[GreenKeys] Teletype ASR33 - approximate date of introduction:1963

[Jim Haynes]

The Model 33 line was intended for TWX, and specifically for light-duty
customers were the usage would not exceed about two hours per day.  Those
with more usage were supposed to use Model 35 equipment.  But the 
minicomputer makers discovered here was a machine for about $1000 that
could print and punch tape and read tape.  That was a lot cheaper than
a Flexowriter or anything else with the same capabilities.  Also the
32/33 line was supposed to have a very limited set of options.  But
some important customer must have insisted on form feedout, because
that became available (and was used with the Varian minicomputer).
Burroughs even used a KSR 33 on its B5500 mainframe computer, after
trying some other company's electric typewriter.  You'd think they
would have sprung for a Model 35 or some other heavy-duty machine.

Another major unforseen use of the M33 was as a computer time sharing
terminal.  Lots of these saw very heavy use, especially in education.


jhhaynes at earthlink dot net