I have a Lanier model VW 260 transcriber. 1) how do I erase old letters? and 2) does it have the auto rewind feature? (when I release the play pedal it goes back so many seconds) Thank you. Laura Boatright

yes only mini cassettes.

The deck is bad needs a new worm gear for the functioning motor.

Press the telephone button first with one finger and immediately after you press that button press the rewind button, The unit should go into rewind and erase should be flashing on the digital display. When the unit starts rewinding take your finger off of both buttons, if you keep them on ,then the unit will rewind and stop erasing .

Hello really simple on the front small door is a switch that say SPK and MIC move to MIC

Press Telephone Record and Rewind together.

Hello the Display work like this insert the tape on the Lanier VW260 with the unit on rewind the tape to the end when you press play the Display start to count

I've never encountered that problem, but the manual says: Make sure remote Transcribe indicator is extinguished. Move the Transcribe switch to Local position. Locate letter to erase with either [Prev. Ltr] or [Next Ltr]. Simultaneously press [Currnet Ltr] and [Erase] buttons to erase letter appearing in Item Status display. A tone plays and Erase LED lights briefly. Letter is automatically deleted.
To erase all Transcribed Letters: Make sure "In Use" Transcribe indicator is extinguished. Move Transcribe switch to Local position. Simultaneously press the [Finished Ltrs] and [Erase] buttons. Tone plays and Erase LED lights briefly. Good luck!

Do you know how to determine the total minutes on the machine? I have 2 that I want to sell, one of which is on eBay. Thanks.

There is a sensor that detects tape movement. Unfortunately they do go bad and will probably need to be replaced.

It is not a problem at all! The VW-210 & 260 was designed to utilize a two-step erase procedure to prevent accidential erasing of tapes.
1.) Press & HOLD down the TEL button
2.) Immediately press & HOLD down Rewind button UNTIL erase function starts then quickly release both buttons.

Most likley it is a bad motor or a broken belt. There is a seperate motor or FF and Rewind.. If the motor is bad it is likly that the motor control circuit board is bad also (motor shorts and takes out the board also). If there is no "click" when play is selected it could be the play solenoid is dirty and not engaging. I have repaired thousand of these units through the years and in spite of these issues they were a great sounding unit.

BTW this is true for the VW-210, VW-260, p-139 and simular units.