Randy Bush wrote:
http://ibm-1401.info/ A few (dozen) years ago, I was treated to a interesting demonstration where a coworker poured an oily fluid containing tiny metallic flakes on a patch of tape. The "bits" on the tape could be clearly seen by the naked eye, and could be decoded (ever so slowly!) using a magnifying glass.
standard ops procedure on those old tapes
randy
Yep. The method I was taught (IBM) was to loop the tape into the 'developing' solution container and see-saw it back and forth to make sure the mag. particles were distributed. Pull it out and wait until the medium evaporated. Lay it down and carefully place 'scotch-tape' over the record. Pull the scotch tape up and re-tape it to a white, blank, "punched card". I still have the adjustable magnifier with the bit areas marked on the reticle. --Michael