[GreenKeys] Re: bringing an M33-asr-twx to life

[gil smith]

Hi Bob:

A quick ramble (corrections appreciated, if I have any of this wrong):

The first thing I did with my 33 was to remove the cover and blow out dirt 
with compressed air.  I don't know whether this might force dirt into the 
wrong places or not, but I got a lot of chads and crud out this way.  Then 
it would be a good idea to lube it, if you know where to apply oil and 
grease.  Mine looked pretty well lubed, so I have not done this yet.  Then 
the cover went back on.

To assemble, the legs need to be bolted to the stand, and then the main 
unit needs to be bolted to the stand.  Once the unit is together, look 
under the chassis to see if the seller put a shipping screw in a middle 
hole -- if so, remove the shipping screw (this screw keeps the typing unit 
from moving around during shipment).

The small power supply is only for the tape reader, and clips in position 
at the top of the stand (from the rear, of course).  See a picture of it at 
(scroll down):
http://www.vauxelectronics.com/gil/tty/M33.htm
There will be a polarized molex cable from the main unit, that will plug 
into this PS.

If you scroll down to the bottom of that web page, you will see a picture 
of the paper cards used for the very-cool phone-number-card-reader that you 
have in your twx ccu.  This is the first card reader option I have seen, 
and I'd like to see some closer pics when you get a chance.

There will also be a cable or two from the ccu that connects to the dataset 
(modem), which I believe normally sits inside the stand.  From the dataset, 
there should be a cable for connecting to a phone line.  I never got this 
far with my 33-twx, and then I got a 33 private wire machine, so the twx is 
in storage.

I don't know whether the dataset hooks directly to a phone line or needs 
another interface box.  I think it connects directly, but you should ask on 
greenkeys for more info.  Folks like Jack know a lot more about 33s than I 
do.

Your 33 has the 101C modem, which was pretty common, and documented.  My 
33-twx machine has a 101D modem, for which I cannot locate schematics (and 
it has a problem of some sort).

If all is well with your unit at this point, you should be able to power up 
the unit in Local mode (button labeled LCL or something like that).  In 
local mode, an internal 48V supply powers the internal loop, and allows you 
to type on the keyboard and see the typing unit (and tape punch, if turned 
on) working.

If you punch a tape, you can the test the reader as well.  Move the lever 
down to STOP or FREE, load the tape, the flip the lever up to START, and 
the unit should print.

If you get this far, you could try putting the 33 into ANSWER mode, and 
connecting to a phone line or pbx extension.  Then use a computer terminal 
emulator at 110-baud, 8-bits, 2-stop-bits, no-parity (I think), and connect 
it to an old 0-to-300-baud fsk modem (bell 103 standard?).  I think most PC 
internal modems will do this also, but when I peeked at HyperTerminal, 
selecting the internal modem limited the lowest speed choice to 300 baud, 
which won't work.  However, when selecting a com port in HyperTerminal, it 
allows 110-baud, so at least an external modem should work.  If the modem 
says it supports 300 baud, it should also support 110-baud, since it is fsk 
and merely has a max speed of 300.  You will then need to use the 
appropriate dialing command to dial the phone number or pbx extension 
(ATDT...).  If all goes well, the 33 will answer and you can 
communicate.  I think.

Nuther option would be to tap into the 20-mA loop inside the CCU, bypassing 
all the dataset stuff.  Then you can interface to it as if it is a 
private-wire machine.

Let me know how it goes.

Hope this helps,

gil




At 07:42 PM 8/11/2004, you wrote:
>Hello Gil-
>Just wanted to let you know that my 33 arrived today in three boxes and 
>appears to be in great condition with no shipping damage!  Thanks to you 
>for giving me the heads up and insisting that the seller spend extra time 
>and effort in the packing process. My challenge at this point is trying to 
>figure out how to get it back together, since I never took one apart 
>before. The power supply is a separate unit with a molex connector and 
>also has two clips that slip over something to support it. I think I have 
>a manual someplace. Any comments would be appreciated.
>73 Bob Schaefer
>K6OSM since 1958
>Mccall, Idaho

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