WTB: Stringy Floppy Cartridges

[jwse30]

I just purchased an A &J Microdrive stringy floppy and am hoping someone here has a few unwanted cartridges for it. My understanding is that this drive I’ve got and the ones made for the zx81 and the dual drive for the 2068 all use the same media.

If you’ve got any available, please send me a message. I’m in Indiana, 46368, USA

Thank in advance,

J White

[swensont]

IIRC the two versions of the A&J microdrive use different tapes. I have few of each that I am willing to pass on. PM me.

Tim Swenson

[David G]

My understanding is that the A & J tape drive is the same as the Extratron(?) and both use CAI interface

Looking forward to a first-impressions or a review of this unit


A & J of Sunnyvale, California

A & J String Floppy

Extatron is still in business. They made versions for S-100, TRS-80 and basically all home microcomputers using their high-speed tape cartridges

Exatron String Floppy

Being as these tape cartridges were commercial grade maybe they were more reliable than the Sinclair microdrive

String Floppy Wafers

I just purchased an A &J Microdrive stringy floppy and am hoping someone here has a few unwanted cartridges for it. My understanding is that this drive I’ve got and the ones made for the zx81 and the dual drive for the 2068 all use the same media.

If you’ve got any available, please send me a message. I’m in Indiana, 46368, USA

Thank in advance,

J White

[jdfan1000]

Exatron spun its stringy floppy business off to A&J. One of the principals in A&J was the son of Exatron's owner.

Exatron/A&J used their own interface.

The drives for the ZX81/1000 and 2068 are different and use different tapes.

Fun trivia: Li-Chen Wang, author of Palo Alto Tiny BASIC, worked for Exatron/A&J and wrote, if I recall correctly, the ROM for the Tandy Model I version.

The Rotronics Wafadrive uses the BSR version of the Exatron tape drive mechanism.

From what I've heard, the stringy floppy tapes are pretty fragile and hard to find in good condition.

David