Model 3480 tape drive | X2092.2001 | Computer History Museum

Description

Object is a large beige box that seems to be two boxes joined at the center. Seen from the front, the left cubical section has the A22 model number; this is the control unit. It contains a large swinging gate of circuit cards that opens to the rear. The right cubical section is the model B22 dual tape drive. (Additional B22s could be added.) At the front of the right section two small doors flip up to reveal insertion areas for tape cartridges.

The IBM 3480 line were tape drives that used a new, 5.5-inch square tape cartridge that provided higher density and easier storage than the old 10-inch round reels. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/storage/storage_3480.html (retrieved 29 July 2015).

Date

January 31 1985 (printed on frame of A22 box)

Manufacturer

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

Place Manufactured

U.S.

Identifying Numbers

Model number	3480	Label on upper left front
Model number	A22	Label on upper left front
Model number	B22	Label on rear right door
Other number	102625244	CHM barcode stuck to lower right rear frame
Other number	10776	Written in pencil near on/off switch
Other number	1618601	Amdahl barcode front left panel
Other number	1618701	Amdahl barcode on front right
Other number	4451533	Printed in white on lower right side of rear frame
Other number	70	Stick-on digits upper left front
Other number	E/C A05946	Printed in white on lower right side of rear frame