how to get a tape out when stuck in the player?

When you go to eject, you may get the cassette
with a tape loop hanging out. If you are careful, you may be able to
extract the tape without crinkling it too badly but don't just pull - it
will break or be hopeless damaged. You will need to remove the top cover
and carefully lift the tape loop out of the machine and wind it back into
the cassette. If there is any significant crinkling or a partial break
in the tape, discard the cassette. If it is priceless and irreplaceable,
see the section: "Recovering damaged or broken tapes". DO NOT try to use it or
just return it to the video store without informing them of what happened -
it is unfair the next renter as a badly crinkled or partially broken
tape can destroy expensive video heads.
http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_vcrfaq4.html#VCRFAQ_001
For an illustrated version see Jon Steiger's page and slip him a few coins if its at all helpful to you.
My primary purpose for making this information available is simply to help out other folks who might find themselves in the same situation I was. Unlike myself, I realise that most sane people probably would not be inclined to tear open their HiFi VCR when it stops working, so if this saves one of these folks the expense of having to shell out $100-200 for another VCR, then this has served its purpose.
http://www.jonsteiger.com/WWW/VCRFIX/
Also an all text page can be found from a wonderful site that could use more graphic images of the how to but since all the information is free we can't be choosy can we?
http://www.fixer.com/no-eject.html

Jon Kemp
September 2004