[GreenKeys] Teletype Model 33 Restoration *UPDATE* - '369 Machine

[W2HX]

Superb work! Amazing, really.  We might have just missed each other. I went to UMASS (Amherst) starting in ’85.
Keep up the great work. I really envy people with the skills and patience to do such great work.
Eugene


From: GreenKeys [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David Tumey via GreenKeys
Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2016 5:32 PM
To: GREENKEYS BULLETIN BOARD
Subject: [GreenKeys] Teletype Model 33 Restoration *UPDATE* - '369 Machine

Keys,

I am sharing three emails with the group to provide an update on my restoration project(s).  We are just at the 2 year mark for the project and I have 3 of the 4 machines finished.  The 4th machine ('789) needs another 2-3 months of cosmetic work to complete.

This is the '369 machine that I got from UMASS when I was ~19 years old in 1982/83.  I managed to talk the Dean of Engineering into "donating" it to me.  I lost track of the machine for 20+ years but found it in a warehouse in Dayton, OH in February of 2014.  The bad news was the warehouse protected the machine from the elements about as well as a garage with broken windows and a leaking roof.  A mouse took up residence in the UCC-6 which was trashed, the pedestal, feet and hard-pan were rusted up really good and the plastics were in tough condition.  The good news was there were a total of 6 machines in the garage so I decided to restore 4 and use the rest for parts - Wayne was able to finally restore the 2 extras for himself so I believe they have all been rescued and put back in "service".

There is a huge amount of sentimental value associated with this machine and I spent the last 6 months working on the final cosmetics of the enclosure parts.  The cool thing is that everything is original to the machine, punch tape spindle, paper spindle, platen knob, power knob, punch button cover, tape gate and even the chad box.  The only part I had to reproduce was the faceplate - which was not on the machine when I got it from UMASS.

Of the 4 machines, this one has the best cosmetics.  I would describe it as "flawless" cosmetically and mechanically.  A big thanks to everyone who helped me via the Greenkeys list, Wayne, Don, John, Doug and many others.  I used about a dozen vendors to help with the project as well as my entire engineering staff, who volunteered their time to help give this project wheels.

Enjoy!

--dave
W5DT


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/greenkeys/attachments/20160213/d1f134c8/attachment.html>