An intriguing piece of retro gadgetry that lets you view the magnetic patterns recorded on tape. A modern day version can be found here:
Special thanks to Andy on Twitter who first made me aware of this device back in 2016
FAQs
Q) CAN IT SEE WHATS ON A FLOPPY DISK?
A) No - It didn’t show anything on a 5.25” floppy I tested (BOTH SIDES)
Considering the viewer is pretty much maxed-out for resolution by an 8 track, (8 tracks recorded on a tape 1/4” wide at 3.75 ips) I’d imagine that anything more dense than this will be beyond the capabilities of what can be displayed by the device. I’ll try an 8” disk soon - but I would be shocked if it shows anything for the same density reasons
Q) You can buy these sheets of magnetic viewing paper that do the same thing.
A) They don’t have the same resolution or sensitivity - at least the ones I’ve bought don’t. They can’t show the magnetic signal and track layout on a tape. Nothing registered when I tried.
Q) You can use this fluid stuff that does the same job
A) A few people are mentioning various ways to do this with a liquid smeared on the tape - These were known about - and likely made by 3M as well - but one reason for the development of the magnetic tape viewer was that it was a ‘non destructive’ way to read the tape - here’s an except from their patent application where they mention one of the existing and alternative methods to do the same thing.
“Heretofore magnetic signals recorded on magnetic tape have in a sense been rendered visible by smearing finely divided ferromagnetic material over the tape and allowing it to migrate to points of maximum magnetic flux. Besides being slow and messy this procedure involved the greater disadvantage that thorough cleaning of the recording medium was required to prevent the applied ferromagnetic material from supplying false signals. This procedure is treated in the television industry as unacceptable for the splicing of magnetic recording tape and splicing has instead been confined to tape areas in which the picture is blanked out.”
Q) Who is the voice in the Datsun Commercial?
A) Danny Dark
Q) What’s the white pad on the left for.
A) Thats the ‘Viewing Pad’ - to see a picture of it being used - freeze the video at 02:51
Q) What’s the spectrum analyser to the left of the Reel to Reel?
A) It’s demonstrated in this video
Available from here:
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