 2" machine that is up and running but I rely on him to try this reel. He has done wonders with a few reels I have around. He may balk at this one.

A splice a few feet in is curious. Splices would be many minutes in between show acts as they were recorded. Song...edit...song...edit...comedy and so forth. And I never heard of metal splices. Scotch tape or same was usual on the mechanical RCA splicer. Metal is too thick for the quad head transports. Not withstanding, I do understand you have a metal splice. Not sure about that one. 6' in is about 6 seconds of quad play. Other metal splices would show in the reel windows as a tape wrap bulge.

Can you send a pic of that splice? Quad historians want to know.