On Fri, Apr 21, 2023 at 1:58 PM John Cowan <cowan@ccil.org> wrote:
In principle I suppose you could have toggled in the RIM loader (17 words) and read in the TD8E bootstrap using either Model 33 or high-speed paper tape, but I doubt if anyone did that.  RIM format alternated between addresses and values, with each taking up two characters on the paper tape.
I can't speak for an 8/E or OS/8, for that matter. As I recall, the machine (single Digital serial # - original 8) that TSS/8 was originally developed used the RIM loader to load the disk bootstrap. I remember a paper tape on the console ASR-33 and then toggling the RIM loader., etc.