[GreenKeys] For Jonathan: TT-98/FG

[NNN7DXB at aol.com]

Hi Jonathan:

Some additional info on functional families of teletype equipment,
as you had asked previously about definitions:

Most true teletypes as we knew them years ago, worked in 5-level
BAUDOT code. Some later models worked in ASCII.

a. Page Printer - or simply "Printer" -- receives message traffic in
page copy form only. Your TT-98 is a Printer.

Most KLI printers could receive their message traffic using either
rolled paper (stored inside the machine), or via sprocket-feed using
fan-fold paper, a large box of which could be placed under the printer.
The KLI machines could operate well with multiple copy paper as well,
(carbons), up to 7 copies sometimes. The KLI machines could also
accept fanfold stencil paper from which stencils could then be cut
in quantity for wide distribution.

b. Keyboard - the keyboard on any teletype equipment used for
either sending (typing) online, or preparing page or tape copy

c. Reperforator - a tape receiving equipment that can receive message
traffic in tape form from other stations, other teletypes, or from a
Transmitter-Distributor (TD) which may or may not be connected to the
same machine. 

Your TT-292 is a Reperforator (receives tape from online, or from
another teletype; has no keyboard; has no transmitter (TD)).

d. Reperforator-Transmitter - a tape producing machine that has a
tape transmitter (sometimes called a "tape reader" attached, as part
of the machinery). The tape drive is called a "TD" 
(Transmitter-Distributor).

e. Perforator - really an obsolete term. Once upon a time, a machine
designed to cut tape locally from a keyboard. A perforator could perform
no other function by itself. It usually had a motor, keyboard and a tape
punch, and that was about all. Perforators more or less fell by the wayside
early on when it "Reperforators (reperfs) came into widespread use.
"Perforators" were not online machines. The military was not a big user
of perforators, but Western Union was for their telegram services.
Perforators were cheap, and easy to operate, and did not tie up a printer
or a teletype circuit. (True "plug and play" for its' time).

IN 1955, KLI introduced "edge" printing on their tape equipment. This
used a wider tape than had been used in Teletype Corp machines,
and which printed the punched-tape message on the edge of the tape
so operators in tape relays could send it onward, without having to
read the holes punches. This greatly sped up the relaying process.

Tape itself was paper for the most part. Messages were "torn" off of
machines as they arrived, or as were prepared for later transmission by 
operators. Tape came in all colors too: Mostly light yellow, some pink,
some black, occassionally purple, and in Germany, white with flowers
on it. Most tape was oiled slightly to allow it to go thru the machines
easier. Black tape was unoiled (dry) and was designed for use with
optical readers (where oil would otherwise dirtied up the optical sensors).
We used black tape in the teletype machines, and whatever else we could
get thru the Army supply system. Program and test tapes sometimes
came in a long-lasting dark, shiny green mylar, but these were only
used by maintenance and programmers, and not by the communicators.

(Teletype Corp tape machines also printed the message on the tape,
usually down the center of the tape feed holes. While this was good, it
was sometimes difficult to accurately read the tape, especially in a tape
relay where part of a letter might be punched thru, resulting in many
misroutes by operators in the relay process.

All KLI machines punched tape completely through the tape. They made
"chad", the little yellow or pink round things that got punched thru the 
tape
and which were collected in a "chad bin" at the bottom of a reperforator.

Prior to 1956, may Teletype Corp machines used "chadless" punching,
wherein the tape was not punched completely through the tape. What
you had was a "hanging chad" which kept the chad on the tape, making
for a cleaner working environment around the teletypes, but which made
it difficult to roll tape for later transmission (and also caused tangles).

As Duncan stated earlier, the Teletype Corporation patented the name
"Teletype" for all of their own equipment. Anyone else who produced
teletype equipment had to call them "teletypewriters". It was a lawyers
game, but the functions were essentially the same. Teletypewriters
and Teletypes should not be confused with Flexowriters or Telewriters,
which sometimes performed similiar tasks (but which were produced
by folks like IBM and Frieden Business Machines).

IN general use however, we have ALWAYS called everything a "teletype".
In Europe, you will sometimes hear the term "teleprinter" used, but 
not so often in the US. Radio teletype in the military was called RATT;
hams called it RTTY (or "Ritty"). 
 
A third producer of some teletypewriter equipment was the MITE Corp.
They made a series of small portable printers, mostly for the US Navy,
for use in P-3 aircraft and maybe in submarines. Not used by the Army;
not sure if the Air Force used these. Quite a few surivive in private
hands today, and several GK members have them as well.

Hope this helps,

Dave in SC
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