[Boatanchors] Teletype parts ... was RE: SI units and the rest

[Kludge]

-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Nick England
> So what's with all the UNF and UNEF threads in that marvel of
> mechanical mysteries, the Teletype? Sheesh, I can't ever find a
> replacement for a missing 6-40 or 8-36 or whatever in one of those
> things.....

Teletype had at one time an extensive parts department which, it was
rumored, made more money for the company than the sale of machines.  This
was, of course, not quite true even though it took up a major portion of
Niles, IL, and surrounding villages especially as compared to the
engineering and manufacturing facilities in Niles which were completely
enveloped by the parts department.  The general offices, sales & marketing,
training, printing and other offices, spacious by any other company's
standards, were relegated to what amounted to a corner lot in a remote
parking area.  

Anyway, within the parts department's bailiwick was a section called
Standards and Technology which worked with the engineering department, and
thus the division of manufacturing associated with making the individual
components used in Assembly & Testing.  One of the more important functions
of Standards and Technology was to ensure that parts easily found outside
the Teletype Corporation parts chain were never used in their machines.
Further, every attempt was made to see that parts from one series like the
models 28 & 35 machines were not used in another like the models 32 & 33
machines.  This was less easy to accomplish, mostly because it confused the
engineers.  It was not uncommon for them to design a screw (more often) or
other component specifically to avoid such commonality or availability.  One
result of this was that each new type of machine meant expanding the parts
department that much more to support the materials that went into it.  In
any case, there were two lists available to Engineering, one of common
screws and other items they were not ever permitted to use in any design or
modification kit and the other of those used in previous machines that
should never be used in new designs.  The former was reasonably stable while
the latter continually grew.  

So there you have it, the inside scoop on why Teletype Corp used those
oddball screws.

At some future point, I'll describe my tour of the facility - engineering,
manufacturing and, of course, parts - or as much as I can without violating
the non-disclosure agreements.  It was quite fascinating.

Best regards,
 
Michael, WH7HG BL01xh
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/NTH/index.aspx 
http://wh7hg.blogspot.com/ 
http://kludges-other-blog.blogspot.com 
Hiki Nô!