Abstract: An improved magnetic image character reading system which produces high signal levels, eliminates dead spots between sample tracks for full resolution. Two sets of read heads are positioned in a spaced apart, staggered arrangement such that one set is adjacent the other with elements of the first set staggered to overlap the tracks read by the second set. Scanned signals generated while passing magnetized characters first past one set and then past the second set of heads are combined after delay of the signal generated by the first set of heads to compensate for spacing between the sets of heads.