Abstract: In a cassette type tape recording and reproducing apparatus in which a pair of pinch rollers are alternately brought into cooperative relation with a corresponding pair of capstans driven to rotate in opposite directions to each other by a single motor having unidirectional rotation for causing a reversal of the running direction of a tape, so that recording or reproduction is automatically effected for both sides of the cassette, recording or reproduction is automatically and continuously effected for one side or both sides of the cassette according to the mechanical selection of a mode of operation made from among the modes of recording or reproduction for only one side of the cassette, of only one time for each side of the cassette and of continuously for both sides of the cassette. Reversal of the running direction of the cassette tape is achieved by a unidirectional driving force produced by a unidirectionally rotating flywheel.