In a tape loading mechanism, a guide groove is formed in a main plate and a drum base that defines the path of a movable tape guide. Each of the main plate and the drum base is provided with a step portion in the thickness direction at a joining area where the drum base is joined to the main plate. These step portions overlap with each other. By using this joining method, a die cast drum base can be thinned so that the dimensional accuracy is improved and a movable tape guide can be moved smoothly along the guide groove.
