Abstract: A magnetic card handling apparatus has a rotatable capstan and a magnetic head spaced apart a distance exceeding the thickness of a magnetic card on appropriate sides of a card running groove until the presence of a magnetic card therebetween is detected. The distance between the capstan and the magnetic head is thereupon decreased whereby the magnetic card is pinched between the magnetic head and the capstan and is driven past the magnetic head for recording/or reproduction of signals. Separate card running grooves with associated reproduce and record heads and separate card detecting apparatus may be provided for reproduction and recording to permit dubbing signals reproduced from one magnetic card onto another magnetic card.