Old Filing System Help!
February 7, 2012 2:57 PM Subscribe
Is anyone aware of an old paper filing system in which the individual records were punched with holes representing categories and/or keywords? To filter the records, you pushed a wooden rod through the holes and lifted out the records. I can't find this, no matter how advanced my Google-fu.
I have been doing the same search for some time - thanks!
posted by blue_wardrobe at 3:06 PM on February 7, 2012
posted by blue_wardrobe at 3:06 PM on February 7, 2012
I know someone who still uses this system(!) If you want any other info on it, I'm happy to ask her. Let me know.
posted by lollusc at 3:32 PM on February 7, 2012
posted by lollusc at 3:32 PM on February 7, 2012
These are called McBee cards. They are the origin of the term "false drop" for an unwanted answer, since if the wrong hole in the edge was punched, that card would fall out by mistake. I learned about this from taking an info-systems course (for librarians) taught by a guy who had been there at the dawn of electronic computing, or at least in the punch-card days.
This site has a description. You can still sometimes unused card sets for sale on eBay.
Other sites describe making edge-punched card sets by pulling the wire out of a spiral-bound pack of index cards and using a thin needle (rather than a dowel).
posted by bad grammar at 4:40 PM on February 7, 2012
This site has a description. You can still sometimes unused card sets for sale on eBay.
Other sites describe making edge-punched card sets by pulling the wire out of a spiral-bound pack of index cards and using a thin needle (rather than a dowel).
posted by bad grammar at 4:40 PM on February 7, 2012
The system was listed and strongly praised in the Whole Earth Catalog, which is available as an e-book.
Of course it's much easier and more efficient to put everything in a Word file and search the contents.
posted by KRS at 5:15 PM on February 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Of course it's much easier and more efficient to put everything in a Word file and search the contents.
posted by KRS at 5:15 PM on February 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
Wow. I've come across the notching tool for these cards in old office supplies and had no idea what they were.
posted by Miko at 6:32 PM on February 7, 2012
posted by Miko at 6:32 PM on February 7, 2012
We have a tree finder than works on this method. it's awesome because it's hard to scan a word doc out in the forest!
posted by vespabelle at 10:36 PM on February 8, 2012
posted by vespabelle at 10:36 PM on February 8, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sholdens12 at 2:59 PM on February 7, 2012 [3 favorites]