24 Mar
2016
24 Mar
'16
11:01 a.m.
A student at the Physics Institute at the University of S?o Paulo
(Brazil) reimplemented the Manchester DataFlow machine from the 1980s
using modern FPGA technology. His goal is to evolve the project so it
can be used for current applications.
His advisor was at Manchester at the time of the project and brought a 9
track tape written on a PDP-11 which includes the Pascal sources for a
compiler for the DataFlow machine. There is no equipment locally that
can read the contents of this tape, but it would really help the
student's project to have access to these sources.
I imagine this stuff might be interesting for other people as well, so
perhaps mailing the tape to someone on this list who can read it and put
the content online would be the best option?
-- Jecel
24 Mar
24 Mar
11:34 a.m.
On 03/24/2016 10:01 AM, Jecel Assumpcao Jr. wrote:
A student at the Physics Institute at the University
of S?o Paulo
(Brazil) reimplemented the Manchester DataFlow machine from the 1980s
using modern FPGA technology. His goal is to evolve the project so it
can be used for current applications.
His advisor was at Manchester at the time of the project and brought a 9
track tape written on a PDP-11 which includes the Pascal sources for a
compiler for the DataFlow machine. There is no equipment locally that
can read the contents of this tape, but it would really help the
student's project to have access to these sources.
I imagine this stuff might be interesting for other people as well, so
perhaps mailing the tape to someone on this list who can read it and put
the content online would be the best option?
-- Jecel
What density and format is this tape? Not all drives
support all densities.
Jon
5:32 p.m.
----- Oprindelig meddelelse -----
Fra: "Jon Elson" <elson at pico-systems.com>
Til: <General at classiccmp.org>; "Discussion at classiccmp.org:On-Topic and
Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sendt: 24. marts 2016 16:34
Emne: Re: help reading 9 track tape
> There is no equipment locally that
> can read the contents of this tape, but it would really help the
> student's project to have access to these sources.
>
I can read all magtapes, as long as they are 9-tracki. 7-track went out of
fashion in the mid 60's.
I'm located in Denmark
/Nico
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5:40 p.m.
Jon Elson wrote on Thu, 24 Mar 2016 10:34:48 -0500:
What density and format is this tape? Not all drives
support all densities.
I actually mentioned this detail to his advisor when they were
discussing this topic after his student's defense, but I don't think he
remembers this information. I am guessing that the tape was recorded
around 1986, so any new density introduced after that (if there were
any) can be ruled out. About the format, I have no idea.
Back when I used such tapes myself (Burroughs 6700 in 1981) this kind of
information would often be written on a label glued to the protective
case. I haven't seen this particular tape, so I don't know if there are
any hints there.
-- Jecel
8:13 p.m.
On Mar 24, 2016, at 5:40 PM, Jecel Assumpcao Jr.
<jecel at merlintec.com> wrote:
Jon Elson wrote on Thu, 24 Mar 2016 10:34:48 -0500:
Standard half inch tape was around well before that, I don't think anything changed
for some years before. Standard densities are 800, 1600, and 6250 BPI. Hopefully
it's not one of the oddball values that a few benighted manufacturers implemented,
like 3200 BPI.
7 track, as Nico points out, is harder to find. It stayed around longer than the 1960s,
especially on some architectures. For example, around CDC mainframes you're far more
likely to find it than, say, on PDP11s (though DEC did sell 7 track drives for the PDP11).
7-track standard densities are 200, 556, and 800 bpi. There still are people around with
working 7 track drives, so if you have that, there is still an answer, but the number of
them is certainly more limited.
paul
What density and format is this tape? Not all
drives
support all densities.
I actually mentioned this detail to his advisor when they were
discussing this topic after his student's defense, but I don't think he
remembers this information. I am guessing that the tape was recorded
around 1986, so any new density introduced after that (if there were
any) can be ruled out. About the format, I have no idea. 
8:34 p.m.
On 03/24/2016 05:13 PM, Paul Koning wrote:
7 track, as Nico points out, is harder to find. It
stayed around
longer than the 1960s, especially on some architectures. For
example, around CDC mainframes you're far more likely to find it
than, say, on PDP11s (though DEC did sell 7 track drives for the
PDP11). 7-track standard densities are 200, 556, and 800 bpi. There
still are people around with working 7 track drives, so if you have
that, there is still an answer, but the number of them is certainly
more limited.
I've certainly written my share of 7-track tapes, but at least in the
last 20 years, I can't recall ever having be ask to read one.
--Chuck
10:56 p.m.
On 03/24/2016 04:40 PM, Jecel Assumpcao Jr. wrote:
Jon Elson wrote on Thu, 24 Mar 2016 10:34:48 -0500:
In 1986, pretty much any density was possible. But, since
it was done on a PDP-11, it is a fairly good guess it is not
at 6250. So, most likely either 800 (which I no longer have
a complete system to read) or 1600, which I do. But, likely
others can do it, also.
Jon
What density and format is this tape? Not all
drives
support all densities.
I actually mentioned this detail to his advisor when they
were
discussing this topic after his student's defense, but I don't think he
remembers this information. I am guessing that the tape was recorded
around 1986, so any new density introduced after that (if there were
any) can be ruled out. About the format, I have no idea.
3006
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cclist＠sydex.com -
elson＠pico-systems.com -
jecel＠merlintec.com -
nico＠farumdata.dk -
paulkoning＠comcast.net