[GreenKeys] Beginning Model 15 Restoration

[Scott Clark]

Hey guys,
Finally starting to work on my M15 that I bought on CL a few years ago.  Haven't had a chance (or space) to really work on it until now, but I thought I'd share my progress as I go.  I also have a lot of questions for you guys, so hopefully somebody can give me a hand...
What I've got is an old M15, originally a Western Union machine apparently.  Was last used as a RTTY machine according to the seller...they didn't know when it was put in storage, but it must have been a long time ago.  It's filthy and rusty and neglected, but looks pretty complete.  

Here's the motor and base:

http://s114.photobucket.com/user/toolbox007/media/Teletype%20M15/IMG_20131128_132300_404_zps80e4fba4.jpg.html

Keyboard has all the key caps, but is pretty filthy.  You'll notice the send/receive switch isn't original (and wired with lamp cord), so I'm going to be looking for an original one to replace it with.

http://s114.photobucket.com/user/toolbox007/media/Teletype%20M15/IMG_20131128_132311_274_zps449f7149.jpg.html

Typing unit looks like it's all there (I think).  The bolts that hold it to the base are gone though, so I need those.

http://s114.photobucket.com/user/toolbox007/media/Teletype%20M15/IMG_20131128_132319_593_zps650c5cd7.jpg.html

Back of it:

http://s114.photobucket.com/user/toolbox007/media/Teletype%20M15/IMG_20131128_132340_655_zps233ae373.jpg.html

Side

http://s114.photobucket.com/user/toolbox007/media/Teletype%20M15/IMG_20131128_132352_691_zps4881e116.jpg.html

Here's the motor base after I removed the motor.  I put power on the motor after I removed it, and it spun up fine so I think it will be ok.  I didn't try to run it at all before taking it apart.  The base is a mess...aside from needed to be cleaned and painted, somebody also re-wired it with what looks like speaker wire.  More on that in a minute...

http://s114.photobucket.com/user/toolbox007/media/Teletype%20M15/IMG_20131128_135450_659_zps2cbb0a30.jpg.html

Keyboard and motor...it was missing one of the small screws that secures the motor to the base, so I'll need to find one of those too.

http://s114.photobucket.com/user/toolbox007/media/Teletype%20M15/IMG_20131128_135458_149_zpsdf201851.jpg.html

Another shot of the keyboard

http://s114.photobucket.com/user/toolbox007/media/Teletype%20M15/IMG_20131128_135520_849_zps15e5b9c3.jpg.html

Here's a close up of the wiring under the motor base...  It looks like some of the terminals originally had wires on them, but they were cut...I know absolutely nothing about how these are wired, and that's kind of worrying to me.  I'm leaning toward just redoing all the wiring with something more original looking than speaker wire, but I'll probably need some help getting it right.

http://s114.photobucket.com/user/toolbox007/media/Teletype%20M15/IMG_20131128_141251_797_zpsb3e3d80c.jpg.html

Anyway, this is just the beginning...other than taking it apart, the only thing I've done is soak the keyboard overnight.  Anyone have a source for parts?  There's at least a few things listed above I know I need, and I'm sure I'll find more as I go along.  I've got all the time it will take though since it's not a burning emergency to get it done lol.  I've been restoring/wrenching on cars for 20 years, and I repair vintage press cameras (Graflex) for a side business, so I can probably handle whatever mechanical work it'll need...but I'm sure I'll need a lot of help in getting it all wired up and running correctly lol.  I'll try to take lots of pics as I go, and share them when I can.
Cheers,
Scott

 		 	   		  
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