Teletype Model 43 ribbons (and old ribbons in general...)

[Lyle Bickley]

On Monday 20 October 2008, Josh Dersch wrote:
> Hey --
>
> Stumbled across an old Teletype ksr-43 this weekend and couldn't
> pass it up.  Seems to be working but the ribbon's (obviously) dried
> up.  Was considering re-inking it but it's so worn through in
> places it's about to fall apart.
>
> Can't find anyplace on the 'net that still stocks them (lots of
> them /list/ it, though, which is annoying).  Anyone have any leads?

I had the same problem. I kept hitting dead ends, as you, with all the 
places that list that they have them - and don't.

I started calling back those same places - and leaving my name - 
asking that if they ever found any, to please let me know. Several 
weeks later, one of them actually called me back - they had found a 
box of six ribbons. I grabbed them, of course - and asked if they 
ever found more to let me know. They never called back again - and 
that was over nine months ago.

The problem seems to be related to the unavailability of the unusual 
Teletype 43 cartridge.

BTW: While I was waiting to get ribbons, I re-inked the one ribbon I 
had (there's a "reservoir" in the cartridge) and that worked - but 
not as good as new.

So my suggestion is to just keep trying to find someone who has 
them "stashed" in a back room someplace. It sure doesn't look good 
for any new ribbons in the future...

> And while I'm on the subject -- anyone have any good leads for old
> typewriter ribbons?  I have an old L.C. Smith Bros typewriter
> that's in need of one...

I use Los Altos Typewriter, 300 State St, Los Altos, CA 94022, Phone:
(650) 948-0714. If you're in the SF Bay Area, Weirdstuff Warehouse 
has lots of them.

Cheers,
Lyle
-- 
Lyle Bickley
Bickley Consulting West Inc.
Mountain View, CA 94040
http://bickleywest.com

"Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"