It's the fixed part of a no-name generic removeable HDD caddy system.

Does that mean that the part that goes on the HDD is so hopelessly obscure as to be unfindable?

Not too hard to find; maybe for that specific version it might be tough to find a match though. I've got a bunch of these that my dad had for some reason. Useful if you want to easily swap hard drives. I used to use an empty one as a drawer to hide candy from my sister when I was a kid 🤣

This type of connector is usually used inside removeable IDE HDD systems for 5.25" slots. My version f.e. has a bit of electronics on the PCB with wires to a lock on the front.
Still I wouldn't recommend hotplugging this IDE stuff.

Yes, it's a removable HDD caddy. Finding the correct "drawer" that fits it will be a problem though, I don't think these were universal. Usually the location of the connector is (slightly) different with different caddy systems.

Be careful. Even if you manage find a harddrive caddy that fits there is no guarantee that it will work properly. I friend of mine found out this the hard way when he fried a brand new harddrive.

Yup that's what it is! You can buy these new on eBay. I use one in my 486 in order to access the CF card reader inside.

Are there any particular keywords to use in an eBay search that will bring up a caddy compatible with this connector?

Jorpho wrote:

Are there any particular keywords to use in an eBay search that will bring up a caddy compatible with this connector?

"removable ide" is what I would search for. That being said, I have 2 nice metal ones next to me if you want them for $5 each + shipping. but I think if you can get them cheaper locally. 😜

Is that different from the printer end of a parallel printer connector? It's been a while since I've had a parallel printer :p

I think they call it a centronics connector

I have a cady with the same connector but it is best to look for a complete cady either wise anything can go wrong that is easily imagined. Schools and business used to have these by the truck load so they still turn up for almost for pennies when on sale.

HunterZ wrote:

Is that different from the printer end of a parallel printer connector? It's been a while since I've had a parallel printer :p

Indeed, that's the first thing I thought of.

nforce4max wrote:

I have a cady with the same connector but it is best to look for a complete cady either wise anything can go wrong that is easily imagined. Schools and business used to have these by the truck load so they still turn up for almost for pennies when on sale.

Hmm, not much point in trying to sell it then, I guess.

Not really, without the rest of it all it is worth is scrap.