Need ID for IBM Cards

From: John Lawson <jpl15_at_netcom.com>
Date: Mon Sep 13 21:52:34 1999

On Mon, 13 Sep 1999, Wayne Smith wrote:

> I was just going through a box of old files (circa 1970) that my
office is throwing out and I found four cards that I need an ID on.
They are the same size and shape as a standard puch card, but appear
to be made of some sort of magnetic media. They are approximately
the color of standard magnetic cassette tape on one side, and nearly
black on the other. Each card has "IBM" printed on it in white with



  Are the cards notched on the sides? There were several
semi-random access mass storage devices that used such cards...
basically a magnetic analog of a punched card.

  Slightly off the topic: I saw an early IBM device called a STRAM
(Selective Tape Random Access Memory) which used 2" wide tape loops
of about 12" diameter... they were placed on a mandrel which
stretched them into an oval for reading/writing.

  Also, IBM had an early office automation product called an MTST
(Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter) which used early tape
cartridges.

  Did not the RAMAC use magnetic cards?

  Somewhere around here I have a description of an IBM device that
used individual magnetic cards... of course I can't find it... been
re-arranging the library... it's Hell.

  Cheers

John
Received on Mon Sep 13 1999 - 21:52:34 BST