[GreenKeys] First Teletype Machine! Here!

[Jim Haynes]

On Wed, 11 Mar 2009, H. Kurth Bemis wrote:
>
> The entire thing is covered in grease and oil and dirt.  Lots of hair in
> there too.  I've seen other pictures where the chassis of these units
> was clean and looked to be free of oil and debris.  So I ask; Should I

My first Model 15, which was given to me in pieces, I took completely
apart and use Gunk to clean.  Later learned there were some things you
aren't supposed to take apart, as they are put together with special
tools at the factory; but mine seemed to work OK anyway.

Much later, talked to a guy in the Teletype repair business, and he
recommends just soaking the whole thing in kerosene for a few days
with some agitation and brushing, then take it out and drain it and
re-lube it.

> First obvious problem is when the teletype is powered on, the typebar
> carriage begins advancing right, as it should when it's typing, but

Look at the shaft for the printing bail, in front of the main shaft.
On that shaft you will see a couple of thin metal pieces which are
the spacing escapement.  No doubt they are stuck together - you'll
have to work them until they loosen up.

> When the typebar carriage arrives at right margin, it dings the bell and
> then instead of a CR, will just keep pushing to the right.  No carriage
> return.  What would be causing this?  Where would I look to begin

This is normal.  A few machines are equipped for automatic carriage return
and line feed, but on the ordinary machine it will sit at the right edge
until it receives a carriage return signal.