10 Apr
2019
10 Apr
'19
10:35 a.m.
To all,
The Computer History Museum's IBM 1620 Jr. project has already done
this.? We have converted an IBM Wheelwriter 1000 electric typewriter
into a computer terminal.? The conversion consists of a custom PCB with
an Arduino Teensy 3.5 microcontroller which is physically installed in
the typewriter, electrically in-between the keyboard and typewriter
motherboard, with custom firmware.
The initial work was to create a robust substitute for the IBM 1620's
console typewriter.? However, software changes are being completed this
month to extend it into a general-purpose, easily-adapted, ASCII
teleprinter.
We demoed the device as part of our VCF West display last August at
which we took 1st Place in Best of Show and 2nd Place in
Restorations/Replicas.
We will be making all of our design files, software, and documentation
available free to the classic computer community.
To whet your appetite, here's the step-by-step, illustrated guide for
the physical conversion of the typewriter:
https://github.com/IBM-1620/Junior/raw/master/docs/wheelwriter-adaptation-i…
We'll be posting a formal announcement of this device within a few months.
This work has been done by Joe Fredrick, Steve Casner, and myself.
Thanks,
Dave
On 4/10/2019 9:24 AM, ED SHARPE via cctalk wrote:
I? remember? in '79? ?a? KSR? Diablo? was ?the?
dream? KSR? printing?
terminal? and? ?cost? like? ?3 grand? Oh? how? we? used? to? dream of
having one of these? back then!
We? do have? one in the museum's? collection...? although? ?have not
attempted to power up? to use.
Ed#
In a message dated 4/10/2019 8:40:58 AM US Mountain Standard Time,
cctalk at classiccmp.org writes:
On 4/10/19 8:16 AM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote:
On 04/10/2019 03:38 AM, GerardCJAT via cctalk
wrote:
I've
given a couple of the Diablo KSRs (that's what the Hitypes with the
keyboard were known as).? I didn't care for them much--no immediacy of
sound and keypress--the two seem unrelated.
Daisywheel printers are incredibly difficult to get rid of--nobody wants
to pay shipping.? I got rid of the last one by throwing in a complete
system with it.? Still have a NEC Spinwriter mouldering away.
--Chuck
I would like to emulate a TTY, using a daisywheel
typewriter.
Well, there are Qume and Diablo.? Diablo was bought by Xerox, so some of
them carry that label.
Most of the stand-alone versions had serial (RS-232) ASCII interface.