Read/write and tunnel erase magnetic head assemblies

A magnetic head assembly for reading and/or writing a track of magnetic information on a moving magnetic medium and for erasing edge portions of the track. The head assembly comprises a central data transfer magnetic core including a pair of core portions providing a data transfer gap on an active face of the head assembly with a read/write coil on one of the core portions. The head assembly comprises also an erase core which includes a pair of erase core portions extending along and in contact with one of the write core portions, another pair of erase core portions respectively in alignment with the first named erase core portions and providing therewith erase gaps on the active face of the head assembly that extend transversely of the direction of movement of the magnetic medium on the active face and a core portion on which an erase coil is disposed bridging and between the last two mentioned erase core portions. The two erase gaps are in series with each other and with the remainder of the parts of the erase core so that the erase flux flows through the erase gaps in the direction of movement of the magnetic medium on the active face and flows transversely of this direction of movement from one of the gaps to the other gap.