Perforator vs. reperforator (Was: Re: [GreenKeys] RE: Status of...

[Eric Scace K3NA]

   Gary's explanation is correct.

   Regenerator is another example of a case where something (in this case, a cleaned-up copy of the original signal) is created from
the incoming signal.  Reperforators re-create a copy of the message tape that was transmitted by the sending station.

   And there are two variations of perforators and reperforators: typing and non-typing.  Typing unit print out the characters on
the tape, at some fixed offset from the actually punched character.  Some machines typed characters in the skinny spaces between the
tracking holes in the tape.  Other machines used a wider tape, and printed along the bottom edge of the tape.

   Another variation are "chad" and "chadless" tape.  USA citizens were reminded recently about the word.  Chad tapes are punched
clear through.  The little round holes may be collected in a chad box ("chip box" for IBM card punches).  One must be careful with
those: the tape contains oil and these little chads will leave stains on clothing!  Chadless tape was punched by beveled punches
that, instead of a hole, made a little flap in the tape like a toilet bowl lid.  This are a little fussier to keep mechanically
aligned.  If the flap isn't punched out sufficiently, it will block the pins in a tape reader and be read incorrectly.  If the
punches are driven too far, tape will be punched clear through.

   So, you can have a "chadless typing reperforator", etc...

-- Eric K3NA

-----Original Message-----
From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Gary Chatters
Sent: 2004 May 10 10:17
To: greenkeys maillist
Subject: Peforator vs. reprefortor (Was: Re: [GreenKeys] RE: Status
of...




On Mon, 10 May 2004, Douglas W. Jones wrote:

>
> A modest historical question from a kid who only began
> punching paper tape in 1968.  Why is it called a
> reperforator, as opposed to a simple perforator.
> Certainly, you're not reperforating an already
> perforated strip of tape.  I've wondered about this on
> and off for several years.
>

They way I always understood it:

A perforator punched tape directly from a keyboard, e.g. model 19.

A reperforator had selector magnets, etc. and punched from a line signal.
Thus, you could read a tape on TD, send the signal to a reperforator and
create a copy of the tape.

The naming does seem a bit odd, though.

Anyone have additions or corrections?


Gary


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