Few people have heard of it, yet many consider John Blankenbaker's KENBAK-1 to be the first commercial personal computer.
21st Century Punched Tape Reader
By James Grahame
Azog writes, "This guy re-created a punched tape reader. There are slim details about it, but he is apparently also selling them on e-bay."
I'm not sure what appeals to me most about the TR-01 paper tape reader — its simplicity or the renewed ability to retrieve and store data on gigantic paper reels.
It features a parallel interface and reads 8-bit data words. A bare board with light source is available for $100, or you can purchase a fully assembled version for $180. At first glance the TR-01 seems like a novelty, but it's also an inexpensive and reliable way to read old paper tape files from the dawn of the microcomputer era.
Besides, it's wickedly cool.
TR-01 Paper Tape Reader [Retro PC Desgn]
