[GreenKeys] 'Old' portable Teletype...

[Ken L. Gartland]

To all...

A few weeks back, on our favourite (!) auction site, there was a small portable Teletype machine listed, which was
identified by Don, K9TTY as a Model 31...

I remember seeing one of these machines way back in 1970
in a broadcasting booth at our local sports stadium...

At the time, I was covering a svc call on a M20RO with
a 'Crusty old guy'  who was intent on teaching the 'New kid on the block'  the ropes!  While he was getting the cover off the M.20, I happened to spot a 'Smallish' machine sitting
off to the left in one of the broadcasting cubicles. It
had a 'Teletype' logo plate on it, was all black, with a very
small keyboard w/keys similar to the Model 28...

My curiosity got the best of me, turned it on, and it ran
'Closed'...I managed to get off one line of  'Now is
the time for all good men etc.'  before the old guy barked at me to pay attention to what I was there for! I never saw one again. I do remember seeing the type head swing back & forth somewhat like a pendulum, and the peculiar sound the
printing mechanism made...Unlike any other TTY I have ever seen/heard.


The model shown on the auction site was green and was in some kind of carrying case. The one I saw years ago seemed to be a table type model in its' own cover...

Does anyone out there know the approximate production
numbers of this machine, how it came to be, what were they used for, and who used them?

Don, K9TTY had mentioned there were less
than 7 units known of. I am also wondering, why Teletype
Corp'n developed and mfd. this particular machine, when
even back in the 1970's, we had many M14KSR strip
(Tape) printers still in svc. especially in Brokerage houses.

I am hoping some of you guys will be able to offer some insight into this unusual machine...It certainly brought back
memories of my early years in the trade...I gess after all, I do owe a lot to that 'Crusty' old guy!!

' 73

Ken VE3-HMQ