Shelf life should not be a problem. I have 20 year old tapes that still get
played a few times a year, classics like " Blazing Saddles" and " Yellowbeard
" and they still play quite good. Moisture would be a bigger problem depending
on which region he lives in. Lift the tape door and check the tape before
putting it into a machine. See if you can smell inside the housing a little for
a musty smell. Using a ink pen to depress the brake lever ( on the under side,
centered between the take up reel hubs, and a little towards the back of the
housing,) with the brake released / see if the take up reel spins somewhat
freely, and advances the tape ok. Cheap tapes can oxidize and stick together a
little, take care not to spin it the wrong way. ( Duh )
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