HP Forum Archive 17

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Varieties of magnetic cards Message #1 Posted by Les Wright on 24 Mar 2007, 2:29 p.m. So far in my collecting I have come across three types of blank magnetic cards. The first is mostly white with a thin black border and the key labels demarcated by little hash marks. The second is like the first accept two of the corners are notched to guide where to make the write-protect clip-off. The third type is my particular favourite aesthetically. These ones shipped in the HP65 Standard Pac. The were meant to be recorded on one side only, have the guide notches on one corner only, and there is more black, with the key labels demarcated by little windows rather than just little marks. Does any one have any more knowledge about the history of HP magnetic cards? Also, does anyone know how to get the third type? I really like them but only have 19. I have piles of type number 1, and a couple dozen of type 2. Les

Re: Varieties of magnetic cards Message #2 Posted by Hal Bitton on 24 Mar 2007, 7:17 p.m., in response to message #1 by Les Wright Hi Les, Am I correct in my assumption that cards for the 65 and 67 are not interchangable due to different formatting? Thanks and best regards, Hal

Re: Varieties of magnetic cards Message #3 Posted by Etienne Victoria on 24 Mar 2007, 9:28 p.m., in response to message #2 by Hal Bitton Hi, Cards for the Hp-65, 67& 41 are physically the same and can be used in all calculators. However, once recorded: - Hp-65 cards can only be read by Hp-65s. - Hp-67 written cards can be read & executed by either Hp-67 or Hp-41. The latter has a set od Hp-67 compatible intructions built into the card reader's ROM. - Hp-41 written cards can only be read by Hp-41s. Etienne Edited: 24 Mar 2007, 9:28 p.m.

Re: Varieties of magnetic cards Message #4 Posted by Thomas Chrapkiewicz on 25 Mar 2007, 11:44 a.m., in response to message #1 by Les Wright Les/et al: The HP65 was my second HP calculator which I had purchased back in 1974. The third type of card you mentioned is the original card that came with the HP65. If I recall correctly, a while after the 65 was available (yet before the 67 came to be), it was discovered by the user community that the cards could be used 'double sided'. You may find references to this in the old 'HP65 User Group' (later the 'PPC') publications. This method was not ever accepted/recommended by HP at the time. [If my memory is still working, I was member 852 if the HP65 group.] I believe the first type you mentioned - the mostly white but not double sided was released before the 67. I'm not 100% sure on this - again studying the old HP65 Users Club publications would lend some insight here. I have not dug them up to study this myself. The second type you mentioned was after the 67 release and HP had acknowledged (and used) double sided writing on the cards. The HP67 also allowed writing data to the cards which the HP65 did not. I believe the HP Journal articles on the HP65 show roughly where the data track was written on the card. The 67 wrote the track in the same location - although a bit denser to hold the 224 steps as opposed to the 100 of the HP65. I do recall someone making 'homebrew' cards which were usually quite poorly painted - usually different colors. We would use dry transfer lettering both on these and the 'official' HP cards to arrive at a quite asthetically pleasing card. Keep in mind that the cards are 'formatted' as they are written - there is no hard track put on them until the data itself is written. I would often bulk erase (with an audio tape bulk eraser) the 65 cards before writing. Perhaps I need to dredge up my archives and do some scans/pics if many out there are interested. Maybe there are other 'more mature' users out there that have some memories/recollections of these details to share! Regards, Thomas Chrapkiewicz

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