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Vintage STC Thin Film Disk Head Lucite Paperweight – Rare 1980s IBM-Compatible For Sale

Vintage STC Thin Film Disk Head Lucite Paperweight – Rare 1980s IBM-Compatible
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Vintage STC Thin Film Disk Head Lucite Paperweight – Rare 1980s IBM-Compatible:
$149.95

Vintage STC Thin Film Disk Head Lucite Paperweight – Rare 1980s IBM-Mainframe computer Compatible Tech

Own a piece of computing history with this rare vintage Lucite-encased thin film disk head from STC (Storage Technology Corporation), a key player in the race to develop high-density storage technologies for IBM mainframes during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

During this era, STC competed with industry giants like Control Data Corp., Ampex, Sperry Univac, Intel, and Memorex, all striving to advance plug-compatible disk drive systems for IBM’s powerful mainframe computers. The thin film head technology featured in this collectible was a cutting-edge innovation at the time, enabling higher data densities and faster access speeds in magnetic disk storage systems.

STC\'s ambitious push into the IBM-compatible mainframe market included efforts to develop their own version of the IBM 3380 magnetic storage system—an endeavor that ultimately proved financially unsustainable. By 1985, STC filed for bankruptcy, partially due to the immense cost of this development. Further financial strain came from the company\'s attempt to outpace competitors like Trilogy Systems (founded by Gene Amdahl) and National Advanced Systems (NAS) in launching an air-cooled mainframe computer based on emerging VLSI CMOS semiconductor technology. This technology was intended to replace the older bipolar systems, but STC’s project was eventually abandoned.

This Lucite-embedded artifact is a fascinating reminder of a pivotal moment in computing history, when companies took enormous technological and financial risks to shape the future of digital storage and processing.

Features:

  • Authentic STC thin film disk storage head

  • Encased in clear Lucite for preservation and display

  • Dimensions: 3.5\" Diameter x 2\" high

  • Ideal for collectors of vintage computing, technology historians, or STEM educators

A truly unique conversation piece from the golden age of mainframe innovation.

ChipsEtc.com item #965


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