Resurrecting Chernobyl’s Tech: The SKALA Punch Tape Reader Restoration!

Welcome to the continuation of our exploration of the Chernobyl SKALA computer system! This time, we’ll be putting its super-fast punch tape reader into action. We have the exact same type of device that stands in the SKALA machine room at Chornobyl NPP – an FS-1501, made in Czechoslovakia in the 1970s. Ours, however, was held in captivity by evil chickens for almost 20 years, so extreme restoration was necessary. What you will find in this episode: 00:00 – What the SKALA is 01:07 – FS-1501 tape reader 01:53 – Data storage principle of SKALA 03:34 – Restoration 07:15 – We’ve got original documentation! 08:02 – What is inside? 12:00 – A little request 12:20 – Test run! 14:12 – Let’s put it all back 16:01 – Outro SKALA posters: Join us on Patreon: Support our work with donation: