Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for reading information stored on a card. The card is introduced through a slot in the fascia and moved along an adjacent guide path by the user. A slider, coupled to the guide path, interrupts the leading edge of the card as the card is moved into the slot and along the guide path. One or more springs, coupled between the slider and a fixed position, store elastic energy as the card is moved into the apparatus and along the guide path. Upon the user releasing the card, the stored elastic energy is applied to the slider to move the card back along the guide path and expel the card through the slot. A speed controlled comprised of a passive D.C. generator/diode under configuration, coupled between the slider and the guide path, maintains the velocity of the card constant as the card moves in either or both directions along the guide path, thereby allowing a fixed position optical or magnetic transducer to read the stored information from the card.