On Thu, 4 Jun 2009, Eric Smith wrote:
Steven Hirsch wrote:
> I found the OEM manual on bitsavers and it's actually the 'R' model that
> matches what I believed to the industry form-factor of 8.5" width. The
> "standard" (non-R) model is 9.5" wide. Odd standard, since I've
never seen
> another 8" drive that size.
Ah, that was it. They made the "R" model
narrower to make it easier to fit
them side by side in a rack.
I'm guessing that the 9.5" size might match the size of the genuine IBM 33FD,
43FD, or 53FD drives. Although I have some 53FD drives, I've never taken
them out of the equipment they're installed in, so I haven't had occasion to
measure their dimensions.
Intriguing that Shugart actually tooled up for two different die-cast
chassis rather than simply providing a wider faceplate and some
spacer plates for the 8.5" units. I guess money grew on trees back
then.
Steve
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