Message for Joe Heck - re. 7 Track tape drives

From: William Donzelli <aw288_at_osfn.org>
Date: Sun Dec 21 22:21:58 2003

> FWIW, 7 track drives are going for $3500 and up when they do show up.

It seems to me that Compass (that warehouse I was clearing out last
year(s)) had a pair of old 7 track drives. They were actually tape
terminals made by MDS for Western Union - keyboard, drive, lots of
(pre-IC) electronics and a little core. I did not get them during my
deal, and they tried to Ebay a refurbished/in-the-crate one and could not
get $100 for it. Some clowns wanted it just for the core stack.

Upon the last days of Compass (long gone now), they just gave me the
drives. I tried to mount an old Univac tape, but I think the WU drive
uses a wacky format. That, or Univac did.

I have a lot of 7 track Univac tapes that I need to read, as some may
contain an OS. Al, when you get the ability to read 7 tracks, let me
know, and I will send some tapes.

William Donzelli
aw288_at_osfn.org
Received on Sun Dec 21 2003 - 22:21:58 GMT