techmoan
patreon
Abandoned railway carts
🕑 Added 2020-06-13 11:46:16 +0000 UTCIn this video I’m attempting to find out what’s on a set of tape cartridges discovered in a disused comms room at a railway station.
The video follows the process through, from figuring out the most likely tape track layout, to transferring the tapes and ultimately playing them back.
Special thanks to a Patron for the donation of the tapes - however I’m keeping his (or her) name confidential on this one.
UPDATE: Re-edited version uploaded and embedded above.
Comments
Techmoan
The tracks were recorded far too quietly to show up clearly on the magnetic viewer - the results were inconclusive. I had an ebay search for the 3M viewer for a few years - and got just the one hit. In the info under that video I linked to a modern day alternative which might suit.
Gordo
Well worth the effort! Actually, I was expecting a message about the army of the twelve monkeys, but that's just me. I thought you might get your little magnetic viewer disc out to reveal the track topology.. I've been searching for one of those for yonks but never did find one, if you've any ideas where I might find one, please do let me know.. I remember when I worked for IBM way back when, we had this spray called MagnaSee did something similar - from memory, it was an alcohol spray with fine ferrous particles in suspension.. Spray on, see the tracks on the mag tape..
Techmoan
One day I’ll play through my box of jingle carts from the US - you may recognise a few more.
Late to the party watching this video - but that jingle tape from WLUP in Chicago, Illinois brought back some memories. I grew up there. Small world. Great work recovering the last message from Rugby Station!
