[GreenKeys] FW: Computer Memory Lane

[NNN7DXB at aol.com]

Jim:

In the early 70s, while living in Indiana, I once considered leasing
a Model 32 ASR for MARS use, since the (cheap) Army would not give me a
used teletype machine with which to send/copy MARSGRAMS. (I was still
on active duty with the Army). Indiana handled a lot of printed traffic
in those days, because so much of the covered area was rural, and a lot
of the farmers didn't have phones (or if they did, they still used old 
party
lines, usally operated out of the local General Store that doubled up as
the (General Delivery) Post Office and local switchboard).

General Electric in Indianapolis, IN was in the teletype machine leasing
business. Unfortunately, their lease costs were a bit high for my E-6
Army pay, at about $10.00 per day for the machine, or about $300
per month.

I was lucky enough to find a used TT-4C at a Civil Air Patrol squadron
in nearby Lafayette which I traded a Heathkit SB-301 HF transceiver for
(similar in style to the Collins KWM-2s, but in green, and came in kit 
form).
The CAP unit needed the HF radio, but had no knowledge or use for the TT-4.

The TT-4 worked fine as a printer. I also had a Model 14 TD and a Model
14 perf; the TT-4 keyboard worked with the old perf for cutting my tapes.
(the older machines came from a company in Ft Lauderdale named
Typetronics -- perhaps some of you remember him).

For a time, I also took messages to the Fort Harrison CommCenter (where
I worked) and cut the tapes there for later transmission from my house
via the antique Model 14 TD. The Ft Harrison CommCenter had AN/FGC-58s
(Model 28 ASRs) for poking positions, but did not originate a great deal
of teletype traffic (that CommCenter handled 99% of their traffic via
IBM cards: GI payrolls, because Ft Harrison was also the Army's Central
Pay Office worldwide).

Dave