[GreenKeys] Teletype in a radio museum

[Roy Morgan]

On May 8, 2014, at 10:00 PM, Steve <zarco at sonic.net> wrote:
> 
> Trying to keep this simple, reliable (I'll be on the hook to keep it running)
> but interesting to those already into vintage electronics and those that
> might not be.

Steve,

Others with experience in public displays of TTY will have more Ideas for you, but here are a few from me:

News On the Hour
  If you can get a tape reader and some appropriate tapes, stage a “News on the Hour” event from time to time:  The tapes could be from our ITTY system, or made up from historical events  (Hillary scales Everest, VE day announcement, Sputnik).
  If no tape reader, some program like FLDigi may be able to read text files you have on a laptop (Beware of any laptop in a public place to avoid theft,  keep it WITH you at every second!)
  A short picture tape would be good, too.  Contact Tom Tilson for copies of his.
  Announce the News On The Hour with a poster if you can be there to make it happen.
  Tear off the news items and hand them out - if each one can include contact info, you may get an email or phone call later from interested people.

Live Demo
 A machine with cover open and spot-lights on it will attract attention because of its sound, motion and light (and lovely aroma if you have the right oil ! ).

Handouts
 If you run many hours a day, you’ll have LOTS of printout - tear them into articles and leave them for visitors to pick up even if you are not there and in operation.
 Pre-made information sheets, with a sample of real TTY message could be handed out or left for people to pick up.  Brief history of teletype, short sample message, contact/web site/mail list info at the bottom.
 Any handout that you or someone else has made up can be easily shared among others who make displays or public appearances.

Videos
 Download a bunch of Teletype videos from You Tube - if they were run in random order or play list from a HIDDEN and LOCKED-UP computer on a monitor or projection screen, it would get attention.

Try-It-Yourself
 If you can get a second machine, even if just an R/O, arrange to route the keyboard send line to it - invite folks to sit at the machine and send a message to the other end of the table.  Stringing a wire across the back of the table on supports that look like little telegraph poles will give a sense of realism - a note that the distance could have been up to (?) miles would be easy.  Maybe a picture of some contemporary Western Union office could be on display.

Roy

Roy Morgan
RoyMorgan at alum.mit.edu
K1LKY Since 1958