[GreenKeys] Friden flexowriters

[John Nagle]

> From: Richard<legalize at xmission.com>
> Subject: [GreenKeys] Frieden flexowriters
>
> Does anyone here have experience in interfacing these to modern
> equipment?
>
> Here are some photos of the older model I have for reference:
> <https://picasaweb.google.com/legalize.slc/TheBlackHole#5537975707460611346>
> <https://picasaweb.google.com/legalize.slc/TheBlackHole#5538031078137530402>
> <https://picasaweb.google.com/legalize.slc/TheBlackHole#5538031085825013394>
>
> Here is a representative picture of the newer model I have:
> <http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/accession/102692719>

     There's interfacing info at

	http://www.nixiebunny.com/flexo

including cable pinout and timing diagram.  Older models
used 6-channel tape, but later models went to 8-channel
tape.  However, the 8-channel devices are not ASCII.

     Some reader and punch variations will read "edge cards",
punch cards with paper tape code punched into one edge. The
picture from the Computer Museum shows such a machine.

     These are parallel devices; the interface is
6 or 8 bit parallel, with a clock pulse.

     Some of the later models have a plugboard, and some
programmability.  There are many Flexowriter peripherals,
for adding date, time, addresses, data from external
sources, etc.  Is that device next to yours a scale?

     Many early computers used Flexowriters for input and
output.

     Somebody is selling Flexowriter schematics on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270710592525+&item=270710592525
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270737879210

					John Nagle