TU10 9-Track 1/2 Inch Tape Drive

The TU10 tape drive is a 1/2 inch reel-to-reel tape drive that stores data at 800 bits per inch. It can hold up to 21 megabytes of data per reel and moves tape at 45 inches per second for reading/writing, with a transfer rate of 36,000 bytes per second. It can rewind at 150 inches per second, taking 3 minutes for a full rewind. The drive weighs 150 pounds, consumes 700 watts, and cost $10,745 with its controller in 1974.

This drive uses vacuum columns to buffer tape motion, allowing for quick acceleration and deceleration to start and stop between records without needing to rewind. Vacuum switches sense tape position and control the reel motors or brakes.

Manufactured in 1973, this specific TU10 drive was used at Penn's Wharton School from around 1973 to 1983. It was acquired in 2007 and has since been restored for display, though it still requires cosmetic work and can be temperamental.

These drives were commonly used for data exchange with larger systems, capturing large amounts of data, or for processing data using systems like the PDP-8, which could then transfer it to more powerful computers. The document also includes a diagram illustrating the tape path and components of the drive, including the vacuum columns, capstan, read/write heads, and take-up and file reels.