23FD “Minnow” flexible disk drive (prototype)

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  • Details
  • Description
Date Introduced
ca. 1970
Photographer
Richards, Mark
Dimensions
overall: 17 in x 16 1/4 in x 10 1/2 in
Manufacturer
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
Credit Line
Gift of David Noble
Copyright Owner
© Mark Richards
Location
US
Keywords
magnetic; mechanical
Object ID
X1841.2000
Memory Type
Magnetic disk

The Minnow was a read-only drive that loaded factory-written microcode into mainframe computers. It was the predecessor of a family of low-cost "floppy" drives which become indispensible for word processors and PCs.