[GreenKeys] Introducing Myself To The List

[Rob Jarratt]

I have already had a couple of suggestions to turn the motor by hand. I
tried that a few moments ago and it seems to turn OK, although I don't know
which way it is supposed to turn so I am wary of turning it too far in case
I am turning it the wrong way and end up breaking something.

 

Regards

 

Rob

 

 

From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rob Jarratt
Sent: 19 September 2012 21:33
To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [GreenKeys] Introducing Myself To The List

 

Hello,

My name is Rob Jarratt and I live in the Manchester (UK) area. I have joined
this list because at long last I have managed to obtain an ASR33 Teletype,
which I would like to get working. I don't have any experience with
restoring these machines and so need some advice. I have found some manuals
online which tell you how to strip it down and what to lubricate, but there
are still things I am unsure about.

I am told that this particular machine may have been in use up to about 1
year ago. I have to say that the main typing unit does look fairly clean.
Are there any tests I could do on it without applying power to see if it is
safe to try applying power? I would also like to know what kind of oil I
should use to lubricate it, and any other tips on how to get it going again
without damaging it. I would like to clean it all up too, but worry about
dismantling the whole thing for fear of not being able to reassemble it or
damaging or losing parts while disassembling it.

I did partially dismantle it, by removing the typing unit, keyboard unit,
paper tape reader and call control unit out, so I could clean up the base
and the outer casing. There was a foam pad under the typing unit which was
disintegrating so I took that out and threw the bits away, it was also quite
heavily impregnated with oil. I will need to replace that and a few other
bits and pieces, some of the keys on the keyboard also seem cracked. I
believe there may be sources for parts, suggestions for that welcome.

The paper tape reader and the paper tape punch don't look to be in such good
condition, and when I took out the reader I found various little copper bars
that looked identical to ones at the side of the keyboard unit just stuck
inside the reader, along with a number of little springs too. I am not sure
if they came from the keyboard unit which is right next to it, or if they
are part of the reader. I also found a piece of clear plastic that looked
like it may have held the springs, but I can't see where it came from. I
don't mind fixing the paper tape side at some future moment as long as I can
get the typing unit and the keyboard working initially.

Any and all advice welcome.

Thanks and Regards

Rob

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/greenkeys/attachments/20120919/9a4665ff/attachment.html