MAI 2402 Tape Transport (IBM compatible?)

[firebirdta84]

I'm hunting down any information I can find about what appears to be an IBM "replacement/compatible" tape transport, the MAI 2402, seen here:

I recently identified that Genesis One, a subsidiary of MAI, was making IBM 3277-compatible replacements, called the G77, and in the same room where I saw images of one of these from 1982, in the background, we also see what appears to be an MAI 2402 Tape Transport, bearing what looks to be a Genesis One badge.

Note that the MAI transport bears a striking resemblance to an IBM 2401 or 3420 tape transport, or similar. To me, the implication is, that the similar appearance is not a coincidence, but since MAI was already making 3277-compatible terminals to be used with IBM mainframes, maybe they made IBM-compatible transports, too?

Bitsavers doesn't seem to have any information on tape transports (other than QIC form factor) at https://bitsavers.org/pdf/mai (yet)

ChuckG, you might be the person who would know the most about this and all manner of mainframe tape transports like this...

Does anyone have any insight on this?

Here's my website documenting what I've found on this enigmatic equipment

MAI-2403 Tape Transport

This model really did exist, and is NOT just a prop! Note the similarity to an IBM 2401 Or an IBM 3420 The badge on the front undoubtedly sa...

genesisoneg77.blogspot.com

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Chuck(G)]

MAI was big in repurposing off-lease IBM gear (e.g. 026 keypunches; pry the IBM badge off and stick on an MAI one)) in the 60s, so that this thing being a work-alike to a 2402 is very logical. I say this never having run into any Genesis-branded peripherals, but it seems to be the reasonable thing.

Genesis One was the arm of MAI that re-sold/leased off-lease/retired IBM mainframe gear. It was a big money-loser as the pile of obsolete inventory grew.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAI_Systems for the bigger story.

 

[Chuck(G)]

Oh, and bitsavers.org has plenty of old tape information; you just have to know what to look for. e.g. https://bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/2400/ But nothing on the non-Basic 4 gear. IBM mainframe-compatible gear was big business in the 60s and 70s.

 

[Al Kossow]

I would guess this came out of the same pile of props the G77 came from
I suppose with some digging the source for the OEMed tape drive could be found.
or.. it was just an off-lease 2402 with a replacement square hours meter and a repaint

File:C.1966. Edward Stone in front of IBM computer tape bank. Washington, D.C. (34389380396).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

 

[firebirdta84]

MAI was big in repurposing off-lease IBM gear (e.g. 026 keypunches; pry the IBM badge off and stick on an MAI one)) in the 60s, so that this thing being a work-alike to a 2402 is very logical. I say this never having run into any Genesis-branded peripherals, but it seems to be the reasonable thing.

Genesis One was the arm of MAI that re-sold/leased off-lease/retired IBM mainframe gear. It was a big money-loser as the pile of obsolete inventory grew.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAI_Systems for the bigger story.

Thanks for this explanation, Chuck, Excellent! I actually think your description of it is far more clear and concise than reading any of the Wikipedia articles, even more clear the one you linked. Much appreciated!

 

[firebirdta84]

I would guess this came out of the same pile of props the G77 came from

Yes, indeed it did

I suppose with some digging the source for the OEMed tape drive could be found.

Well, Al, you knew JUST where to look...and YOU FOUND IT! Wow! THANK YOU!!! I searched through Datamation to find the G77, but I missed this, thank you! Looks like it is absolutely identical in every way!


So, then the final question, did MAI customize this any to at least give it their own "look", or is there an IBM-2403 model also that really does have identical buttons and cabinet like this, where they really did just do a rebadge IBM to MAI?

In reading the IBM documentation and this page from the CHM, it seems that the 2403 refers to the Tape Adapter Unit, and not the refrigerator-size tape transport itself.

https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102662325

And the picture of the scale-model of the 2402 shown here has an ever so slightly different cabinet design and more buttons on the top panel.

And I have yet to find an IBM-branded transport with this physically identical cabinet (same number of top panel buttons, same tape-head cover that shows the name/model)

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Chuck(G)]

The 2400 series, like the 72x series that came before it went through several revisions during its lifetime.

 

[firebirdta84]

The 2400 series, like the 72x series that came before it went through several revisions during its lifetime.

Thanks, Chuck, I figured as much...I may have hit the end of the available research knowledge on this one.

With that said, might as well move on to the next vintage tech in this same "room of props". Do you recognize this "not decwriter" teleprinter/printer from the backside? I compared it to the backside of the Decwriters, II & III, and it doesn't match when compared side-by-side. But It looks a bit like an IBM Selectric on steroids, But what was IBM's version of the "Decwriter"? And perhaps this is the "MAI" version as well, just to keep it "interesting"?



Thanks, all, for indulging my trivial yet obsessive curiosity over these machines, it really is quite fascinating, and the fact that we can actually come up with SOME answers really speaks to the great collective knowledge of the group here, and the decades of archival efforts all coming together!

Best always,
AJ

 

[Chuck(G)]

I think the thing is probably a 2741 or 1050 lookalike with a feeder for continuous forms. The 1050 was very "boxy" which this unit seems to be.