All –
This is kind of a crazy request, but many years ago (20+ years), I gave away my MicroVAX-II to someone on the list. I can’t find any of the original emails, but I remember it was in a BA23 tower and included an external table-top drive enclosure with, I think, an RD54 in it. It ran Ultrix, but I can’t remember exactly which version. I’ve floated in-and-out of DEC over the years, and honestly, I’m kind of sorry I gave it away (like so many other systems I had over the years). I had gotten it in a haul from Temple University in the late-1990’s.
Anyway, I’d love to get another one. So, if someone is looking to re-home a MicroVAX-II, keep me in mind. Thanks!
Rich
--
Rich Cini
http://cini.classiccmp.orghttps://github.com/RichCini
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Paul Koning <paulkoning(a)comcast.net>
> To: "cctalk(a)classiccmp.org" <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
> Cc:
> Bcc:
> Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2025 14:43:49 -0500
> Subject: [cctalk] Re: How hard would it be to make new dec tape media?
>
>
> > On Nov 2, 2025, at 10:46 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
> wrote:
> >
> > On 11/1/25 20:49, ben via cctalk wrote:
> >> How hard would it be to make new dec tape media?
> >> 60 year tape could use a replacement.
> >> Ben.
> >>
> > DecTape is laminated, ie. it has Mylar on both sides of the oxide. 50
> years ago, we made working replacements from 3/4" instrumentation tape, but
> it was NOT laminated. It had a print-through issue where if left sitting
> for a few months, it would start getting errors. I have no idea if there
> is anywhere you can buy 3/4" instrumentation tape. Maybe you can get 3/4"
> video tape.
>
> Bitsavers has the 3M spec for 480 and 481 sandwich tape, I'm not sure
> which of these two is what DEC used. It seems crazy, but it can't hurt to
> ask 3M if they still make that stuff.
>
> paul
10-20 years ago I had a good Point-of-Contact (POC) at 3M (before we both
retired). I asked him whether they still (at that time) made DECtape media
and was told that 3M had sold their magnetic media operations to another
company who also got out of the business before I contacted them. I also
asked my POC (and the contact at the other company) if any DECtape media
had been kept in a warehouse or similar -- he checked 3M's inventory system
and told me that they had no record of any remaining DECtape media. The
other company's contact had a similar "you've struck out" story.
Bob
P.S. I thought that I read here or in a PDP-8-specific forum/mail-list
that DECtape wasn't actually laminated on both sides, which apparently
explained the visible red oxide material removed from dirty DECtapes while
cleaning them (per whoever posted their observations)?
I have one IF20 if you are interested.may work still, had allowed printing
and disc storage for 2 × novels and and drafts. My only issue is probably
the print head on the CE50 typewriter_ printer head needs replacement, but
"modem" is ok I bet. Stagecliff(a)gmail.com
Hi all,
Sorry to crash your party, but I'm doing research for a book and was hoping to connect with Ansgar Kückes, who owns this site about old school HP computers: https://www.hp9845.net/
Is he on this list?
Or does someone know how to reach him? The contact methods on his site don't work anymore.
Thanks.
Brad
I have the contrast control on the monitor of my Olivetti M24 which has
become unreliable, you only need to touch it and the display will disappear
completely. It doesn't look too hard to replace the rotary potentiometer,
but I was wondering if there is any way to "repair" it to keep the original
part. It looks like this:
https://1drv.ms/i/c/fc758a5a91b91301/ESPGlbvW5wxGpXPC5kXfzVMBTUUW96GThzDMqZ_
i8jq7tA?e=Ehmo1T
Thanks
Rob
We may have a half a dozen DECtapes, probably from the PDP-6 era,
perhaps with ITS with content...
Is there anyone, preferably in the MIT vicinity, who might have a
working DECtape drive and be willing to try to read the tapes?
Thanks
/guy fedorkow
Martin, Michael,
Thank you!
We don't have possession of the tapes yet, but, assuming that
happens, I'll try RICM to see if their machines are working again.
/guy fedorkow
On 11/1/2025 1:00 PM, cctalk-request(a)classiccmp.org wrote:
> Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:22:48 -0700
> From: Martin Eberhard<mfeberhard(a)gmail.com>
> Subject: [cctalk] Re: reading DECtape
> To:cctalk@classiccmp.org
> Message-ID:<57DE7487-B3FA-4200-8D10-ACB4A5353CCE(a)gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> If you don't find a closer alternative, I have working DECtape drives on my PDP8e (in California), as well as software that allows me to upload an entire tape image as a binary file (via Xmodem protocol).
>
> I'd be available to do this sometime after November 11.
>
> Martin
>
> Typing mangled by iPhone
>
>> On Oct 31, 2025, at 10:53 AM, Guy Fedorkow via cctalk<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
>>
>> We may have a half a dozen DECtapes, probably from the PDP-6 era, perhaps with ITS with content...
>> Is there anyone, preferably in the MIT vicinity, who might have a working DECtape drive and be willing to try to read the tapes?
>>
>> Thanks
>> /guy fedorkow
>>
>>
>>