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HP Forum Archive 13

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HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #1 Posted by Frederic on 23 May 2003, 8:00 p.m.

I found a cassette drive for my HP-41C but i have a problem : I cannot find any cassette that fit the dreve. I tried "microcassette" but too small, i tried Dictaphone cassette but the distance between holes is too small. "mini cassette don't enter too because of a notch in the drive no present on the cassette.

What kind to use and WHERE to find these?

Thanks Fred

      
Re: HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #2 Posted by Vassilis Prevelakis on 23 May 2003, 10:06 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Frederic

Frederic wrote:
> What kind to use and WHERE to find these?

Welcome to world of antique computers. I hope you don't expect to be able to get supplies at Office Depot.

I believe that these tapes are no longer produced, so your best bet is eBay. Instructions on how to maintain old tapes may be found in the MoHPC Forum archives.

**vp

      
Re: HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #3 Posted by Michel Beaulieu on 24 May 2003, 9:19 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Frederic

I have the same problem. I read that these cassette were also use in a fluke instrument. Is there a replacement for these?

I also found on the net this :

http://www.braemarinc.com/GeneralProducts.htm

Is it the same cassette.

I read that the original HP mini data cassettes were rename VERBATIM products, do someone know the model number?

            
Re: HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #4 Posted by Vassilis Prevelakis on 24 May 2003, 6:19 p.m.,
in response to message #3 by Michel Beaulieu

Michel Beaulieu wrote:
> I read that the original HP mini data cassettes were rename VERBATIM products, do someone know the model number?
Check the MoHPC archives, I remember an exchange last year with the same subject. I recall that the verbatim model number was given then, but I don't remember what it is now.

The tape drive has low capacity, scarce consumables, and access takes forever. Use a 9114 diskette drive instead.

**vp

                  
Re: HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #5 Posted by Michel Beaulieu on 24 May 2003, 6:51 p.m.,
in response to message #4 by Vassilis Prevelakis

Where to find that drive? Obsolete i suppose ;-(

                        
Re: HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #6 Posted by Vassilis Prevelakis on 25 May 2003, 4:16 a.m.,
in response to message #5 by Michel Beaulieu

Michel Beaulieu wrote:
> Where to find that drive? Obsolete i suppose ;-(

Of course. The cassette drive you have is 20 years old, the floppy is slighly newer (15?), but still an antique.

You can still get them on eBay, recent prices range from around $80 to $130, so they are not that expensive. Note that the mechanism inside the box cannot be replaced/repaired using modern PC drives, but at least Double Density floppies are still readily available.

**vp

      
Re: HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #7 Posted by Frank Winter on 27 May 2003, 2:29 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Frederic

Last week I started to study catalogs from business suppliers here in Germany and found a promising tape from Philips (www.speech.philips.com): 0005 Executive (2 x 15 min). It arrived yesterday and after a first examination I can state (for now) following:

1) It has the same size,

2) Drilling the two holes and cutting the notch on the back seems no problem (neither drilling the holes into the tape),

3) Further investigations are needed for the pressure pad (replacement?) and

4) getting a mc repair kit (for the leading celluloid tape).

I will leave a message, if I can achieve something (or not).

            
Re: HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #8 Posted by db(martinez,california) on 27 May 2003, 10:28 p.m.,
in response to message #7 by Frank Winter

good luck and you may have found an un-needed small sideline business. let us know.

                  
Re: HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #9 Posted by Frank Winter on 29 May 2003, 11:05 a.m.,
in response to message #8 by db(martinez,california)

Today is a public holiday in Germany and so I started this morning to examine the Philips cassette. It's a dead end. (You can't open it without destroying the cassette, the "pressure pad construction" is completely different from the original HP cassettes).

But this new thread looks interesting: http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/forum.cgi?read=34976

                        
Re: HP-82161A cassette type?!?
Message #10 Posted by Ellis Easley on 29 May 2003, 7:32 p.m.,
in response to message #9 by Frank Winter

Just as a matter of Forum techniques, let me say that the newer thread is really just a continuation of this thread, triggered by Michel's post - I started a new thread in hopes of drawing attention. There were a few responses but no groundswell of people ready to spend $19 for a tape! But David Smith thinks it's probably near the market price for HP tapes. So the problem remains determining if these are really usable in the HP tape drive, without having to buy a box of 10. I bought a box of 10 Fluke tapes on speculation but they only cost $14 total! I'm steeling myself to write back and ask if they could possibly break open a box and sell me just one tape.


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