A bit of a long shot.

I've just fitted a NOS 8 track for a bit of retro entertainment when I'm stuck in traffic because that's the only time I'll hear it over the 120 cam.

It came with a few cartridges (I can't believe that you old and bold called Charles Aznavour music back in the day) and I've got a couple of Motown/Disco tapes incoming but from what I have learnt so far is:

Tapes that are nearly 50 years old and have not been used for 30 years tend to spill their guts the first time the sensing strip passes the head.
There is a lot of tape inside/outside a cartridge, or the 8 Track player when the sensing strip does fail.
The foam pressure pads are made of vampire like material and turn to dust due to UV damage.
A continuous loop of tape held within an impregnable, black magic filled cartridge was never going to cut the mustard.   
Not being able to FF or RWD was a really good idea. NO honestly you listen to the whole album so you get to hear gems that were never released as singles. 
It's not an 8 Track, 4 x stereo does not = 8!
After rewinding a complete tape back on to the reel by hand which took an evening that I will never see again, it sounds like the Antichrist if you got it backwards.
Old speakers that were cheap when new give you the best authentic screech.   
They are so retro cool when compared with anything that has MP or digital in the format BUT

I need some
¼" tape splices
Foil sensing strips/tape
Foam pressure pads
Felt tension pads
And the Holy Grail of a splicing block

If anyone is still into Reel to Reel, has any of the above to sell or knows of any old school audio shops that still deal in brown spaghetti then I'd love to know.
I've done the usual Google/EBay/internet searches and as per the place to buy is the land of the AR 14 but the shipping is 3x the price of the item so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Or if you have any Disco Disco Disco 8 Tracks you want to sell I'm in the market.
Ta.

The fun of repairing them years ago with cellotape one piece to stick on and remove the coating then another piece for the repair and hours off wrapping tape back on or pulling from the centre to wind it back onto the outside until you got the slack out. Noise wise you need a graphic  equaliser to make a stacked stereo.

My remedy was a funky adapter that allowed me to play cassettes that l got from Tandy, like this one-

https://www.ebay.com/p/Vintage-Realistic-Stereo-Cassette-Adapter-for-8-Track-Players-Catalog-12-1875a/1000243309

It actually worked really well!

Like any cassette player, the main reason the tape spews out is because people never eject them when not in use or switched off - this causes the tape to actually stick to the rollers and mechanism inside and when you switch it on then everything winds  around the pins.

A friend of mine deals in old skool and vintage Hi-Fi and probably worth a call with your requirements (tell him I sent you)

Chris @ The Radio Shop in Portsmouth

023 9281 8265

http://www.radioshop.org.uk

My remedy was a funky adapter that allowed me to play cassettes that l got from Tandy, like this one-

https://www.ebay.com/p/Vintage-Realistic-Stereo-Cassette-Adapter-for-8-Track-Players-Catalog-12-1875a/1000243309

It actually worked really well!

Had one of those, 1973 when learning to drive in my thames van and I brought an 8 track from the garege I was doing my apprenticeship with as cassette and 8 track were both new out and I chose the wrong system, luckily I got the vhs video player and not the betamax years later.

Alice Cooper Schools Out was my favourite 8 track. Unfortunately all gone to the tip decades ago.

Better sound than cassettes at the time imo but often needed minor head adjustment to get rid of crosstalk with the conveniently placed knob on the front.

Have you tried Maplin before they go? RS Components might be another to look at

https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=8%20track%20tapes
Any help?
Ttfn glenn

Thanks Guys but no cigar.

I think I've found what I want in Latvia.