[GreenKeys] Model 31

[Roy Morgan]

At 07:05 PM 3/30/2005, gil at baudot.net wrote:
>Hi folks:
>
>I also have one of these Model 31 machines. ...There are only about a 
>dozen of these M31s know to exist;

Gil and other Greenkeyers,

I guess that an M-31 registry might not be a bad idea, then.

>... My M31 was the first machine I got running.  Never
>could get the tape feed to work too well, since a rubber roller had
>hardened.


Caig Laboratories to the rescue!  What you need is their rubber restorer 
called CaiKleen RBR Rubber Cleaner and Rejuvinator.  See www.caig.com for 
info.  Apparently it works like this: you slop it on your poor, old, tired, 
stiff rubber part. The part then gets all gooey and soft and mis-shapen. 
The whole thing stinks a bit.  You are sure you've ruined it.  Then, after 
a while, The rubber thing returns to it's original shape, soft and pliable 
and ready for service again. You are amazed.



>... The machine uses 5/16" gummed or non-gummed tape,...I
>got a small roll of original tape from (the late) John Sheetz, and
>David Forbes sent me some ungummed tape that Tom Jennings made by
>slitting bigger stuff (how did you do that Tom?).

Avid Niche Photography Enthusiasts to the rescue!  The "spy camera" called 
Minox and similar ones use narrow un-sprocketed film 9.1 to 9.3 mm 
wide.  Some folks slit normal 35 mm film down for use in their miniature 
cameras.  A commercial slitter is available for some $350 or so but 
enterprising Minox buffs have devised home brewed equivalents. Such a thing 
would work FINE for slitting normal TTY tape.  Here are a couple of links 
to get ideas from:

http://www.pathcom.com/~vhchan/slitters/slitters.html
http://www.subclub.org/darkroom/splitter.htm
http://www.hektor.worldonline.co.uk/minox1/slitter.html

Roy
Who has both a Minox and a TT-30/AGA-1


- Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing!
7130 Panorama Drive, Derwood MD 20855
Home: 301-330-8828 Cell 301-928-7794
Work: Voice: 301-975-3254,  Fax: 301-948-6213
roy.morgan at nist.gov --