[GreenKeys] First Teletype Machine! Here!

Thu Mar 12 00:38:10 EDT 2009

I just started working on my Model 15 yesterday.  It's been sitting around 
for a couple of years and it has finally made it to the top of the list.  It 
looks like it is in good condition overall.  I stripped everything off the 
base and washed it in the sink with detergent.  There are a couple of spots 
on the bottom where the paint wore off and corrosion has set in.  I'm going 
to wire brush them and repaint them tomorrow or Friday.

The upper works seem to be in good shape.  Everything turns and nothing 
seems to be stuck.  The dashpot is a bit sticky but not stuck.  Someone in 
the past removed most of the old wiring and put a homebrew loop supply in 
the back where the 255 relay would normally be located.  I have decided to 
remove all of the old wiring and replace it with 18 guage Machine Tool 
Wiring.  The MTW is designed for machine tools - solvents, oil, gasoline, 
and heat so it should be ideal for this application.  The only problem with 
the MTW is I only have it in yellow.  I am not going to try wiring it as it 
was originally.  I just going to wire the motor, magnet, and keyboard on the 
appropriate connectors.

I thought about putting the base in the dishwasher but I didn't want to 
argue with the other half. :).

Larry

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jack" <wa2hwj at att.net>
To: "'H. Kurth Bemis'" <kurth at kurthbemis.com>; "'Jim Haynes'" 
<jhhaynes at earthlink.net>
Cc: <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] First Teletype Machine! Here!

> Typically, the carriage shouldn't space with an "open line". It would
> just
> sit there and chatter. Once you check all of the clutches and so on,
> perhaps you'll get it to sit still(!).
>
> I know this would be considered heresy, but when I worked for
> New York Telephone in the TTY gang we put the typing units in
> a dishwasher, platen, coils and all.....we'd then blow it dry
> wtih compressed air and give it a good lube job. Worked every time.
>
> There's as many ways to clean a TTY as there are TTY enthusiasts...
>
> Jack K0TTY
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of H. Kurth Bemis
> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 12:16 PM
> To: Jim Haynes
> Cc: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] First Teletype Machine! Here!
>
> Thanks for the cleaning suggestion!  I was dreading breaking down the
> machine to clean each part.  Soaking the unit for a few days seems
> like
> the right way to go.  Should I remove the selector magnet assembly
> from
> the typebar unit before placing it in it's bath of Kerosene?  Other
> pages on the net mention trying to keep the selector assembly out of
> water and other cleaning solvents.  Any thoughts on this? I understand
> keeping water away from the selector magnets, but what about Kerosene?
>
> As far as the carriage return "issue", I assume that the machine isn't
> going to strip its gears or cause other "self-inflicted" damage
> pushing
> against the right margin all the time.
>
> When I get to the lab again this afternoon I will look at the spacing
> assembly for the stuck bits.
>
> Thank you for all your help!  I wouldn't have even thought of
> purchasing
> one of these if you guys (greenkeyers) were around to provide advice.
> Seriously - Thank You all.
>
> ~k
>
> On Wed, 2009-03-11 at 11:23 -0500, Jim Haynes wrote:
>> On Wed, 11 Mar 2009, H. Kurth Bemis wrote:
>> >
>> > The entire thing is covered in grease and oil and dirt.  Lots of
> hair in
>> > there too.  I've seen other pictures where the chassis of these
> units
>> > was clean and looked to be free of oil and debris.  So I ask;
> Should I
>>
>> My first Model 15, which was given to me in pieces, I took
> completely
>> apart and use Gunk to clean.  Later learned there were some things
> you
>> aren't supposed to take apart, as they are put together with special
>> tools at the factory; but mine seemed to work OK anyway.
>>
>> Much later, talked to a guy in the Teletype repair business, and he
>> recommends just soaking the whole thing in kerosene for a few days
>> with some agitation and brushing, then take it out and drain it and
>> re-lube it.
>>
>> > First obvious problem is when the teletype is powered on, the
> typebar
>> > carriage begins advancing right, as it should when it's typing,
> but
>>
>> Look at the shaft for the printing bail, in front of the main shaft.
>> On that shaft you will see a couple of thin metal pieces which are
>> the spacing escapement.  No doubt they are stuck together - you'll
>> have to work them until they loosen up.
>>
>> > When the typebar carriage arrives at right margin, it dings the
> bell and
>> > then instead of a CR, will just keep pushing to the right.  No
> carriage
>> > return.  What would be causing this?  Where would I look to begin
>>
>> This is normal.  A few machines are equipped for automatic carriage
> return
>> and line feed, but on the ordinary machine it will sit at the right
> edge
>> until it receives a carriage return signal.
>>
>>
>
>
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