Daisywhell typewriter emulating a TTY

[Dave Babcock]

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-instructions.pdf

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 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.
> 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
>
>
>