I'll start this with a visual. Anyone here know what this is?

Quote from: TboneAgain on October 31, 2014, 05:48:42 AM
I'll start this with a visual. Anyone here know what this is?

Yes I have two yet in my old computer thing.

All I will say for now is double-sided.  LOL

Quote from: TboneAgain on October 31, 2014, 05:48:42 AM
I'll start this with a visual. Anyone here know what this is?

Looks like one of those staple free staplers. The kind that punched the paper and folded it back on itself.
Not truly effective if I remember correctly

Quote from: Solar on October 31, 2014, 06:59:27 AM
Looks like one of those staple free staplers. The kind that punched the paper and folded it back on itself.
Not truly effective if I remember correctly

Think back, floppy disk. 

Quote from: walkstall on October 31, 2014, 07:02:04 AM

Think back, floppy disk.

Still have a few.

Quote from: Solar on October 31, 2014, 07:11:08 AM
Still have a few.

No, WAY back floppy disk. Walks has it figured out. The thing in the pictures is a floppy disk notching tool.

Back in the really early PC days -- and the "home computer" craze -- most mass storage was done on floppy disks because hard drives were horribly expensive, often costing more than than the computer itself. The common medium at that time was the floppy disk.



The photo shows the three main sizes that saw common use in the US -- the 8", the 5 1/4", and the 3 1/2", which is the only one you're likely to see in use today. But for a time, the 5 1/4" was the thing. Certainly, it was state of the art in the early PC days, and with the Commodore and Atari and Apple crowds.

The 5 1/4" disks were marketed in four varieties: SS/SD, which stood for single-sided, single density; SS/DD, meaning single-sided, double density; DS/SD, which was double-sided, single density; and DS/DD, double-sided double density. The most common were SS/DD and DS/DD.

Double density disks could hold twice as much data on a side as single density types. Double-sided disks could hold data on both sides instead of just one -- they could be physically flipped over by hand, much like a phonograph record.

But 5 1/4" floppies were REALLY floppy, very delicate, and unlike the newer smaller disks, couldn't be punched into a drive to engage the heads. The 5 1/4" disks had to be gently inserted into the slot, then engaged by turning a mechanical lever on the front of the drive, which locked the disk in place and lowered the read/write heads to the surface.



In order for that to happen an unlocking lever had to fall into a notch on the edge of the disk housing. Look closely at the middle disk in the first picture above, and you'll notice a square notch about an inch down from the upper-right corner of the orange floppy. THAT is the notch. The picture shows a single-sided disk, one that has the notch only on one side. The drive would not engage that disk if it were flipped over.

Word got out that all the media came off the same assembly lines, but some samples didn't quite meet testing specs on one side. Those "failed" discs were packaged in one-notch housings and sold as single-sided floppies, at a considerably lower price than the desirable DS/DD disks. An enterprising user (probably some geek in his mom's basement with a pair of scissors) carved the magic notch on the un-notched side of an SS/DD floppy and found out that the "dead" side worked just as well as the "good" side. Other than the absence of the second notch, the DS and SS disc housings were identical.

And then some genius created the thingy in the OP, the patented, certified, bonafide disk notcher. It was a tool specifically crafted to do just one thing -- carve out that magical notch on the un-notched side of a 5 1/4" floppy disk. You just had to slide the un-notched corner into the slot on the tool, and whack that big button; the cutter inside created the notch with precision. Like Walks, I think I still have one or two of 'em floating around. I know I gave one away when I finally (with tears in my eyes) sold my Commodore 128.

Quote from: TboneAgain on October 31, 2014, 05:48:42 AM
I'll start this with a visual. Anyone here know what this is?

Oh wow.  I was about 9 or 10 when we got a disk drive, replacing our cassette drive.  I was obsessed with the disk drive, and when I got the concept of punching a write-protect notch on the other side, it was better than Christmas.  I remember the protect tabs that came with the floppies, and was just obsessed with everything about it, like the labels, and trying really, really hard to make my writing perfect and consistent for all the labels, and making sure the label colors would correspond to what's on the floppy.  I remember one episode of Knight Rider when they were loading up KIT with something, and the lady pulls out a floppy and inserts it into KIT's computer; it was like I saw the Moon for the first time.  Oh, the memories.

Quote from: TboneAgain on October 31, 2014, 11:15:12 AM
No, WAY back floppy disk. Walks has it figured out. The thing in the pictures is a floppy disk notching tool.

Back in the really early PC days -- and the "home computer" craze -- most mass storage was done on floppy disks because hard drives were horribly expensive, often costing more than than the computer itself. The common medium at that time was the floppy disk.



The photo shows the three main sizes that saw common use in the US -- the 8", the 5 1/4", and the 3 1/2", which is the only one you're likely to see in use today. But for a time, the 5 1/4" was the thing. Certainly, it was state of the art in the early PC days, and with the Commodore and Atari and Apple crowds.

I think I _just_ missed the boat for the 8", and only remember the 5 1/4".  Our first drive was an Atari 810:
http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8bits/400800/810/810.html

Quote
The 5 1/4" disks were marketed in four varieties: SS/SD, which stood for single-sided, single density; SS/DD, meaning single-sided, double density; DS/SD, which was double-sided, single density; and DS/DD, double-sided double density. The most common were SS/DD and DS/DD.

Double density disks could hold twice as much data on a side as single density types. Double-sided disks could hold data on both sides instead of just one -- they could be physically flipped over by hand, much like a phonograph record.

Oh wow, I totally remember that.  I remember when my dad would bring home a new pack, I would be so proud that we were buying DS/DD, like we had the best of the best!  I have no clue what they cost back then, but I'm sure it was an extra $5 or something.

Quote
But 5 1/4" floppies were REALLY floppy, very delicate, and unlike the newer smaller disks, couldn't be punched into a drive to engage the heads. The 5 1/4" disks had to be gently inserted into the slot, then engaged by turning a mechanical lever on the front of the drive, which locked the disk in place and lowered the read/write heads to the surface.



In order for that to happen an unlocking lever had to fall into a notch on the edge of the disk housing. Look closely at the middle disk in the first picture above, and you'll notice a square notch about an inch down from the upper-right corner of the orange floppy. THAT is the notch. The picture shows a single-sided disk, one that has the notch only on one side. The drive would not engage that disk if it were flipped over.

Word got out that all the media came off the same assembly lines, but some samples didn't quite meet testing specs on one side. Those "failed" discs were packaged in one-notch housings and sold as single-sided floppies,

Wow.  Talk about hedging losses...

Quote
at a considerably lower price than the desirable DS/DD disks. An enterprising user (probably some geek in his mom's basement with a pair of scissors) carved the magic notch on the un-notched side of an SS/DD floppy and found out that the "dead" side worked just as well as the "good" side. Other than the absence of the second notch, the DS and SS disc housings were identical.

And then some genius created the thingy in the OP, the patented, certified, bonafide disk notcher. It was a tool specifically crafted to do just one thing -- carve out that magical notch on the un-notched side of a 5 1/4" floppy disk. You just had to slide the un-notched corner into the slot on the tool, and whack that big button; the cutter inside created the notch with precision. Like Walks, I think I still have one or two of 'em floating around. I know I gave one away when I finally (with tears in my eyes) sold my Commodore 128.

Our first was an Atari 800.  My friend in the neighborhood had a Commodore 64, and I couldn't believe the graphics.  I would go over to his house to play the games, since they were like the ones in the arcade that I'd obsess over.

Quote from: TboneAgain on October 31, 2014, 11:15:12 AM
No, WAY back floppy disk. Walks has it figured out. The thing in the pictures is a floppy disk notching tool.

Back in the really early PC days -- and the "home computer" craze -- most mass storage was done on floppy disks because hard drives were horribly expensive, often costing more than than the computer itself. The common medium at that time was the floppy disk.



The photo shows the three main sizes that saw common use in the US -- the 8", the 5 1/4", and the 3 1/2", which is the only one you're likely to see in use today. But for a time, the 5 1/4" was the thing. Certainly, it was state of the art in the early PC days, and with the Commodore and Atari and Apple crowds.

The 5 1/4" disks were marketed in four varieties: SS/SD, which stood for single-sided, single density; SS/DD, meaning single-sided, double density; DS/SD, which was double-sided, single density; and DS/DD, double-sided double density. The most common were SS/DD and DS/DD.

Double density disks could hold twice as much data on a side as single density types. Double-sided disks could hold data on both sides instead of just one -- they could be physically flipped over by hand, much like a phonograph record.

But 5 1/4" floppies were REALLY floppy, very delicate, and unlike the newer smaller disks, couldn't be punched into a drive to engage the heads. The 5 1/4" disks had to be gently inserted into the slot, then engaged by turning a mechanical lever on the front of the drive, which locked the disk in place and lowered the read/write heads to the surface.



In order for that to happen an unlocking lever had to fall into a notch on the edge of the disk housing. Look closely at the middle disk in the first picture above, and you'll notice a square notch about an inch down from the upper-right corner of the orange floppy. THAT is the notch. The picture shows a single-sided disk, one that has the notch only on one side. The drive would not engage that disk if it were flipped over.

Word got out that all the media came off the same assembly lines, but some samples didn't quite meet testing specs on one side. Those "failed" discs were packaged in one-notch housings and sold as single-sided floppies, at a considerably lower price than the desirable DS/DD disks. An enterprising user (probably some geek in his mom's basement with a pair of scissors) carved the magic notch on the un-notched side of an SS/DD floppy and found out that the "dead" side worked just as well as the "good" side. Other than the absence of the second notch, the DS and SS disc housings were identical.

And then some genius created the thingy in the OP, the patented, certified, bonafide disk notcher. It was a tool specifically crafted to do just one thing -- carve out that magical notch on the un-notched side of a 5 1/4" floppy disk. You just had to slide the un-notched corner into the slot on the tool, and whack that big button; the cutter inside created the notch with precision. Like Walks, I think I still have one or two of 'em floating around. I know I gave one away when I finally (with tears in my eyes) sold my Commodore 128.

I even have write protect tabs.


I gave my Commodore 64 to my son just over a year ago.   Just like the one below only it had a green tint monitor.  It was in good working order yet. 

Not sure 8" floppies were used with early microcomputers, though hobbyist-geeks probably made it work. Mrs. SVPete used them on dedicated word processors, and we might have one or two out in the garage.

Quote from: SVPete on October 31, 2014, 11:57:00 AM
Not sure 8" floppies were used with early microcomputers, though hobbyist-geeks probably made it work. Mrs. SVPete used them on dedicated word processors, and we might have one or two out in the garage.

You are correct. I used the pic to illustrate the storage technology of the day. But as you point out, the 8" floppies were mainly used in commercial settings. The first word processor in the office where I worked back in 1982 (an IBM with a daisy-wheel printer) used 8" floppies.

Quote from: taxed on October 31, 2014, 11:26:07 AM
I think I _just_ missed the boat for the 8", and only remember the 5 1/4".  Our first drive was an Atari 810:
http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8bits/400800/810/810.html

Oh wow, I totally remember that.  I remember when my dad would bring home a new pack, I would be so proud that we were buying DS/DD, like we had the best of the best!  I have no clue what they cost back then, but I'm sure it was an extra $5 or something.

Wow.  Talk about hedging losses...

Our first was an Atari 800.  My friend in the neighborhood had a Commodore 64, and I couldn't believe the graphics.  I would go over to his house to play the games, since they were like the ones in the arcade that I'd obsess over.

I had already worn out a couple of C-64s and an older TI-99/4A by the time I scored that 128. I think the first one I ever got my hands on was a Timex-Sinclair TS-1000; what a piece of shit.

I never was an Atari guy, nor an Apple freak. Played around a little with the TRS-80 stuff, but not much. Thanks to the dozens of completely incompatible business models in the computing world back then, it was one by-God expensive hobby!

And I remember when two of the best stores to score the latest stuff were Toys 'R' Us (for Commodore) and Lowe's (for TI). Yes, Lowe's, the big box lumber place.

I had a cassette tape drive for my TI -- the proprietary disk drive for that hundred-dollar paperweight cost around $600. Talk about sequential access storage!!! My C-64s took the Commodore 1541 units (or the cheaper generic that finally came out about the time CBM phased out the 64). I had a 1571 for my 128 -- a drive that could read/write both sides of a disk without removing and flipping. (Though the "B" side of a 1571 disk was different from the "B" side of a 1541 disk, whereas the "A" sides were identical. Go figure.)

Quote from: TboneAgain on October 31, 2014, 12:04:30 PM
You are correct. I used the pic to illustrate the storage technology of the day. But as you point out, the 8" floppies were mainly used in commercial settings. The first word processor in the office where I worked back in 1982 (an IBM with a daisy-wheel printer) used 8" floppies.

I use Daisy Wheels at work, that were interchangeable heads.  But only on typewriter, not on a printer. 

Quote from: walkstall on October 31, 2014, 12:32:26 PM
I use Daisy Wheels at work, that were interchangeable heads.  But only on typewriter, not on a printer.

The word processor in the office where I worked -- which filled much of the room -- used either a typeball or daisy wheel printer, and I'm thinking it was daisy wheel. Both types featured changeable typefaces. For sure, when I had my C-128 set up just the way I wanted, it was connected to one of these...



It was a Teletex TTX1014 daisy wheel printer. That puppy probably weighed 40 lbs. and sounded like a Gatling gun when it was working. Paper was pin-feed only, but in those days of dot-matrix printers, it was easy to find high-quality paper with laser-perforated edges. That thing actually rocked the little table I had it on -- you could watch it sway back and forth. I had to move it off the main table/desk because it shook the whole works so badly I couldn't type accurately when it was running. Obviously, it wouldn't do graphics like the dot-matrix printers would, but I could crank out a letter that looked like your congressman's secretary wrote it.

Quote from: TboneAgain on October 31, 2014, 12:30:35 PM
I had already worn out a couple of C-64s and an older TI-99/4A by the time I scored that 128. I think the first one I ever got my hands on was a Timex-Sinclair TS-1000; what a piece of shit.

Oh wow, I now remember the TIs.  I remember one of those in elementary school.  Now that I think about it, I think that is the first computer I ever saw.

Quote
I never was an Atari guy, nor an Apple freak. Played around a little with the TRS-80 stuff, but not much. Thanks to the dozens of completely incompatible business models in the computing world back then, it was one by-God expensive hobby!

And I remember when two of the best stores to score the latest stuff were Toys 'R' Us (for Commodore) and Lowe's (for TI). Yes, Lowe's, the big box lumber place.

I had a cassette tape drive for my TI -- the proprietary disk drive for that hundred-dollar paperweight cost around $600. Talk about sequential access storage!!! My C-64s took the Commodore 1541 units (or the cheaper generic that finally came out about the time CBM phased out the 64). I had a 1571 for my 128 -- a drive that could read/write both sides of a disk without removing and flipping. (Though the "B" side of a 1571 disk was different from the "B" side of a 1541 disk, whereas the "A" sides were identical. Go figure.)

TRS-80! Wow.  Do you remember the Amiga?