Ken Shirriff on Twitter: "An IBM 729 tape drive holds loops of tape in vacuum columns, allowing the tape to start and stop suddenly. One of the vacuum pumps @ComputerHistory failed and
![Ken Shirriff ar Twitter: "We finally fixed the 1960's IBM mag tape drive @ComputerHistory. Slack tape is held in vacuum columns, with pressure switches to sense the tape position. After probing resistor-transistor Ken Shirriff ar Twitter: "We finally fixed the 1960's IBM mag tape drive @ComputerHistory. Slack tape is held in vacuum columns, with pressure switches to sense the tape position. After probing resistor-transistor](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D4c_216UUAE_Jjk.jpg)
Ken Shirriff ar Twitter: "We finally fixed the 1960's IBM mag tape drive @ComputerHistory. Slack tape is held in vacuum columns, with pressure switches to sense the tape position. After probing resistor-transistor
![Ken Shirriff on Twitter: "IBM 729 tape drive repair today @ComputerHistory. The tape moves in the vacuum columns, controlled by vacuum switches. Clutches spin the reels to keep enough slack tape in Ken Shirriff on Twitter: "IBM 729 tape drive repair today @ComputerHistory. The tape moves in the vacuum columns, controlled by vacuum switches. Clutches spin the reels to keep enough slack tape in](https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1509329322955268098/pu/img/xstwD1cvcY5ZeANd.jpg)