[GreenKeys] 1 or 1.5 stop bits?

[Jim Haynes]

On Sun, 2 Jan 2022, Paul Heller wrote:

> I think the entire idea of a stop and start pulse to synchronize 
> communication is a fantastic invention. I always wondered, however, if 
> the constant mechanical locking/unlocking of the clutches/shaft on every 
> character was a good idea. It seems it would wear out parts faster, 
> specially the stop/start pawl. But that does not seem to be the case.
>
Well you have to remember that Teletype was world-class in knowing how
to make durable small mechanisms out of metal.  Here's a funny story told
me by Ben Stephens, a former sales engineer for Teletype.  He was
summoned to the office of E. J. Cook, who was high up in the sales
organization - V.P. of sales or something like that.  E. J. introduced
Ben to a visitor from Japan, and told him to take the visitor out to
the factory and show him how we did heat treating of all those little
metal parts.  Ben didn't really know anything about heat treating, but
he figured E. J. expected to be obeyed and no questions asked.  Those
who knew E. J. better knew that he could be quite a joker.

Ben said that on the way out to the factory, as they stopped to get
safety goggles and such, he realized why he had been chosen for the
assignment: he knew nothing about heat treating but he could fake it.
So he showed the visitor around the area of the furnaces and gave him
a lecture on heat treating.  The visitor took copious notes and
thanked him and departed.  Ben figures he probably set Japan back ten
years in learning how to heat treat small parts.