COURYHOUSE at
aol.com wrote:
what is this NCR modem? what did it go to?
NEW Vintage 1971 NCR Acoustic Coupler Modem, NOS, Factory Boxed, C260-400
/ F01 132411929563 on the bay
It is a Bell 103A compatible modem (110 or 300 baud) used with the NCR 260
series of thermal printing terminals. The 260 came in several variants:
-1 (receive only), -2 (keyboard send/receive), -6 (Automatic (cassette tape)
send/receive). I worked with them at NCR in 1973 and 74. I still have
the manuals, and just a few days ago scanned them for Bitsavers. If you
need a copy I can send you the raw TIFF files (one per page).
Both the -400 and -500 were EIA I/O to the terminal. The C260-400 connected
to a Bell System DAA (Data Access Arrangement), while the C260-500 was an
acoustic coupler. The acoustic coupler had a solenoid that would would
automatically raise and lower the handset on the telephone!
Back in those days you could not connect anything directly to the telephone
lines -- you had to use the telco-supplied DAA (kaching!) or an acoustic
coupler. I don't know if this modem can be connected directly to a phone
line without a DAA.
I think the asking price is totally unrealistic unless you are a rabid
collector of NCR gear.
Alan Frisbie