Summertone was established thirty + years ago by Terry Summers who has over fifty five years’ experience in the Film, Audio and Magnetic Stripe Industry. He identified a need for a small specialist Company offering expertise in several areas, including:

  1. Magnetic head re-profile and re-lapping
  2. Magnetic heads for sale from stock
  3. UK agent for Photovox srl (Head manufacturer), Italy
  4. Publication of a Specialist book on Old Cottage Dolls

CN22/23 COMPLETION:

We are receiving heads for re-lapping and return just as we were before tariffs were introduced.  With BREXIT, the only addition to the parcel being sent to us by post, is that it must have a CN22 or CN23 customs declaration form attached. These requirements remain unchanged.

This form carries a nominal value (because if the items is not re-lapped, they are worthless), also it is important that the CN22 has this statement on it: “CUSTOMERS OWN PROPERTY FOR REPAIR. TO BE RETURNED AFTER REPAIR” Goods will be returned carrying a similar CN22 statement and also a copy of the original CN22 from the sent package.

SENDING HEADS FOR RE-LAPPING FROM EUROPE NOW THAT NEW CUSTOMS DUTIES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED FROM 1st JULY 2026:

A new Customs duty has been introduced which applies to all countries globally from 1st July 2026. This requires each customer to complete and pay the tax prior to sending the parcel, and once repaired, requires Summertone Ltd to estimate the new value, and either pay the customs duty prior to return and add the cost to the invoice, or for each customer to pay that tax locally.

The tax is identified on UK parcels as PDDP. PDDP stands for Postal Delivered Duties Paid. It is an international shipping arrangement where the sender ensures all customs duties, import taxes, and clearance fees have been paid prior to sending. This means the recipient receives the package at their door without being hit with surprise delivery fees, handling charges or taxes. We appreciate your support with these new arrangements.

REEL TO REEL TAPE HEAD FORUM  IMPORTANT INFORMATION

It has come to my notice that some disturbing information has been posted on the Forum about head re-lapping. Some of these methods, if employed will destroy your valuable head and make your tape recorder useless.

Do not use needle files, metal polish or emery paper.  If you use a multi-meter to check the heads make sure you de-magnetise them afterwards.

The correct Items required for re-lapping are.
A good microscope.  Gap condition inspection during re-lapping is essential.
A good inductance meter using 1Khz at 1 volt.
A certified flat lapping plate
Lapping film and diamond paste with a suitable carrier for the paste.
Lapping fluid, not water.
A huge amount of experience.

Heads must be re-profiled to the exact shape they were when new. This is essential to ensure the low frequency end frequency response is unaltered.
Head magnetic materials are different in heads (Mu-metal, Amorphous Vitrovac, Ferrite etc) so the makeup must be assessed to ascertain the correct lapping material, grade and method.
Head body materials are different (brass, nickel silver, grades of aluminium, ceramic, ferrite etc.)
and require different techniques and materials to renovate them. Some aluminium bodies are particularly difficult to achieve a satisfactory finish.
It is essential that the whole area that the tape passes over is completely flat and has a fine finish.  A good polish does not guarantee that. The biggest danger is that the gap in the centre, (that is the working part of the head) is totally clean and open and is not “swaged” – partially rubbed over obscuring the gap. This can happen when using incorrect materials and methods. The other fault that can occur (and happens when metal polish is used) is the edges of the gap are rounded inwards.  This causes the head to have a wider gap than the actual one and results in high frequency loss.
I hope this helps.