Cipher Streamer / DEC TS05 Tape Drive

From: Douglas Quebbeman <dhquebbeman_at_theestopinalgroup.com>
Date: Wed Jul 5 16:11:53 2000

> >It seems strange for the drive to look so otherwise perfect and
> >these items to be mush. Any thoughts?
>
> Storage conditions, especially atmospheric ozone. I spent 6 years
> living in LA, and the lifetime of my natural-rubber bike tires there
> was measured in months. Foam would either dry up and turn brittle
> or go the other way and turn gooey, typically within a couple of
> years of manufacture.
>
> Obviously temperature and exposure to UV light/direct sunlight are
> factors too.

Well, heat I'd buy, but other areas of the drive would have shown
the effects of sun, and the hub is inside, away from light.

I was wondering what storing the unit in the presence of unsealed
containers of petrochemicals might do... or even worse, whatever
a medical school (formaldehyde?) might have in storage...

-dq
Received on Wed Jul 05 2000 - 16:11:53 BST