IIRC the tape drives on the Colecovision ADAM were way over-spec'ed for that machine and thus quite high-speed. $200 working on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/177209174952 -- Anders Nelson www.andersknelson.com On Sat, Jun 21, 2025 at 10:24 AM Sid Jones via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:

On Sat, Jun 21, 2025 at 6:49 PM Anders Nelson via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: That sounds rather similar to a Teletype BRPE or rather smaller/slower) a GNT model 34. Both of which have one motor to drive the punch crankshaft and operate a ratchet to advance the tape. There are many others that use the same idea but I'd have to dig out service manuals to check. The Facit 4070 might be easier to reproduce -- a (rotary) solenoid to operate each punch pin and a stepper motor to move the tape. The main problem with making a paper tape punch is the actual punch/die assembly. They have to fit very accurately to give clean punching and be the right diameter to make holes of the right size. Oh, and you need to harden them properly. -tony

On 2025-06-21 1:18 p.m., Wayne S via cctalk wrote: Lack of paper tape is was why I was asking about a replacement. The same goes for TTY replacement.

On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 9:44 AM Frank Leonhardt via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: There was a version of the Silent 700 terminal which had a unit on top containing 2 digital cassette drives [1]. These 'replaced' the paper tape punch and reader of other ASR terminals, I think you could save data from either the line or keyboard onto a caseette (equivelent of punching paper tape), copy from one to the other editing as you go and send the data from cassette to the line or printer (equvalent of reading a paper tape). [1] Same dimensions as a normal audio Compact Cassette but with a different grade of tape (higher coercivity?). You can identify the cassettes by the slightly off-centre notch in the rear edge. -tony

On Mon, Jun 23, 2025 at 3:59 AM Frank Leonhardt via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: These were not normal audio cassette recorders. They were units with several motors and solenoids so that the tape motion was controlled by the electronics. The 'ASR unit' -- the unit bolted on top of the normal Silent 700 -- contained buffer RAM, I think the data on the tape was stored in blocks so when doing key-to-tape, your keystrokes were stored in the buffer, then when the buffer was full, a block of data was written to tape. There were several such models. The older one was the ASR733 which was all TTL. The ASR742 had a 8008 in the main part of the terminal but I think the tape unit was still all TTL. FWIW I am sure I've seen single tape drives with a pair of RS232 sockets on the back to link between a terminal and modem and give 'ASR' facilities -- recording data to tape in blocks and replaying it later. -tony

On Mon, Jun 23, 2025 at 3:59 AM Frank Leonhardt via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: Incidentally there are user and service manals for assorted Silent 700 machines on bitsavers here : http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ti/terminal/silent_700/ Alas I've yet to find a service manual anywhere with a complete legible set of schematics, but there's a lot of useful theory-of-operation in them. The user manual for the ASR733 explains how to do key-to-tape etc. There's also the manual for the later model 765 which used bubble memory cartridges for the ASR storage. No I don't have one of those. I do have an almost-complete ASR733 and a spare ASR chassis missing the casing. The 'almost complete' is because I am missing the (external) cable between the main backplane and the ASR backplane and the wirelist is not obvious from the manuals I have. -tony

You can also look toward the industrial space. For one of my projects I used a Fanuc PPR, which is generally used in CNC machines and similar. It has both a punch and a reader and uses a serial interface. Easy to work with and very modular in its design. The disadvantage being that it looks more like something out of a vintage industrial setting than a vintage computer setting. I briefly considered building my own. A reader would be easy, but I never wrapped my brain around how I would make a reliable and durable punch. Finding tape can be difficult. There was (or maybe still is) someone on eBay selling mylar. You have to be careful of some of the paper, as there are sizes that are not 1 inch. If a truly modern replacement was fine, there are things like casduino / ardutape / tzxduino. These are devices that pretend to be an audio tape, based on an arduino. Emulating at a digital level would be even easier as many paper tape interfaces were just RS-232 or parallel. Any arduino or raspberry pi could handle that job. It just wouldn't look very vintage when you were done. Scott On Sat, Jun 21, 2025 at 3:29 PM Wayne S via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:

Pretty easy to make PPT yourself; Google 'DIY Paper Tape'. On Sat, Jun 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM ben via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:

For me, back in the day on my Coco, it would have been a CCR like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/336028139332 There's really no magic, it's an audio cassette recorder with an extra input to start/stop the motor. You may find tapes to be a little unreliable these days -- the cassettes themselves can break down, belts inside the player can break, and there was about a decade where rollers were used that have now turned into tar-like goo. If you want to know how to interface an audio tape, then you can look at some other vintage computer projects and adapt them: * Craig's SBC-85 tape board: https://bitsofthegoldenage.org/documentation/sbc-85-cassette-tape-interface… (this one makes use of the SI/SO on the 8085, so maybe not so easily generalized to other CPUs, unless you add your own UART) * Norberto's H8 serial/cassette board: https://koyado.com/heathkit/New-H8-Website/h8-z5-4-serial-console-cassette-… (this one comes with a UART) You can also find schematics for computers that used a tape, such as the TRS-80 Coco. There's lots of old 8-bit computers that used tapes. Even the original IBM PC had a tape interface built in (though it was rarely used). You will have a bit of work, in both software and hardware, to adapt one of these existing designs. For a terminal, I typically use some variation of this: https://maccasoft.com/en/electronics/vga-serial-terminal/ Scott On Sat, Jun 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM ben via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:

as delivered, the cassette interface on the trs-80 model 1 did not work well, but there were software and hardware fixes that helped a lot. On Sat, Jun 21, 2025 at 11:44 PM ben via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: -- --Carey

I wrote a tool to make 5-level Baudot, 8-level ASCII, Whirlwind, chadless etc. paper tape using a home CNC vinyl/stencil cutter https://github.com/1944GPW/ptap2dxf I saw another similar utility on Hackaday that uses a laser, but it did not have as many format options. https://hackaday.com/2025/01/29/paper-tape-with-lasers/ Steve.

Laser would catch the mylar on fire or melt it at least, i’m thinking. Sent from my iPhone

P.S. I have some experience imaging on Computer to Plate machines using lasers. It’s more difficult than it sounds. Lasers create a lot of issues. Sent from my iPhone

Oh, uh, I guess we're done lol Incredible work and writeup! Any chance you'll post the 3D files so readers can build it? =D -- Anders Nelson www.andersknelson.com On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM ben via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:

I like how he made the paper. Sent from my iPhone

If toggling the laser isn't doable, then you could use a shutter. If the shutter can't handle the heat, then a mirror that deflects the beam. On Sun, 22 Jun 2025, Wayne S via cctalk wrote: > I think you could get around any potential damage by running the tape between 2 thin flat pieces of metal that had holes drilled vertically that lined up with the laser. Would have to determine what power laser was needed, if you needed more than one laser to get speed — maybe one for each hole. Also would have to have a way to toggle the laser on and off. Would have to get a laser that could be toggled, most are made to be run continuously. Even pulsed are almost continuous. Maybe figure out a way to block the light instead of turning it off. The logic would be easier with a toggle. > > You made me think about this a lor😀 > > Sent from my iPhon> >> On Jun 22, 2025, at 14:16, Wayne S &lt;wayne.sudol(a)hotmail.com&gt; wrote: >> >> Laser would catch the mylar on fire or melt it at least, i’m thinking. >> >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Jun 22, 2025, at 14:09, Anders Nelson via cctalk &lt;cctalk(a)classiccmp.org&gt; wrote: >>> >>> I would love to see someone create a galvo-laser system for punching >>> paper/mylar tape. On Aliexpress you can get a galvo set for (all prices >>> USD) ~$30, a 10W laser head for $40, and I expect making a stepper-motor >>> driven capstan wouldn't be too hard for someone with the time. Then add a >>> low-speed fan attached to a 3D printed tape guide with a slit for chad >>> suction/collection and fume exhaust. Not sure what kind of anvil/platform >>> you need for a laser beam - maybe just the uncoated side of a ceramic floor >>> tile sitting at an angle in the chad chute to absorb the laser energy, with >>> the platform having a void sized for the punching area. >>> >>> I imagine the whole thing could be pretty compact and wicked fast! >>> >>> -- >>> Anders Nelson >>> www.andersknelson.com >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 9:24 AM steven(a)malikoff.com steven--- via cctalk < >>> cctalk(a)classiccmp.org&gt; wrote: >>> >>>>> On 06/21/2025 11:47 PM AEST Gavin Scott via cctalk < >>>> cctalk(a)classiccmp.org&gt; wrote: >>>>> A paper-tape reader is easy enough, just something where you manually >>>>> pull the tape past an optical reader etc. >>>>> >>>>> I have a ~cheap diode laser cutter and on my someday get around to it >>>>> list is to write a paper tape "punch" program that will cut a one foot >>>>> strip of punched paper tape out of a larger piece of paper, with the >>>>> possibility of using a roll of paper and manually advance it a foot at >>>>> a time using the sprocket holes and some pins for alignment. >>>> >>>> I wrote a tool to make 5-level Baudot, 8-level ASCII, Whirlwind, chadless >>>> etc. paper tape using a home CNC vinyl/stencil cutter >>>> https://github.com/1944GPW/ptap2dxf >>>> >>>> I saw another similar utility on Hackaday that uses a laser, but it did >>>> not have as many format options. >>>> https://hackaday.com/2025/01/29/paper-tape-with-lasers/ >>>> >>>> Steve. >>>> >

What is a "galvo-laser"? A lot of Aliexpress stuff is a total fake, it this one of them? paul

On 2025-06-22 6:12 p.m., Wayne S via cctalk wrote: You need German know how. :) Zuse used that in 1941 on the Z3. Ben.