Obscene Floppy Drive Prices

[Rick Ethridge]

I looked on eBay for reasonably priced 360k 5.25 floppy drives. The prices I saw were absurd! Why are these drives, used by my Tandy/Radio Shack computers, so damned expensive?

 

[glitch]

Partly wishful thinking on the sellers' part, but also they're just getting harder to find, especially in guaranteed working condition.

 

[Stone]

Does the Tandy use a standard, IBM compatible drive?

 

[byates]

If you are interested I have a couple of Canon drives, model K-6 1222U. Been hauling them around since the late 70's, no guarantee, for shipping. Will double check the numbers tomorrow, bad light where they are stored.

 

[Rick Ethridge]

For a reasonable price I would be very interested. I have a TRS-80 Model one and a Coco3 that could use drives.

 

[billdeg]

Generally speaking Tandon drives used by Tandy, the same as used in IBMs first PC (tm 100-a), have held up the best. The other manuf., Texas Peripherals, drives are less robust and harder to repair. Many Tandon drives found in the wild have broken door latches, so you may have to buy two to merge into one working drive. Buy one with the broken latch because it probably worked and was discarded when the latch broke not the drive itself, and buy another one that does not work but with a good latch.

 

[Stone]

Generally speaking Tandon drives used by Tandy, the same as used in IBMs first PC (tm 100-a), have held up the best...

I thought those Tandys he's got use HH drives. That Tandon is FH.

 

[per]

TRS-80 model III does at least use FH Tandon-drives.

 

[MindThreat]

Personally, I blame the guys using 40 floppy drives to recreate Star War theme songs... ;-)

 

[rittwage]

Expect the price to rise as less and less working ones are in circulation. Simple market economics...

Unfortunately, there is also the market of people still alive looking for them going down all the time, but that is not pleasant to think about.

 

[Dwight Elvey]

Some computers need the drive ready signal. Not all drive support that.
Not sure what your computer needs.
Dwight

 

[byates]

For a reasonable price I would be very interested. I have a TRS-80 Model one and a Coco3 that could use drives.

Large priority mail flat rate box is $18.65. Attached a some pictures, looks like they might need a recap. C19 is loose on one of them.

 

[Rick Ethridge]

I appreciate the offer but I'm deferring for now. I need to get familiarized with the computer first.

 

[billdeg]

I am selling trs 80 model III drive controllers if anyone needs one. $29.99 including shipping.

 

[byates]

I appreciate the offer but I'm deferring for now. I need to get familiarized with the computer first.

Not a problem