Abstract: An improved apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a magnetic tape adapted to be wound on supply and take up reels of a tape cassette which are rotationally coupled with respective reel support members of the apparatus. The reel support members are selectively urged through a drive transmission to rotate in the direction for winding tape on the respective tape reels upon the manual actuation of a control for causing operation of a reel drive. A shut off device is provided which is powered by the reel drive and is conditioned in response to the arresting of the rotation of the reel support members, for example when the tape is fully unwound from one of the reels, while operation of the reel drive continues, in order to cause the control to halt operation of the drive by de-energization of an electric motor thereof.