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

[Chris Bero]

That would be super neat! But right now it looks like the archiving team is
going to send the tape to the original manufacturer for scanning; they
apparently do that for a fee.

Christopher Bero
Design Engineer, Firia Labs <https://firialabs.com/>
(256) 468-2146


On Thu, Apr 11, 2019 at 4:47 PM Jeff Cotten <omegix at gmail.com> wrote:

>
> this sounds like something up Destin (smarter every day) alley as well.
> if you want me to put you in contact with him let me know.
>
> On Thu, Apr 11, 2019 at 4:10 PM Maria Sovversiva <xthnru at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Wesley,
>>
>> You may want to also consider reaching out to the Space and Rocket
>> Center's archives, if you haven't already, given their relationship with
>> von Braun. They may have both the means and desire to dig into that disc.
>> I'd shoot off an email to Ed Stewart ( edwards at spacecamp.com ) and see
>> what he has to say.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Maria
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 6, 2019 at 9:02 AM phyllis whittlesey <
>> phyllis.whittlesey at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Actually, from personal experience on the matter, many vintage NASA data
>>> tapes, including those from funded and launched robotic missions, escaped
>>> archival. Those practices didn't really get enforced until the late 90's.
>>>
>>> Even so, if it were data, it still might not be worth anyone's time.
>>>
>>> With love from your friendly neighborhood heliophysicist,
>>> -Phyllis
>>>
>>> On Sat, Apr 6, 2019, 8:52 AM Wesley Swift <wesleyswift2 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> 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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