IBM 7-track

IBM's first magnetic-tape data storage devices, introduced in 1952, use what is now generally known as 7-track tape.

Between active control of powerful reel motors and vacuum control of these U-shaped tape loops, extremely rapid start and stop of the tape at the tape-to-head interface could be achieved.

Stock shots of such vacuum-column tape drives in motion were widely used to represent "the computer" in films and television.

It became IBM's standard tape drive for their vacuum tube era computer systems.

A new dual gap head assembly allowed read-after-write verification.

An IBM 704 mainframe with IBM 727 7-track tape drives on the left
Reel of 1/2" tape showing beginning-of-tape reflective marker
A write-protection ring had to be inserted in the back of a reel to allow its tape to be written on.
A reel of half-inch magnetic tape being loaded onto an IBM 729 tape drive that is attached to an IBM 1401 being restored at the Computer History Museum .