Software for OCR'ing paper tape? (was: Question about Military

If you don't have said tools, the solution is much the same as for me if I needed a scanner. There are basically 4 options : Build them Buy them Borrow them Get sometody else to do it. I think we can forget about 'build them'. It is possible to build a small lathe at home, people have done it. But mosto f hte time said people are (a) already knowledgabl abotu such tools and (b) have acecss to a lathe, etc ot make soem of th parts on. So : 'Buy them'. The only major expense would eb a lathe with milling facilities. The parts of a paper tape reader as amall enough that you could make them on soemthing like a Unimat. That would cost about as much as a good PC + scanner +... setup. And I suspect it would be useful for a lot longer. A larger lathe is going to cost as much as a small car, but it'll easily outlive said car :-) 'Borrow them'. Not as silly as it sounds. It looks like some hackerspaces [1] have access to small machine tools. AS do some model engieering clubs. I would think a paper tape reader would eb a suitlabe project for such organisations. 'Get soembody else to do it'. Maybe you have a friend who makes model steam enginers, etc but can't get his PC working, or needs some bit of electronics fixed, or needs advice on wiring, or... Offer to do that job for him if he'll make the capstan for your reader on his lathe. [1] I am not a member of any such organsisation, so I am going on what their websites say. Perhaps I should join the local-ish one, but I don't really see what I would get out of it,given that i have most of the equipment theu offer in my home workshop. Does anyone have any thoughts? -tony