[GreenKeys] How did you acquire your Teletypes?

[William Wuttke]

I’m a teletype neophyte (circa 2016). I wanted a vintage hardcopy terminal for my PiDP-8 clone.

I live only an hour away from Paul Cembura, so I paid him a visit. I came home with a M33KSR with an acoustic modem. After a few minor repairs and a good cleaning and lubrication, I had a great terminal - so proud I posted a YouTube video.

But, I was lacking genuine paper tape data storage for the PiDP-8, so back to Paul’s place. This time I came home with a dirty-on-the-outside M33ASR. Once again, after a few minor repairs and a good cleaning and lubrication, I had another even greater terminal (also on YouTube).
Thanks to both Paul and Wayne for help with the needed parts.

I made an Arduino Baudot-ASCII-Speed converter to eventually get hooked up for RTTY. That worked well enough, but seeing Model 28 ASR’s on line made me drool. I remember seeing them back in my Air Force days long ago. Last summer two 28ASR’s popped up on the auction site at the same time - one in southern CA and the other only an hour away. I snagged the one close by and hauled it home (disassembled) in the back of my SUV. I checked it out after I got it home, and it still worked after many years of storage. After a minor repair, cleaning and lubrication, I was ready to go on the air (YouTube again).

Since then, I’ve made only a few contacts with the M28 - mostly on the MRCG West Clatternet. The great teletype years of ham radio have passed me by, but I call CQ a couple of times a week hoping that someone will respond (sigh). I actually had one QSO that way. I wish there was more of an interest in getting these mechanical marvels back on the air.

I wonder how many GreenKeys members can actually get on the air with their machine?

Having fun with my teletypes,
73
Bill
KE3BK