29 Jan
2016
29 Jan
'16
10:19 a.m.
On 2016-01-29 12:28 AM, Ethan Dicks wrote:
Hello, all,
I was just gifted with an IBM 3101-12 ASCII terminal that happens to
be missing the fuse and fuse holder. Unlike a lot of 1960s and 1970s
gear, it's not round. It's square. Is this a standard IBM thing from
the 70s/80s? Anyone know where I could get one? It seems to snap in
and probably fell out at some point under its previous owner.
Also, I found only a little info on it from Googling. Later IBM ASCII
terminals emulated ANSI command or Wyse-50 or something. I couldn't
find anything on the 3101. Is it a glass TTY or does it respond to
any cursor positioning, etc. commands?
Thanks for any tips and info. Worst case, I can bodge in a fuse on
the inside, but if I can find a replacement holder, I'd like that
more.
Thanks,
-ethan
I did a quick google search for 'ibm 3101' and among the hits was a
manual on archive.org, www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/31xx/ there are two
manuals one of which is the "Terminal Description" that seems to have
plenty of information about the data stream.
The protocol is unusual at least the mod 12 is one of the character mode
terminals supports RS/232 and current loop. The weak point is the
keyboard, the key modules have a leaf spring in them that flexes every
time you press a key and they break. The good news is almost every IBM
keyboard from that time uses exactly the same key module so spares may
not be hard to come by. When I was servicing machine with this type of
keyboard more than 30 years ago, I carried a dozen spare key modules in
my trunk all the time.
Paul.
<www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/31xx/>