Cassette tape data recovery

[Mike Stein]

It's presumably a Burroughs Certified Digital
Cassette.

I don't have the tech manual handy but ISTR (and
just confirmed by winding one through my audio
deck) that they are essentially C60s (i.e. 30
minutes/side), but with BOT/EOT holes and funky
flip-over or sliding write protect tabs, as well
as an off-centre notch in the top edge that 
indicates the side. They're driven by the 
wind/rewind motors, i.e. there's no capstan or 
pressure roller.

I've got several boxes of them that I've been
meaning to archive "some day" and they seem to
still be in pretty good shape; the pressure pads
are made of felt, not the notorious disintegrating
foam rubber used in many audio cassettes.

They use two tracks, one for data and one for a
clock; I don't recall for sure whether they're
half or quarter tracks but I *think* they're
quarter tracks.

m

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Evan Linwood" <evan.linwood at eastek.com.au>
To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic
Posts'" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, May 04, 2015 11:07 PM
Subject: RE: Cassette tape data recovery


> Thanks Rik - actually I don't have the tape yet
> & so don't know who the tape
> manufacturer is.
> The tape is effectively a boot tape & will have
> been supplied by the
> equipment manufacturer, so it's possible the
> original manufacturer may not
> be clear.
> I'm hoping it's not as long  as a std C60 or C90
> (given the purpose),
> shorter is definitely better :)
> That's a good point about the gloves thx, as
> I'll need to check inside the
> housing as the machine appears to have been
> outside for some time.
> I'm imagining that old cassette tapes would need
> to be 'baked' for some time
> prior to recovery, as for 9 track tapes - hoping
> to find out if anyone has
> done this!
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk
> [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf
> Of Rik Bos
> Sent: Monday, 4 May 2015 9:26 PM
> To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic
> Posts'
> Subject: RE: Cassette tape data recovery
>
>
>
>> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
>> Van: cctalk
>> [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] Namens
>> Evan Linwood
>> Verzonden: maandag 4 mei 2015 10:48
>> Aan: cctalk at classiccmp.org
>> Onderwerp: Cassette tape data recovery
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm wondering if anyone on the list has much
>> experience recovering
>> data
> from
>> old cassette tapes?
>>
>>
>>
>> The tape to be read is a single cold-start tape
>> that was found sitting
>> the
>> B1900 system picked up by Noel Chiappa just
>> recently.
>>
>>
>>
>> Given the tape's importance, I'd rather not fry
>> it or blow limited
> opportunities by
>> attempting it myself!
>>
>>
>>
>> - Evan
>
> If you're talking about compact cassettes, like
> C60/C90 or the data variant
> like the Philips LGH 6003, they hold remarkable
> good.
> I've some original HP cassettes for the HP 9830A
> which are from the early
> seventies, all of them hold their data and are
> working perfect.
> The only thing is the cushion which presses the
> tape to the head, sometimes
> they used foam for those. You should replace
> them .
> If you have a normal cassette recorder (old one)
> you could remove the head
> and spool (slow speed) the tape some times to
> see if it's spools smoothly.
> If it doesn't spool smoothly, open op the tape
> and replace the housing, that
> should do the trick.
> Copying will another problem because you will
> need a drive with the same
> head configuration, you could try to use an
> audio card to digitize the tape
> and store it for later use.
> NB. Use gloves when you handle the tape, to
> prevent dead spots on the tape.
>
> -Rik
>