DECTape head problem

[Gary Oliver]

On 2/8/22 14:14, Wayne S via cctech wrote:
> Searched a lille bit for Western Magnetics.  Here’s a site that has some surplus heads, even a western magnetics onebut probably not the correct one. There is a corporate charter record for Western Magnetics in Minnesota dated 1964. Maybe this is the same company. There’s also a tape head from Michigan Magnetics. Maybe a merged company?
>
> https://www.surplussales.com/Equipment/magnetic-tape.html
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 8, 2022, at 13:05, Ron Pool via cctech <cctech at classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> 
> So it sermsdectape heads are special. I don’t think Dec would have the desire to make them internally so they probably contractef with a company already set up to do that. Who were the big tape head manufacturers at that time? Does anyone know?
>
> A photo of the back of a TU56 DECtape head can be seen at https://www.pdp8online.com/tu56/pics/head_label.shtml?small .
> The head has a label on it that reads:
>   Western Magnetics
>   Glendale Calif.
>   Record
>   7282
>
> I've never seen a TU56 in person and have no idea if they have separate read, write, and erase heads or some other combo.  The "Record" notation on the above head's label hints to me this might be a write head.
>
> I found that and other DECtape photos at https://www.pdp8online.com/tu56/tu56.shtml .
>
> -- Ron
>
>
Thanks.  Hadn't seen the Minnesota information.  Found some references 
but not actual company info.  Did find a reference somewhere it Canada, 
but I couldn't tell if it was original or successor company.  At any 
rate, no web presence nor telephone numbers found (yet.)

I've dealt with the SurplusSales (of Nebraska) many times.  His prices 
are usually pretty high (not obscene, but just not 'surplus' prices I'm 
used to.)  However, he is a first-rate dealer and when he says something 
is so, you can count on it.  Never had problem with anything I was 
willing to *PAY* for.  I scanned the list you provided and found only a 
few 'digital' devices, unfortunately.  I suspect from 7 and 9 track mag 
tape drives.  I will scan his site and send him a ping so he'll be on  
the lookout.

-Gary