HP41 - HP-IL peripherals

[albertofenini]

Hi everyone,
we discovered some relics .... we found an HP41 Printer (not HP-IL), an HP41 Printer (HP-IL)
and an HP41 tape unit (HP-IL)
Since we have only one HP-IL adapter and we are missing the rest of the cables we can only
connect an HP-IL device at the time.
Both printers works well, nice and crisp, paper goes thru easy and we are happy with that.
I had personally never tested the tape driver, which I purchased probably ten years ago.
It came with three tapes, one has a label with "HP41 Demo" handwritten on.
We would like to check if it works.
It turns on.
Our goal is simple, we would like to read a program from the card reader, say the Lunar Landing
from the HP67 Standard PAck, and write it onto a tape, then load it from the tape.
Turns out is not that simple.
Firstly because we don't know hot to handle the tape unit, (read, write ????)
The manual that comes with the unit does not give too many information
Where could we look ?
A basic question : we are testing the unit with a 41C, is it compatible or should we use a CV or a CX ?
We are attaching some pictures, more for the fun of it, but one is interesting, if we type on
the unit the command XEQ READP we get back the message you will see on the display.
(Card reader was under maintenance which is why is topless)
Also we are posting a link to a Youtube video we made, when the TAPE unit is turned on
the tape moves a little back and forth, as you will see in the video, is this normal ?
Thanks everyone for any advice
take care !