Abstract: A manually operated tape playback apparatus includes a drive shaft which is manually rotated and means coupling the drive shaft to a self-contained generator for supplying power to an electrical amplifier coupled to a tape pickup head and including a speaker for reproduction of information recorded on the tape. The rotor of the generator is also coupled to a flywheel in turn coupled to a tape capstan for controlling the tape playback speed. The pickup head is mounted to a control arm movable between playback and rewind positions which arm is coupled to forward and reverse spindle drive means and to the drive shaft for controlling the movement of tape between reels and across the pickup head during playback and at an increased speed for rewinding the tape.