---------- Original Message ----------
Date: 12/15/2024 2:56 PM EST
Subject: Re: [coldwarcomms] Space Shuttle TTY
It was not a "Teletype" (not designed or built by the Teletype
Corporation), but originally a Kleinschmidt design.
In the late 1960, Kleinschmidt Labs developed the tactical 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.
For more details, see
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:
On 12/15/2024 1:15 PM, Michael Scheel via groups.io wrote:
Believe it or not but the space shuttle hauled a 52lb teleprinter into
space and it would cost $1.5m each time to haul it into orbit. It was
a USN AN/UGC-74 Tactical Teletype.