i find that goof off spray works well. it's not too strong that it will ruin the wrap but it's strong enough to remove the glue residue though. just spray it on a rag and use a little elbow grease and it should come off.

that's my experience anyways.

If that doesn't work try isopropyl or rubbing alcohol. i've used it on various wraps-----in fact completely cleaned entire grimey drums with a mixture of it and a small amount of detergent, it is water soluble and can be washed off easily. next on the list of mild solvents is turpentine. i have had to use it a few times on stubborn hardened glue residue and it was great ----no problems with the wrap and only a faint turpentiney smell lingered for a while afterwards. it can be washed off with detergent and water. if you are skeptical about its safety-----try a bit out on a tiny bit under the hoops or under a lug. most of those old wraps were celluloid-----not really a plastic so only the strongest solvents will do them in.

Brian, I would use Goo Gone, the one that comes in a plastic bottle, not the spray bottle. If you give it a few seconds and rub it in with a rag or your finger, it usually takes off any kind of sticker or tape residue, even duct tape.

For a really awful contact wrap residue I had to remove from a wrap I used Goof Off first, then Goo Gone to clean up the rest.

A second vote for Goo Gone. It is magic on sticky things.

Ive used a penetrating oil called PB B'laster to remove dried duct tape residue.Let it sit on the affected area and rub it in with a rag in a circular motion.Some of the hardened crusty bits I removed VERY CAREFULLY with a single-edge razor blade on it's side.2 or 3 applications melted it all off.

Thanks everyone for your ideas! Believe me, I tried them all. What happened was that the tape over the last thirty years had somehow penetrated into the wrap, leaving a dull, hard finish which was now part of the wrap. The tears in the original wrap could have been repaired but, the tom would have looked terrible. The entire set is now being re-wrapped.The original red pearl could not be matched. Although I know many purists would not look kindly upon wrapping a vintage set with non-vintage color, I don't care. mine are being done in turquoise sparkle simply because I like it!

Thanks again, everyone!

Brian

Another vote for

Goo Gone!

-kellyj

How can this be a vote for Goo Gone when it didn't even come close to working? When I said that nothing worked, that is exactly what I meant.