[GreenKeys] Magic Cleaners

[Don Robert House]

Hi George,

I am still puzzling over how to power this M19...

However, I must say that there is no quick fix for cleaning a typing  
unit.  In the years I routined machines I used up many many "lintless  
cleaning cloths" provided to us by our local Western Electric  
Distributing House.  Being careful not to knock off any springs in the  
process.  Proper lubrication was the most important phase of our  
routine as was cleaning the selector magnet armature with 3/8" wide  
strips of Bond Paper (also provided by WECo.)

Our satellite shop in Waukegan, Illinois was set up for typing units  
that did their thing in bad environments, places like cement plants,  
steel mills, etc. Places that had a lot of dirt in the air, lots of  
heat, etc., etc.

Here is what they did...  First, replace the typing unit with one  
tested on the bench machine.  Once the customer was back in service,  
take the cruddy typing unit to the shop.  Remove the mainshaft and the  
stuntbox from the typing unit.  Blow off any excess crud like pieces  
of paper, chad, etc. (especially with sprocket feed units) The  
compressed air should not be more than about 50-70 psi as to not blow  
springs off!

Put the typing unit and the mainshaft (but not the stuntbox) into the  
Gunk Tank.  This was a commercial parts cleaning unit with a  
recirculating pump.
Clean the typing unit and mainshaft with the gunk.  Then wash the Gunk  
off with very hot water.  Then strap the typing unit to a radiator and  
turn up the steam.  The mainshaft was set in a tin box on top of the  
radiator.  When everything was dry, the work began to repack the  
bearings and oil or grease all of the springs and felts according to  
the practice.  Compressed air was used to clean the selector magnet  
mechanism as well as many strips of bond paper.

The stuntbox was cleaned with only compressed air.  Once all of the  
unit was reassembled the unit was put on the bench machine and run at  
100 wpm.
After about 15 minutes they would take the unit off and check again  
for all of the lube points and any signs of white cotton or brown  
metal.  Lube again as needed, make any adjustments as necessary and  
put the typing unit into the styrofoam shipping cases we had for Model  
28 and 35 units.  Ready for use again. We did not do this on M32 and  
33 units.  A few M15 and M14 units were cleaned this way but most of  
those were replaced by M28s by 1966.

These days a similar system could be used with the Gunk tank but  
afterwards running the typing unit and main shaft through a dishwasher  
that is equipped with a electric hot dry option.  Leaving the whole  
typing unit assembled and doing this is NOT recommended as it makes  
the process of repacking the bearings and re-lubricating very  
difficult resulting in rust, broken springs and damaged clutches and  
stuntbox parts.

Best,
Don


On 2 Nov 2009, at 10:36 AM, George B. Hutchison wrote:

GreenKeyers - - -

It appears that there is forthcoming another round of the best way to
clean a teletype.

When it comes to Power Potions there are several.

409 cleaner full strength is one.

AmWay Industrial cleaner is another

GUNK is a third

Costco Stores offer a product known as OILEATER.

Simple Green, IMHO, is just crap. 409 is much more effective and
doesn't smell as bad.

All of the above mentioned cleaners are assured to clean everything
to whatever level of spotlessness one could desire.

They also have the advantage of turning your skin to soap.

I think the best method I ever saw of cleaning machines was used by
the guys in the Teletype Shop on the USS Nereus.

They would requisition use of the ship's Torpedo Retriever for a day.

The current crop of machines was lashed by cables so as to form a
chain of machines, each separated by about ten feet of cable.

They would then take the machines out into Apra Harbor, carefully
lower them off of the torpedo well as the boat maintained a speed of
about six or seven knots. They would then leave the harbor, avoiding
the Soviet trawler that always lurked just outside the limit (and
sometimes inside) and cruise at six or seven knots for about 7 hours,
just long enough so as to get back for the evening chow call.

After chow they would then take the chain of machines down to Gab Gab
Beach, tie them to the bumper of the squadron pickup, and drag them
through the sand until they were brightly polished.

Upon return to the shop they were immersed in a mixture of 3-in-1 Oil
and vaseline, tagged as cleaned and lubed, then returned to service.

Folks, get real. (My little scenario is not)

There is no substitute for plain old common sense and a little bit of
determined labor.

No one ever questions or comments on what about how to repack the
mainshaft ball bearings. No one seems to recall that there are oodles
of felts in the machine, even inside all of the clutches on the
mainshaft. The selector magnets and the switches in the function box
are another issue.

One must use care and common sense.

I recently had the dubious task of providing a woman in Portland,
Oregon, documentation that Carbon Tetrachloride was used the the
maintenance of teletype equipment.

Seems that the Government could provide no written proof from
anywhere that carbon tetrachloride was used in any phase of teletype
maintenance.

Five minutes in TM-11-352 and TM-11-2223, in the section depicting
the contents of the tool kit, showed an 8oz. can of the stuff.

Her husband had been an Air Force teletype mechanic who was dying of
a rare form of cancer linked to carbon tet. His unit used the stuff
by the 55-gallon drum to immerse the machines for cleaning.  I have
heard similar comments from other former military people.

Her husband is now in a better place.

Western Electric/Ma Bell used to have a major teletype overhaul shop
in Kent, Wa. I will ask the people in the Museum of Communications in
Seattle if they know of any former employees who worked in that shop,
and try and get the skinny on just how the pros in the TELCO did it.

I will relay that information back when I get it.

I do not apologize for my rave and rant.

Jim Haynes, have you anything to add to my short stand on the soap
box??

George - W7TTY














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