Adaptive-gap magnetic recording and reading head

A ring-type magnetic recording and reading head having a low reluctance path closed through a high reluctance gap defined by first and second poles in said low reluctance path, said low reluctance path having a high -permeability member therein, comprising:

• electrical winding means on said high permeability member adapted for receiving write current for imposing flux across said gap and for manifesting read current caused by flux changes sensed at said gap, and
• a saturable pole tip adjacent said gap on said first pole, said pole tip, in part, defining said gap and being so dimensioned with respect to said first pole that said pole tip saturates in response to said write current and said first pole does not saturate in response to said write current so as to form, effectively, a wide gap when said head is operating as a recording head and a narrow gap when said