[cctalk] Re: 5 1/4" and 3.5" disk duplication machines
Back in the day (early 90s, IIRC), there was a package called "SyDupe" from modesty-forbids. It could use up to 3 diskette controllers, each with up to 4 drives (grand total 3). Simultaneously copying three disks, sensing disk changes, so no keyboard interaction aside from startup. Stick a disk in, pull another out, sort of thing. Ran on DOS. The three controller restriction was due to the limit of 3 8-bit DMA channels on the Peesee. All with off-the-shelf hardware. I still have a 6-floppy version in a tower case that still runs just fine. --Chuck
[cctalk] Re: 5 1/4" and 3.5" disk duplication machines
If I were to build a diskette copier today I would us some kind of magnetic flux reader/writer (like the greaseweazle). That way it is format agnostic. It can copy almost any disk that can be read. I have a script for my greaseweazle that will copy any 8" diskette (mine is setup for 8" RX02 diskettes). Granted, it copies by saving the image to disk and then writing it back out. This allows the use of either 1 single disk system or the ability to make multiple copies without having to re-read the source diskette. On 3/10/2024 1:01 PM, John Herron via cctalk wrote: If referring to commercial systems, I imagine that and discussion on copyright techniques might be interesting to a hardcore crowd. If just archiving, I also think that would be useful to the public. I only saw cd/dvd based systems and harddisk duplicators. Newer stuff though, not what I would consider vintage. On Sat, Mar 9, 2024, 3:55 PM Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: Does anyone have interest in vintage diskette duplication / duplication machines? Would this make for an interesting VCF exhibit? Does/did anyone use these commercially? Bill
[cctalk] Re: 5 1/4" and 3.5" disk duplication machines
Just curious--how many old Formasters are still in operation? --Chuck
[cctalk] Re: 5 1/4" and 3.5" disk duplication machines
If referring to commercial systems, I imagine that and discussion on copyright techniques might be interesting to a hardcore crowd. If just archiving, I also think that would be useful to the public. I only saw cd/dvd based systems and harddisk duplicators. Newer stuff though, not what I would consider vintage. On Sat, Mar 9, 2024, 3:55 PM Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: > Does anyone have interest in vintage diskette duplication / duplication > machines? Would this make for an interesting VCF exhibit? Does/did anyone > use these commercially? > Bill >
[cctalk] Re: 5 1/4" and 3.5" disk duplication machines
On 3/10/2024 1:13 AM, Travis Pierce via cctalk wrote: I definitely do. I rebuilt a Trace ST8000 last year and got it up and running. I also built a 5.25" duplicator with 12 drives a few months back. I'd love to find a commercial 5.25" duplicator. Travis On Sat, Mar 9, 2024 at 2:55 PM Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: Does anyone have interest in vintage diskette duplication / duplication machines? Would this make for an interesting VCF exhibit? Does/did anyone use these commercially? Bill Many moons ago I wrote software to run an 8" disk duplicator for making copies of disks for the Terak. Those were the days. :-) bill
[cctalk] Re: 5 1/4" and 3.5" disk duplication machines
Oh yes. Back in the late 80's, I delivered some 13-14 autoloader-equipped media conversion systems to norwegian, finnish and danish customers. The problem they solved, was that the customers customers had a variety of floppy disc formats, like Norsk Data, IBM, CP/M, IBM 3740 (which itself had varying densities and single/double side), and many others. These discs had to be read and/or written, but checking how each disc had to be handled, was cumbersome and error-prone. Based on a request from BBS in Norway, I developped a conversion system based on "InterMedia for Windows", Trace / Mountain 3.5" 5.25" and 8" autoloaders, and Intermec hardware. Barcodes were glued to the media, which could then be read by a barcode scanner mpunted inside the autoloaders. This barcode could be a customer-id, a filename, a project name, or whatever. Some also had a reference to the formatname in InterMedia The last customer, a Employers Union, stopped handling floppies in 2007. To give an example of the transactions handled by 1 customer (although with 3 conversions systems) : if the system was dead for 1 full day, the interest they lost on the transactions, would buy them a , new manual conversion system, about 130.000 dkk (£15.000 or so) In its most busy period, all transactions on magnetic media, delivered to the bank, would go through my systems, apart from IBM 3480-3490 cassettes. All the best Nico On 2024-03-09 22:55, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: Does anyone have interest in vintage diskette duplication / duplication machines? Would this make for an interesting VCF exhibit? Does/did anyone use these commercially? Bill
[cctalk] Re: 5 1/4" and 3.5" disk duplication machines
I definitely do. I rebuilt a Trace ST8000 last year and got it up and running. I also built a 5.25" duplicator with 12 drives a few months back. I'd love to find a commercial 5.25" duplicator. Travis On Sat, Mar 9, 2024 at 2:55 PM Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote: > Does anyone have interest in vintage diskette duplication / duplication > machines? Would this make for an interesting VCF exhibit? Does/did anyone > use these commercially? > Bill >
