weird find: papertape "patch" puncher

>> -----Original Message----- >> From: cctalk-bounces(a)classiccmp.org >> [mailto:cctalk-bounces@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Paul Koning >> Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 9:16 AM >> To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org >> Subject: Re: weird find: papertape "patch" puncher >> >> >>>>> "Fred" == Fred N van Kempen <waltje(a)pdp11.nl> writes: >> >> Fred> Hi all, Recently I found this really cute, but >> weird-looking Fred> thingie. It seems to be a handheld >> tool that allowed operators, Fred> field engineers and so >> on to manually punch a bit of code onto Fred> paper tape, >> or to modify (patch) an existing tape. >> >> Fred> It was made by, or distributed by "Data Processing >> Accessories" >> Fred> in the U.K. >> >> Fred> Ideas, anyone? >> >> I remember those. >> >> >From what I remember, the more common use for those probably was >> splicing or repairing torn tape. If what you're talking >> about is the thing I saw, it's a metal base plate with a >> full set of holes, and a set of pins where the sprocket >> holes are. There are flip-down covers that hold tape onto >> the base plate. You can hold down a torn tape with the two >> ends lined up, then tape them together with special >> adhesive tape that's the width of regular paper tape, >> pre-punched with a full set of holes. You can then flip >> down the top lid, which has guide holes for a punch pin, >> and run the pin down the holes to clean up any overhang >> from the patching tape. >> >> And yes, if you need to make a change to a tape, you can do >> it with this as well, provided the change only requires >> adding holes, not subtracting them. (Well, I suppose you >> could subtract by taping pieces of solid tape over the spot >> to be changed, and re-punching the holes you want to keep. >> That requires using the right kind of tape -- a lot of >> adhesive tape is transparent, and that wouldn't work well >> at all for tape run through optical readers.) >> >> paul >>