i can only get 2-3 seconds of playback

[timster123]

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for me to be posting this in, but i couldn't see any for broken tapes, so this looked like my best bet.
My problem is that i have a vhs-c tape that will only play for about 2-3 seconds on my standard vcr and less than 1 second on more sensitive professional equipment.
If you lift the lid of the tape you can see that the tape is ever so slightly crimpled at the edges.
I'm looking to transfer it to a mini dv tape but i can't see anyway of doing this without playing the tape, pressing record on the dv deck, pressing pause when the tape automatically stops, then repeating the process.
A long shot i know, but are there any processes or machines that are set up to play tapes like this without stopping?
Any advice appreciated.

[edDV]

Did you wind the tape end to end first?

Does the tape play from the 50% point?

[timster123]

I'm not a video expert so i'm not 100% so forgive my technical ignorance.
I've got a local video guy to help me and he hand wound the tape to the beginning. Fast forwarding in the machine is a recipe for disaster and my vcr actually chewed the tape when i tried that. (it's since been extracted and wound back on)
Could you explain what the '50% point' is? Also what significance would it have if it did or didn't play from that point.
Appreciate the help.

[edDV]

I'm not a video expert so i'm not 100% so forgive my technical ignorance.
I've got a local video guy to help me and he hand wound the tape to the beginning. Fast forwarding in the machine is a recipe for disaster and my vcr actually chewed the tape when i tried that. (it's since been extracted and wound back on)
Could you explain what the '50% point' is? Also what significance would it have if it did or didn't play from that point.
Appreciate the help.

Seems like your issue is the player transport. Try a different machine.

Old tape gets stuck together on the reel. Winding it forward helps unstick it. The ends of the tape have the tightest wind. Playing from half way in is the least stressful. That is just a test to see if the tape can play at all.