[ML-General] Reading a 9-track tape - any help?

[Wesley Swift]

If this is a data tape, it's not of interest to us.   Nasa has them
archived and available.  Generally speaking,  data tapes can only be read
by the program that wrote it since formats are arbitrary.
 The name on the reel only tells us who made the reel and possibly the bank
tape.  Reels were often swapped.  One of the saddest things I have done was
to send several rooms full of tapes to the incenerator.  Expensive as well.

If it is video then it could be very significant.   There may be only one
try at reading it since the magnetic coating on old tapes can flake off
when read.

Without knowing anything about the contents,  I suggest keeping it as a
historic example of how data was stored in the later 20th century.

Wes

On Fri, Apr 5, 2019, 9:57 AM Chris Bero <bigbero at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks for the suggestions!
>
> VBAS's archiving team already works with UAH Special Collections, so I
> anticipate they've already been asked. We sent an email to Graham Magnetics
> asking for advice as well, if they can't help us then we'll follow up with
> those museums.
>
> Kellie, once we figure it out I'll make sure to follow up here!
>
> Christopher Bero
> Design Engineer, Firia Labs <https://firialabs.com/>
> (256) 468-2146
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 5, 2019 at 9:46 AM Kellie Miller <jkelliemiller at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> If you find out a place that can read the tape, I'd be interested in
>> knowing about it. I had (they may have gotten trashed because I couldn't
>> figure out how to read them) some old Vax 9 track tapes that I'd love to
>> have the contents in a form I could read.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Kellie Miller
>>
>> On Fri, Apr 5, 2019 at 9:20 AM EB Muzek <ebtree1151 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> The UAH library special collections houses the archives for the Apollo
>>> and Saturn programs. The librarians there probably would a perfect resource
>>> for this.
>>>
>>> https://libguides.uah.edu/c.php?g=263653&p=4024060
>>>
>>> On Fri, Apr 5, 2019 at 8:57 AM Kyle Owen <kylevowen at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> CHM would be good, but if they don't come through, I'd contact LCM+L in
>>>> Seattle.
>>>>
>>>> I'm still working on getting a 9-track drive. I've got lots of other
>>>> weird drives, and will hopefully have a 9-track to pick up in September.
>>>>
>>>> Kyle
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