Abstract: Tape is wound on edge on top of a turntable and is held in place against the table by equally spaced pressure pads that extend radially to restrict circumferential movement of the tape across the respective radius while permitting movement along the radius. An agitator is mounted adjacent the periphery of the turntable to contact the outer layer of the tape on each side of a pressure pad and moves in an arc while in contact with the tape toward the center of the table and in the direction of the turntable to aid in forming scallops in the tape between adjacent pressure pads. The length of tape applied to the table for each revolution thereof is controlled and is either one of two selected lengths or a length between the two selected lengths. The length is changed in response to the instantaneous length of tape between a feed mechanism and the point of application of the tape to the table.