[GreenKeys] Type of Underwood Ribbon For Teletype Machines

Ralph Irish w8roi at wowway.com
Sat Aug 25 20:14:39 EDT 2018


I have had machines that had a spool spindle with TWO of the small spikes or small pins to engage one or two of the small holes 
around the central spindle. Some real typewriter spools have FIVE smaller holes around the central spindle. These spools will 
not properly seat, since one of the small pins will hit a hole, and the other will hit a blank spot on the bottom of the spool. 

A hole can be drilled if you run into this, but in the long haul, be on the lookout for metal spools with six holes around the central 
spindle. Plastic or metal. They can all be made to work, but some just won't, right out of the box. It might also be possible to 
break or cut one of the small pins off. That is a permanent solution. 

Just something to be aware of. 

73, 

Ralph - W8ROI 

- - - - - - - - 

----- Original Message -----

From: "WAYNE" <teletypeparts at comcast.net> 
To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net, "Kevin H. Phillips" <kh-phillips at 9-5usa.org> 
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2018 2:26:11 PM 
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Type of Underwood Ribbon For Teletype Machines 



Save your metal spools. Two finish nails in a small board will make a jig for winding ribbon onto the metal ones. Use a pencil or pen in the spools to wind. If you tip the board to 45 degrees they will wind easier. 




Cheap and dirty! 




73, 




Wayne 

KB1FDW 

On August 25, 2018 at 11:30 AM "Kevin H. Phillips" wrote: 


I have noticed the issue with some plastic spools not working in 
Teletype machines. The problem comes with the holes or slots around the 
center aperture (if that's what it can be called) of the spool where the 
main shaft goes. Next to the main shaft is very small little peg or tit 
or whatever you want to call it which engages those holes around the 
center opening. That's what really drives the spool. The center shaft 
is completely smooth. On some plastic spools I have used the smaller 
holes are either too small or in the wrong position to slip over the 
little peg. The old metal spools seem to be pretty uniform in design 
and will always engage that little peg. It may be the distance of the 
holes from the center of the shaft. Whoever designed some of the 
plastic spools either didn't realize how important that little peg was. 
I guess it is a hit-or-miss situation with plastic spools. Some will 
work; some won't. 

73 

Kevin 

W5TTY 
(hopefully soon to be on i-Telex) 

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