On 3/10/23 06:14, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote: >> Hub size looks small on the 1/2" for later style tapes. 2" tape? I wonder >> if that was linear? Had to have impressive motors. > > Early on the hub specs tended to vary. For example, the EL-X1 10-track 1/2 > inch tape uses 1/2 inch instrumentation type reels (same as professional > audio reels) which have a bigger hub than the later standard 1/2 inch tapes, > with 3 notches.
As witnessed by some ijits rolling a 10.5" reel with 1/2" Ampex 456 audio tape down a road on a hill here a couple of weeks ago. It apparently took them two tries to fully unload the 2500' reel. It took me 3 days to collect and discard all of the tape, since nobody else wanted to. Still have the reel--and yes, the hub is smaller than the computer variety reel. --Chuck