Title:
Oral History Panel on IBM Data Cell Drive

Date:
2004-12-08

Pages:
26 p.

Interviewer:
Porter, Jim; interviewer
Hester, Harold; interviewee
Bennet, David; interviewee
Carey, Clarke; interviewee
Thompson, Herbert; interviewee

Abstract:
IBM initially shipped the 2321 Data Cell Drive in 1965, a product designed to provide random access to data stored on Mylar strips coated with magnetic media. Panel members participated in IBM’s long development program for the Data Cell system, with many problems in magnetic strip card manufacturing and in reliability of the drives installed in the field. Competitive data cell systems were offered by NCR and RCA, but the IBM disk drive alternatives became more cost effective than IBM’s or the competitive data cell systems. IBM’s Data Cell Drive was withdrawn in 1975.

Keywords:
IBM 2321
IBM 234
Allstate Insurance
IBM 360
Mylar magnetic strip
Haanastra, John
VLCM project
MARS project
NCR CRAM
RCA MCF
Hester, Harold
Bennet, David
Carey, Clarke
Thompson, Herbert

Rights:
Computer History Museum

102657934