[GreenKeys] Teletypes for law enforcement

[Jack]

In the late 70's AT&T sold a Model 40 system to the NY
State Police. It replaced the TTY circuits used for NCIC
checks, etc. The Nassau County (L.I.) Police opted to replace
all of their local Model 28's with the 40's. So,
our local Bell TTY shop had to go on 24 hour rotating
shifts just to serve the PD machines. Needless to say, the
40's were a disaster...this was before the sprocket feed 40
printer came out. The cops tried to use four-copy paper in the
friction feed 40 printers! The paper jams came in all of the
time. To make matters worse, the jams would often tear the pallets
out of the "type carrier" belt. If the repairman didn't have a spare
belt, he tried to put everything back. It was funny to see a 
character print upside-down every so often. Drove the less-
savvy TTY guys nuts. How could the type be wrong only
sometimes? The answer: there were three sets of uppercase-only
characters on the type belt. So, you had three chances for it to be
right or wrong!! The system was replaced within a few years with
dumb terminals and GE Terminet printers.

Jack WA2HWJ