[GreenKeys] Repairing teletype/teleprinter ribbon

[Jones, Douglas W]

On Dec 22, 2016, at 8:03 PM, Maurie Challinor wrote:

> The ribbon in question, fabric cotton I guess, has been torn in half. Some method of joining is needed which will transverse the ribbon guides without jamming.

I'd just discard the shorter half of the ribbon and use the longer half (knot it a few inches from the end to work the reversing mechanism, then hook the end on the spool from which you unwound the short half) while I wait for a new ribbon in the mail.  Teletype ribbons are available new.  The only problem is, they come on plastic spools, but it's trivial to wind a new ribbon onto your old metal spools if you prefer classic hardware.  The plastic spools are, however, fully compatible.

Glue might work, but if you're really serious about joining the two half ribbons, sewing might be better.  Use very fine silk or nylon thread.

		Doug Jones
		jones at cs.uiowa.edu