Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How photos are cabled across the Atlantic (1926) (Original Post) usonian 16 hrs ago OP
Holy cow. I didn't understand it but what a process. chicoescuela 16 hrs ago #1
Friggin genius. Beartracks 16 hrs ago #2
I wonder if any of those original tapes still exist? nt Javaman 7 hrs ago #3
Reminds me of those days feeding paper-tape spools into a computer erronis 6 hrs ago #4

Beartracks

(14,425 posts)
2. Friggin genius.
Mon Jan 26, 2026, 11:28 PM
16 hrs ago

And 100 years later, I'm impressed that it only took 1-1/4 minutes to recreate the photographic negative from the tape after sending the signal across the pond.

==========

erronis

(22,909 posts)
4. Reminds me of those days feeding paper-tape spools into a computer
Tue Jan 27, 2026, 08:55 AM
6 hrs ago

Spools came from various manufacturing sites (HD Lee bluejeans) shipped overland to KC. Fed into an IBM 360, then punched onto cards and sorted by hand (my main job). Read back into 360 and written to magnetic tape for another series of processes.

Paper tape is fragile and would frequently break while being read. Splice it back together with scotch tape losing a few bits along the way. The price of business back then.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Science»How photos are cabled acr...