[GreenKeys] FS: TELETYPE RIBBONS (fwd)

[wa2hwj at att.net]

There have been a lot of people hawking boxes of "genuine teletype ribbons" that are usually government surplus. They are (1) dried out and (2) the eyelets (grommets) are usually rotted out. I have been looking to get a small
eyelet tool and eyelets (used in the arts and crafts world) to try to revive the ribbons and then re-ink them. It has been a "when I get around to it" project. I have a collection of various vintages of ribbons, still new in the box, but usually dried out. Not surprising, the old Bell System ribbons seem to be the best, some of them almost seeming to be brand new (real dark BLACK ink). If the clear plastic wrapper is not compromised, those ribbons will leave a lot of ink on your fingers as soon as you open them up...a good thing! I always save the spools.
I have had no problems with the STAPLES ribbons, except that they don't last long (ink). My 15's and 28's seem to function properly with those ribbon's eyelets and the plastic spools. However, I would suggest that anyone with these old machines test the ribbon reverse manually (flip the reversing guides) to be sure things are working as they should. No ribbon in the world will work in a non-functioning mechanism.

73,
Jack WA2HWJ

NNNN

-------------- Original message from KC0NNC at aol.com: -------------- 


> thanks for the info (I missed his email address, and the items may no longer 
> be available, but i would like to check back with him: please advise) 
> 
> Also To the subscribers reading this post... 
> 
> Have we come to a consensus on which new source has the best ribbon for Model 
> 15 use... 
> 
> 
> I have several units that use this ribbon, but need the industrial quality 
> spools and direction reversing grommets that seem to have prevailed during the 
> broadcast era when the 15's were in service at every radio station I worked at. 
> 
> I would give my left eyeball now to have had the foresight to walk away with 
> a carton or two of what seemed to be "those shitty ribbons" now that I need 
> the steel spools, and strong ribbon for computer check writing on my OKIData 
> (model 82) printers which I now use in my consulting business. 
> 
> The knowledge has to be out there, as to which ribbons (still available new) 
> work and play the best. The plastic spools split when stressed, and I have to 
> manually reverse the tape direction as the grommets seem to have been an 
> option I did not ask for. 
> 
> Thanks for any replies I see come through... 
> 
> 73's 
> 
> 
> Harvey E. Smith 
> 2020 Baculite Mesa Road 
> Pueblo, CO., 81001-2456 
> 719 406 9735 
> 
> fka WA0BBG 
> nka KC0NNC 
> 
> HarveyEsmith at aol.com 
> 
> KC0NNC at aol.com 
> 
> 
> 73's 
> 
> 
> 
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