[GreenKeys] 5/16" tape for Simplex 2-B printer (Brian Dunlop)

[John Nagle]

On 7/22/26 09:34, Brian Dunlop wrote:
> Thank you John.  I appreciate the printer supplies info and you 
> correcting me on the actual tape width for the 2-B being 3/8".  I even 
> had that wrong. I would be interested in purchasing some of the 5/16 
> from you if you want to email me directly. Maybe some day I'll come 
> across a roll of the original gummed 3/8 tape and even find some message 
> blanks.  It would be fun to try recreating an actual telegram.
> 
> Curious if you have ever seen the hook pictured on the hub of my 
> machine? I can understand these days a guy most likely will need to make 
> a custom roller depending on the source of the paper, but do you know 
> the dimensions of the original roller?  The parts list in the WU manual 
> does not specify the dimensions of the roller itself but it does specify 
> the shoulder screw being 6/40 x 3/16.

    Western Union tape printers used 5/16" tape to save money.
There are also 3/8" Model 14 tape printers. They're identical
except for some tape guides.

    We had a steampunk telegraph office back when steampunk was a
thing. https://vimeo.com/124065314
That was the full setup for big conventions. Took a lot of
space and took hours to set up.  We also had a
smaller setup with a Model 14. We had our own telegram blanks,
printed on yellow paper with an ordinary ink jet printer.
The paper tape was taped down with a glue stick. The two
people in the video took that to some smaller conventions.

So you can definitely make telegrams with a tape printer.

Adapting to rolls with a bigger hub just requires some
kind of round object with a hole in the middle. I used
painted laser-cut acrylic, back when TechShop still existed.

I still sell the paper tape. Send a check payable to Animats,
1510 Deer Creek Ln, Redwood City, CA, 94062.

If you really wanted gummed tape, you could get Captain
Industrial in Fujian to make it for you. This tape is
used for tape and reel packaging of semiconductors.
Three layers, one punched with holes for the part,
is how PC board parts are packaged for production.
You can specify width, thickness, punching, and adhesive
when you order. Minimum order is about $1000, plus
shipping.

They're rice paper, by the way.

			John Nagle