A duplicating, printing or recording surface is produced by attaching a strip (10) of magnetic or other web material to a support such as a drum (20) or flat support element provided with a layer (22) of low durometer elastomer, the strip of material and the elastomeric material being mutually adherent. With the strip of material wrapped circumferentially around the drum, a sharp knife is used to cut the magnetic material and form a precise butt joint (35,36), diagonal or straight, with a minimal gap. The strip of material forms a secure bond with the low durometer elastomeric layer because of the inherent mutual adherence between the two materials, without the need for an intervening adhesive material. A compliant magnetic drum of this type has a low radial stiffness and a high circumferential stiffness which are well suited for a master recording drum in an anhysteretic duplicating apparatus.