PURPOSE: To achieve high-speed erasure easily by holding the 2nd supporting base plate, supporting an erasing head, at a play position and by locking the 1st supporting base plate, supporting a recording and reproducing head, between a play and a stop position.

CONSTITUTION: As rotation is started with a cassette 2 in a cassette holder 1, a plunger 22 is driven temporarily. Consequently, the 1st supporting base plate 17 moves from a stop to a play position, and the 2nd supporting base plate 25 slides from a stop to a play position in engagement. After the sliding, the plunger 22 is undriven, and then the 1st supporting base plate 17 returns by sliding, but is stopped at a stand-by position between a play position and a stop position. The erasing head 26 of the 2nd supporting base plate 25 held at the play position is in contact with a tape T and the recording and reproducing head 18 of the 1st supporting base plate held at the play position, on the other hand, is separated slighly from the tape T. This constitution provides high-speed erasure.