• Hello MLAers! We've re-enabled auto-approval for accounts. If you are still waiting on account approval, please check this thread for more information.

Single-sided Head Cleaning Kit for Mac 128k

JDW

JDW

68020
Well, folks, after years of wondering about this, I at long last have the answer to my question:

NORTRONICS Macintosh 3.5" Head Cleaning Kit

http://cgi.ebay.com/Macintosh-128K-Nortronics-3-5-Drive-Head-Cleaning-Kit-/140458436044

Scroll down that EBAY listing and note the photo of the two cleaning disks included in that kit, specifically the disk on the left. There's no slot on top, but there is one on the bottom. Aha! The long lost SINGLE-SIDED cleaning kit for 400k drives! And the only kit that could be used on the 400k drives safely. Using normal 800k drive disks (like the disk shown at right in that auction photo) would harm the felt pressure tip that presses down on the drive head.

Feels so good to find the information one has been searching for, for so long.

 
"Covering" is not for the purist.

But for the impure among us, I would recommend covering a 2-sided cleaning disk's upper slot with a thin piece of plastic, as opposed to using a piece of tape. Tape won't be durable enough.

 
I appreciate the "information" most. And to be honest, I would not pay what the seller is asking, no matter how badly I wanted it. I am a man of principle when it comes to things like that. Besides, if there is one of these on EBAY, there is sure to be at least one other still out there somewhere. :-)

But for any of you reading this, if you feel the price is right, by all means! And if you do buy this, I would encourage you to take a great photo for us. Pull a 400k drive mechanism and make sure we can see the top of the drive, where the head and felt pressure pad are visible. Then insert the 400k version cleaning disk and shoot a closeup. That's the kind of photo I would put on my Flickr account if I had this "somewhat rare" kit. I think it would be an interesting shot and show a unique part of the Mac 128k's past too.

 
I would recommend covering a 2-sided cleaning disk's upper slot with a thin piece of plastic, as opposed to using a piece of tape. Tape won't be durable enough.
Click to expand...
Yea, that is what I meant. It would not take too long to cut a section out of a plastic filefolderthingy or something and attach it. Just gotta be careful not to get any glue or other goop into the hole or have part of the patch stick up or be too thick and one would be set.
 
That particular listing is not rare, although a single-sided head cleaning kit is. It's the second or third relisting for that same exact item. I original spotted that seller's photos in a previous listing a couple months ago (which was my opening post in this thread). Dan clearly put it "on sale" because he was unable to sell it previously. He's probably looking at this thread right now, hoping one of us will buy it.

It might be neat to have for sentimental value and to prove to others that there was such a thing as a single-sided cleaning diskette. But I doubt I would get much use out of it, hence my own unwillingness to bid. If one of you wants it, go for it. You may want to use another, newer cleaning fluid though. The cleaning pads are probably still okay after all these years, but I don't know if I would trust that ancient fluid on my heads.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Mac SE 30 floppy drive head issue
2
Replies
21
Views
4K
billbucks060
B
R
800k external drive on 128k and 512k Macintosh
Replies
2
Views
1K
Fred1212
F
F
400k drive does not detect inserted disks
Replies
13
Views
2K
feltel
F
ESM-NL
Colour Classic AB / LCD upgrade project and more
Replies
3
Views
2K
nottomhanks
N
S
Problematic Macintosh 512K 800K Disk Drive
Replies
1
Views
1K
SilverStreaks
S
Back
Top