[Info-vax] Old storage technologies

[John Reagan]

On Monday, September 25, 2023 at 10:37:25 AM UTC-4, Dave McGuire wrote:
> On 9/24/23 21:59, bill wrote: 
> >>>> I have a 9-track drive. 
> >>> 
> >>> Somehow, that doesn't surprise me. Any DECtape or paper tape readers 
> >>> lying around ? :-) 
> >> 
> >>    We have several DECtape drives (TU56) on PDP-8 and PDP-11 systems 
> >> at LSSM, paper tape too.  All up and running! 
> >> 
> > 
> > Did I give you all or some of my 11/44's?  They all had DECtape II 
> > (TU58) drives.
> Yes, we have them. The TU58 drives are basically unusable now, 
> unfortunately. First, the rollers turn to goo...that's easily 
> repairable, but now the tapes themselves have problems, due to the 
> internal drive belts (within the tape cartridges) failing. It's very 
> unfortunate. 
> 
> The TU56 drives and tapes, though, with minor maintenance, work fine.
> -Dave 
> 
> -- 
> Dave McGuire, President/Curator 
> Large Scale Systems Museum 
> New Kensington, PA
I have some TU58s still in their shrinkwrap.  Are they still good?