Question re: 8" drive form-factor

[Steven Hirsch]

On Thu, 4 Jun 2009, Eric Smith wrote:

> Steven Hirsch wrote:
>> I found the OEM manual on bitsavers and it's actually the 'R' model that 
>> matches what I believed to the industry form-factor of 8.5" width.  The 
>> "standard" (non-R) model is 9.5" wide.  Odd standard, since I've never seen 
>> another 8" drive that size.

> Ah, that was it.  They made the "R" model narrower to make it easier to fit 
> them side by side in a rack.
>
> I'm guessing that the 9.5" size might match the size of the genuine IBM 33FD, 
> 43FD, or 53FD drives.   Although I have some 53FD drives, I've never taken 
> them out of the equipment they're installed in, so I haven't had occasion to 
> measure their dimensions.

Intriguing that Shugart actually tooled up for two different die-cast 
chassis rather than simply providing a wider faceplate and some 
spacer plates for the 8.5" units.  I guess money grew on trees back 
then.

Steve


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