Did you know that a teleprinter flew on the space shuttle for almost 20 years?  Not a "teletype", but originally a Kleinschmidt design.

In the late 1960, Kleinschmidt Labs developed the AN/UGC-74 for the US Army, but then the program was canceled. (I saw the non-tactical version of it (AN/FGC-80) at the US Signal Corps School in Ft Gordon in 1966.)  When the Army finally ordered the AN/UGC-74, KLI was out of the TTY business and the contract went to others.

In 1980-81, a teleprinter was needed for the Space Shuttle and developed in 7 months from the UGC-74 design.

Curious Mark just got one, see  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HihKMIVnbs

For more details, see https://www.righto.com/2024/08/space-shuttle-interim-teleprinter.html

This means that mechanical teleprinters were in use for over 100 years! (1880s to 1991)

73 & have fun,

Duncan Brown, K2OEQ
USASA    31J30

Antique Wireless Association
 Communication Technologies Museum
   Asst. Curator, Commercial Equipment
(also chief TTY op & repairman)

i-Telex: 212503

www.antiquewireless.org
AWA Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX55peBhzeX1qps_VYXdLBA