Recently, I've been deep into paper tape territory. I exhumed my HP 2748B high speed paper tape reader, and got it running after a clutch plate adjustment. It's connected to my HP 2108A minicomputer, along with a 2645A terminal. I can punch tapes from a Linux system to a GNT-4601 paper tape reader/punch, connected via serial port. Then load the tape into the 2748B and read it into the 2108A. They're not kidding when they say "high speed". http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/HP/2748B/ So, I'm able to load diagnostic tapes from a very large paper tape library on Bitsavers. Some of the diags only require front panel operation, while others need a terminal. There's also paper tape BASIC, which I'll get to after a connector arrives to make a different terminal cable. http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/HP/2108A/HP2108A_2748B_2645.jpg The 2748B reader doesn't have a takeup reel, so naturally the tape goes all over the floor. Rewinding it is a PITA. I saw a picture of a handheld HP tape rewinder, and built my own to chuck into my cordless drill. Rewinds even faster than it spits out! http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/HP/Rewinder.jpg Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
Recently, I've been deep into paper tape territory. I exhumed my HP 2748B high speed paper tape reader, and got it running after a clutch plate adjustment. It's connected to my HP 2108A minicomputer, along with a 2645A terminal. I can punch tapes from a Linux system to a GNT-4601 paper tape reader/punch, connected via serial port. Then load the tape into the 2748B and read it into the 2108A. They're not kidding when they say "high speed".
Really cool! Do you have to cut paper into strips and make the tape or is there some source to find pre-cut tape that works for this stuff? - Ethan
On Mon, 15 Feb 2021, Ethan O'Toole wrote:
Recently, I've been deep into paper tape territory. I exhumed my HP 2748B high speed paper tape reader, and got it running after a clutch plate adjustment. It's connected to my HP 2108A minicomputer, along with a 2645A terminal. I can punch tapes from a Linux system to a GNT-4601 paper tape reader/punch, connected via serial port. Then load the tape into the 2748B and read it into the 2108A. They're not kidding when they say "high speed".
Really cool! Do you have to cut paper into strips and make the tape or is there some source to find pre-cut tape that works for this stuff?
I sitll had a couple of rolls of the real thing. You can find a few on Epay, both paper and mylar tape 8" rolls. Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
On Mon, Feb 15, 2021 at 12:54 PM Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
On Mon, 15 Feb 2021, Ethan O'Toole wrote:
Recently, I've been deep into paper tape territory. I exhumed my HP 2748B high speed paper tape reader, and got it running after a clutch plate adjustment. It's connected to my HP 2108A minicomputer, along with a 2645A terminal. I can punch tapes from a Linux system to a GNT-4601 paper tape reader/punch, connected via serial port. Then load the tape into the 2748B and read it into the 2108A. They're not kidding when they say "high speed".
Really cool! Do you have to cut paper into strips and make the tape or is there some source to find pre-cut tape that works for this stuff?
I sitll had a couple of rolls of the real thing. You can find a few on Epay, both paper and mylar tape 8" rolls.
I am always looking for papertape and printer rolls, but I have been switching to "electronic tapes" whenever possible. Bill
On Mon, 15 Feb 2021, Bill Degnan wrote:
On Mon, Feb 15, 2021 at 12:54 PM Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
On Mon, 15 Feb 2021, Ethan O'Toole wrote:
Recently, I've been deep into paper tape territory. I exhumed my HP 2748B high speed paper tape reader, and got it running after a clutch plate adjustment. It's connected to my HP 2108A minicomputer, along with a 2645A terminal. I can punch tapes from a Linux system to a GNT-4601 paper tape reader/punch, connected via serial port. Then load the tape into the 2748B and read it into the 2108A. They're not kidding when they say "high speed".
Really cool! Do you have to cut paper into strips and make the tape or is there some source to find pre-cut tape that works for this stuff?
I sitll had a couple of rolls of the real thing. You can find a few on Epay, both paper and mylar tape 8" rolls.
I am always looking for papertape and printer rolls, but I have been switching to "electronic tapes" whenever possible. Bill
Sometimes it's just more satisfying to use the real thing. Plus, it would make an interesting VCF demo. Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
I sitll had a couple of rolls of the real thing. You can find a few
on
Epay, both paper and mylar tape 8" rolls.
I am always looking for papertape and printer rolls, but I have been switching to "electronic tapes" whenever possible. Bill
Sometimes it's just more satisfying to use the real thing. Plus, it would make an interesting VCF demo.
For demos yes. For behind the scenes work I waste too much tape. Bill
On Sun, Feb 14, 2021 at 11:08:15PM -0500, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
The 2748B reader doesn't have a takeup reel, so naturally the tape goes all over the floor. Rewinding it is a PITA. I saw a picture of a handheld HP tape rewinder, and built my own to chuck into my cordless drill. Rewinds even faster than it spits out!
Things that visibly do stuff are fun. The DEC fanfold is nice the way it mostly restacks. May have seen rewinder in my VCFW straight 8 virtual demo where I used the HP winder. Claude Kagan gave that to me. Never found a manual to know if I was really operating it as intented but seemed to work well. https://youtu.be/QZrhgsRsiRg?t=1480 Do you have punch intended for Mylar? I would like to get copies of the DEC reader test tapes in mylar since they take some abuse in use.
On Mon, 15 Feb 2021, David Gesswein wrote:
Things that visibly do stuff are fun. The DEC fanfold is nice the way it mostly restacks. May have seen rewinder in my VCFW straight 8 virtual demo where I used the HP winder. Claude Kagan gave that to me. Never found a manual to know if I was really operating it as intented but seemed to work well.
That's the one.
Do you have punch intended for Mylar? I would like to get copies of the DEC reader test tapes in mylar since they take some abuse in use.
According to the GNT-4601 manual, besides paper it will punch mylar/foil/mylar, metallized mylar, and polyester. Thickness 0.05 - 0.12mm. The mechanism is a GNT 36, used in several of their products. Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
participants (4)
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Bill Degnan -
David Gesswein -
Ethan O'Toole -
Mike Loewen