2 Jun
2025
2 Jun
'25
9:29 p.m.
I was given an ASR-33 complete with stand, read & punch.
This ASR-33 has been modified for RS-232 though a blue perfboard mounted
in the connection enclosure (under the cover place where the dialer
would be.
Is has a DB25 ribbon cable coming off of this board. The perfboard does
not have a label on it that I can find.
The ASR-33 also has a 3 x 5 conductor rectangular connector coming out
of the read of the unit with 6 female contacts installed.
I was able to connect the ARS-33 to a VT-330+ at 110B 8-N-2 and send and
receive on the teletype.
The punch seems to work as well.
The reader will "chatter" then the reader is put in the stop position
and the tape out sensor is pressed but the sprocket does not advance and
the reader pins to not move.
Questions:
1. Why the reader is not advancing and the pins are not activating?
Could this be a read enable contact not being in the active position?
2. What are the outs of the RS-232 DB-25. Other than TX, RX and GND
3. What are the pin outs of the 3 x 5 rectangular connector. I think
this is the current loop and other control signals.
Does any any of the items below for sale or have a 3D model I can print:
1. Roll Paper spindle (the spindle that the roll paper spins on)
2. Paper Tape Punch Spindle (the spindle that the paper tape spins on)
3. Paper Tape Chad feed tube
4. Paper Tape Chad Box
I will be connecting this to either a PiDP-8/I or a PDP-8/E for now and
eventually a PDP-8/L
Thank you,
Mike
3 Jun
3 Jun
11:25 a.m.
The reader issue is that the reader power pack board is missing.
Do any of you have a spare power pack board (183087) .
If I can figure out the voltages I may try to reproduce it.
I don't know if the reader power pack board for automatic reader
operation (183079) will work or not.
I'm still looking for the following items for the ASR-33
rubber hammer (180502)
paper spindle (181043)
paper tape spindle (183918)
paper tape ends (182935)
chad box (182924 or 182965)
Thank you,
Mike
On 6/2/2025 11:29 PM, Mike Katz via cctalk wrote:
I was given an ASR-33 complete with stand, read &
punch.
This ASR-33 has been modified for RS-232 though a blue perfboard
mounted in the connection enclosure (under the cover place where the
dialer would be.
Is has a DB25 ribbon cable coming off of this board. The perfboard
does not have a label on it that I can find.
The ASR-33 also has a 3 x 5 conductor rectangular connector coming out
of the read of the unit with 6 female contacts installed.
I was able to connect the ARS-33 to a VT-330+ at 110B 8-N-2 and send
and receive on the teletype.
The punch seems to work as well.
The reader will "chatter" then the reader is put in the stop position
and the tape out sensor is pressed but the sprocket does not advance
and the reader pins to not move.
Questions:
1. Why the reader is not advancing and the pins are not activating?
Could this be a read enable contact not being in the active position?
2. What are the outs of the RS-232 DB-25. Other than TX, RX and GND
3. What are the pin outs of the 3 x 5 rectangular connector. I think
this is the current loop and other control signals.
Does any any of the items below for sale or have a 3D model I can print:
1. Roll Paper spindle (the spindle that the roll paper spins on)
2. Paper Tape Punch Spindle (the spindle that the paper tape spins on)
3. Paper Tape Chad feed tube
4. Paper Tape Chad Box
I will be connecting this to either a PiDP-8/I or a PDP-8/E for now
and eventually a PDP-8/L
Thank you,
Mike
11:46 a.m.
You might want to try asking on the greenkeys mailing list on qth.net that specializes in
old teleprinter gear. I know a few years ago someone there made a mold and reproduced the
rubber print hammers for the 33, and there were also many other collectors and former
Teletype service engineers on the list that would help with troubleshooting and providing
pointers to parts sources.
Good luck,
Frank
On Jun 3, 2025, at 1:33 PM, Mike Katz via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
The reader issue is that the reader power pack board is missing.
Do any of you have a spare power pack board (183087) .
If I can figure out the voltages I may try to reproduce it.
I don't know if the reader power pack board for automatic reader operation (183079)
will work or not.
I'm still looking for the following items for the ASR-33
rubber hammer (180502)
paper spindle (181043)
paper tape spindle (183918)
paper tape ends (182935)
chad box (182924 or 182965)
Thank you,
Mike
On 6/2/2025 11:29 PM, Mike Katz via cctalk
wrote:
I was given an ASR-33 complete with stand, read & punch.
This ASR-33 has been modified for RS-232 though a blue perfboard mounted in the
connection enclosure (under the cover place where the dialer would be.
Is has a DB25 ribbon cable coming off of this board. The perfboard does not have a label
on it that I can find.
The ASR-33 also has a 3 x 5 conductor rectangular connector coming out of the read of the
unit with 6 female contacts installed.
I was able to connect the ARS-33 to a VT-330+ at 110B 8-N-2 and send and receive on the
teletype.
The punch seems to work as well.
The reader will "chatter" then the reader is put in the stop position and the
tape out sensor is pressed but the sprocket does not advance and the reader pins to not
move.
Questions:
1. Why the reader is not advancing and the pins are not activating?
Could this be a read enable contact not being in the active position?
2. What are the outs of the RS-232 DB-25. Other than TX, RX and GND
3. What are the pin outs of the 3 x 5 rectangular connector. I think
this is the current loop and other control signals.
Does any any of the items below for sale or have a 3D model I can print:
1. Roll Paper spindle (the spindle that the roll paper spins on)
2. Paper Tape Punch Spindle (the spindle that the paper tape spins on)
3. Paper Tape Chad feed tube
4. Paper Tape Chad Box
I will be connecting this to either a PiDP-8/I or a PDP-8/E for now and eventually a
PDP-8/L
Thank you,
Mike
12:14 p.m.
Also, don’t try to print without the rubber print hammer, the typeface metal is softer
than the metal of the print hammer, and without the rubber hammer in place you will
quickly flatten out the letters. A small piece of vinyl tubing can work as a temporary
substitute.
Frank
On Jun 3, 2025, at 2:03 PM, Frank Smith via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
You might want to try asking on the greenkeys mailing list on qth.net that specializes
in old teleprinter gear. I know a few years ago someone there made a mold and reproduced
the rubber print hammers for the 33, and there were also many other collectors and former
Teletype service engineers on the list that would help with troubleshooting and providing
pointers to parts sources.
Good luck,
Frank
> On Jun 3, 2025, at 1:33 PM, Mike Katz via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
>
> The reader issue is that the reader power pack board is missing.
>
> Do any of you have a spare power pack board (183087) .
>
> If I can figure out the voltages I may try to reproduce it.
>
> I don't know if the reader power pack board for automatic reader operation
(183079) will work or not.
>
> I'm still looking for the following items for the ASR-33
>
> rubber hammer (180502)
> paper spindle (181043)
> paper tape spindle (183918)
> paper tape ends (182935)
> chad box (182924 or 182965)
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mike
>
>
>>> On 6/2/2025 11:29 PM, Mike Katz via cctalk wrote:
>> I was given an ASR-33 complete with stand, read & punch.
>>
>> This ASR-33 has been modified for RS-232 though a blue perfboard mounted in the
connection enclosure (under the cover place where the dialer would be.
>>
>> Is has a DB25 ribbon cable coming off of this board. The perfboard does not have
a label on it that I can find.
>>
>> The ASR-33 also has a 3 x 5 conductor rectangular connector coming out of the
read of the unit with 6 female contacts installed.
>>
>> I was able to connect the ARS-33 to a VT-330+ at 110B 8-N-2 and send and receive
on the teletype.
>>
>> The punch seems to work as well.
>>
>> The reader will "chatter" then the reader is put in the stop position
and the tape out sensor is pressed but the sprocket does not advance and the reader pins
to not move.
>>
>> Questions:
>>
>> 1. Why the reader is not advancing and the pins are not activating?
>> Could this be a read enable contact not being in the active position?
>> 2. What are the outs of the RS-232 DB-25. Other than TX, RX and GND
>> 3. What are the pin outs of the 3 x 5 rectangular connector. I think
>> this is the current loop and other control signals.
>>
>> Does any any of the items below for sale or have a 3D model I can print:
>>
>> 1. Roll Paper spindle (the spindle that the roll paper spins on)
>> 2. Paper Tape Punch Spindle (the spindle that the paper tape spins on)
>> 3. Paper Tape Chad feed tube
>> 4. Paper Tape Chad Box
>>
>> I will be connecting this to either a PiDP-8/I or a PDP-8/E for now and
eventually a PDP-8/L
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
1:12 p.m.
Also, don’t try to print without the rubber print hammer, the typeface
metal is softer than the metal of the print hammer, and without the rubber
hammer in place you will quickly flatten out the letters. A small piece of
vinyl tubing can work as a temporary substitute.
Frank
The people on the Greenkeys forum
<https://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys> have remade the TTY
hammers.
1:58 p.m.
Thank you.
The hammer is intact and seems to be usable for now.
I have joined the greenkeys mailing list and I waiting for my message
there to be approved.
I have also contected the RTTY king about the parts.
On 6/3/2025 3:12 PM, Michael Thompson via cctalk wrote:
Also, don’t try to print without the rubber print hammer, the typeface
metal is softer than the metal of the print hammer, and without the rubber
hammer in place you will quickly flatten out the letters. A small piece of
vinyl tubing can work as a temporary substitute.
Frank
The people on the Greenkeys forum
<https://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys> have remade the TTY
hammers. 
4 Jun
4 Jun
5:34 a.m.
Most hammers are mush and need to be replaced. If you have an original
hammer you risk damaging the print cylinder
On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 7:38 AM Mike Katz via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
Thank you.
The hammer is intact and seems to be usable for now.
I have joined the greenkeys mailing list and I waiting for my message
there to be approved.
I have also contected the RTTY king about the parts.
On 6/3/2025 3:12 PM, Michael Thompson via cctalk wrote:
>
> Also, don’t try to print without the rubber print hammer, the typeface
> metal is softer than the metal of the print hammer, and without the
rubber
> hammer in place you will quickly flatten out
the letters. A small piece
of
vinyl
tubing can work as a temporary substitute.
Frank
The people on the Greenkeys forum
<https://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys> have remade the TTY
hammers.
8:25 a.m.
On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM Bill Degnan via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Most hammers are mush and need to be replaced. If you have an original
hammer you risk damaging the print cylinder
Some years ago I was given a box of new ASR33 spare parts (A random
selection, by no means every part). There were some rubber hammer caps
in there. Although they were packed in sealed plastic bags, they have
all turned to Evil Goo now,
-tony
9:05 a.m.
Tony Duell wrote:
Some years ago I was given a box of new ASR33 spare
parts (A random
selection, by no means every part). There were some rubber hammer caps
in there. Although they were packed in sealed plastic bags, they have all
turned to Evil Goo now,
Alternatively, I once got a KSR 33. It was guaranteed to be in perfect condition.
It certainly looked it. Before powering it up, I even stuck my thumbnail into the
cap to check if it was ok. It _seemed_ to be. I attached it to a modern computer
with a current loop/232 converter and sent it some text. The cap immediately
exploded into bits. Grains of sand size. I yanked the power cord on the TTY and
avoided any real damage to the type cylinder but I will never trust an old cap
again. I use plumbing faucet washers, held in place with shrink tube.
Bill S.
--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com
10:10 a.m.
I have some rubber gasket material, maybe I could double it up and us
that. Or just glue it to the existing pad (1 thick)
The pad seems pretty hard and I've printed a few lines on it and it
didn't explode.
On 6/4/2025 11:05 AM, William Sudbrink via cctalk wrote:
Tony Duell wrote:
Some years ago I was given a box of new ASR33
spare parts (A random
selection, by no means every part). There were some rubber hammer caps
in there. Although they were packed in sealed plastic bags, they have all
turned to Evil Goo now,
Alternatively, I once got a KSR 33. It was guaranteed to
be in perfect condition.
It certainly looked it. Before powering it up, I even stuck my thumbnail into the
cap to check if it was ok. It _seemed_ to be. I attached it to a modern computer
with a current loop/232 converter and sent it some text. The cap immediately
exploded into bits. Grains of sand size. I yanked the power cord on the TTY and
avoided any real damage to the type cylinder but I will never trust an old cap
again. I use plumbing faucet washers, held in place with shrink tube.
Bill S.
10:08 a.m.
Tony,
Rubber has a tendency to do that.
Do you still have the other parts?
Mike
On 6/4/2025 10:25 AM, Tony Duell via cctalk wrote:
On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM Bill Degnan via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Most hammers are mush and need to be replaced.
If you have an original
hammer you risk damaging the print cylinder
Some years ago I was given a box of new ASR33 spare parts (A random
selection, by no means every part). There were some rubber hammer caps
in there. Although they were packed in sealed plastic bags, they have
all turned to Evil Goo now,
-tony
10:31 a.m.
On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 6:19 PM Mike Katz via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Tony,
Rubber has a tendency to do that.
I repair Philips tape recorders.... Enough said.
(For those who've not experienced it, Philips drive belts of the 1970s
decay into a horrble sticky mess that gets everywhere. It's difficult
to clean up (you have to take just about everything apart), if it gets
on your clothes you have a lot of washing to do)
Do you still have the other parts?
Yes. And a couple of complere Model 33 ASRs to use them on.
-tony
6 Jun
6 Jun
5:58 a.m.
Any tips on cleaning it up?
On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 1:38 PM Tony Duell via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 6:19 PM Mike Katz via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Tony,
Rubber has a tendency to do that.
I repair Philips tape recorders.... Enough said.
(For those who've not experienced it, Philips drive belts of the 1970s
decay into a horrble sticky mess that gets everywhere. It's difficult
to clean up (you have to take just about everything apart), if it gets
on your clothes you have a lot of washing to do)
Do you still have the other parts?
Yes. And a couple of complere Model 33 ASRs to use them on.
-tony
6:07 a.m.
On Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 1:58 PM Mike Stein <mhs.stein(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Any tips on cleaning it up?
Wear old clothes :-)
Take everything apart that will sensibly come apart. Including
anything located below the old rubber parts, the goo will drip. For
example if the printer roller in an HP9810 or HP9820 turns to goo then
it will have dripped onto the main backplane and maybe got into the
edge connector for the keyboard cable.
I find an initial cleaning with WD40 Contact Cleaner (this is not the
anti-rust stuff, it's a totally different product from the same
company) and then cleaning with propan-2-ol (isopropyl alcohol) gets
most of it off.If the goo gets on your hands, stop and wash them
thoroughly. This is not because the goo is particularly harmful, but
rather because if it's on your hands you'll transfer it to anything
you touch
-tony
7:01 a.m.
On Jun 6, 2025, at 9:07 AM, Tony Duell via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 1:58 PM Mike Stein <mhs.stein(a)gmail.com> wrote:
If the goo is anything like contact cement, lacquer thinner is likely to work well. That
stuff will dissolve many plastics so be careful, but it does a nice job with problems like
this. The main ingredient is toluene, I think, but it's a blend of solvents and my
primary answer whenever I need to clean up something like glass or metal that won't be
hurt by it.
paul
Any tips on cleaning it up?
Wear old clothes :-)
Take everything apart that will sensibly come apart. Including
anything located below the old rubber parts, the goo will drip. For
example if the printer roller in an HP9810 or HP9820 turns to goo then
it will have dripped onto the main backplane and maybe got into the
edge connector for the keyboard cable.
I find an initial cleaning with WD40 Contact Cleaner (this is not the
anti-rust stuff, it's a totally different product from the same
company) and then cleaning with propan-2-ol (isopropyl alcohol) gets
most of it off. 
4 Jun
4 Jun
10:46 a.m.
Mike, Wayne over on Green Keys used to have some rubber buttons that fit on the hammer.
When I did my TeleType I got a couple from him. maybe he still has some?
Mike Zahorik
(414) 254-6768
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Katz via cctalk [mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org]
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2025 12:09 PM
To: Tony Duell via cctalk
Cc: Mike Katz
Subject: [cctalk] Re: ASR-33 Help and Parts Needed
Tony,
Rubber has a tendency to do that.
Do you still have the other parts?
Mike
On 6/4/2025 10:25 AM, Tony Duell via cctalk wrote:
On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM Bill Degnan via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Most hammers are mush and need to be replaced.
If you have an original
hammer you risk damaging the print cylinder
Some years ago I was given a box of new ASR33 spare parts (A random
selection, by no means every part). There were some rubber hammer caps
in there. Although they were packed in sealed plastic bags, they have
all turned to Evil Goo now,
-tony
3 Jun
3 Jun
3:12 p.m.
I just used a plastic tube cut to fit overtop the hammer, in place of a
rubber hammer
On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 3:38 PM Frank Smith via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
Also, don’t try to print without the rubber print
hammer, the typeface
metal is softer than the metal of the print hammer, and without the rubber
hammer in place you will quickly flatten out the letters. A small piece of
vinyl tubing can work as a temporary substitute.
Frank
On Jun 3, 2025, at 2:03 PM, Frank Smith via
cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
You might want to try asking on the greenkeys mailing list on qth.net
that specializes in old teleprinter gear. I know a few years ago someone
there made a mold and reproduced the rubber print hammers for the 33, and
there were also many other collectors and former Teletype service engineers
on the list that would help with troubleshooting and providing pointers to
parts sources.
Good luck,
Frank
> On Jun 3, 2025, at 1:33 PM, Mike Katz via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
>
> The reader issue is that the reader power pack board is missing.
>
> Do any of you have a spare power pack board (183087) .
>
> If I can figure out the voltages I may try to reproduce it.
>
> I don't know if the reader power pack board for automatic reader
operation (183079) will work or not.
>
> I'm still looking for the following items for the ASR-33
>
> rubber hammer (180502)
> paper spindle (181043)
> paper tape spindle (183918)
> paper tape ends (182935)
> chad box (182924 or 182965)
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mike
>
>
>>> On 6/2/2025 11:29 PM, Mike Katz via cctalk wrote:
>> I was given an ASR-33 complete with stand, read & punch.
>>
>> This ASR-33 has been modified for RS-232 though a blue perfboard
mounted in the connection enclosure (under the cover place where the dialer
would be.
>>
>> Is has a DB25 ribbon cable coming off of this board. The perfboard
does not have a label on it that I can find.
>>
>> The ASR-33 also has a 3 x 5 conductor rectangular connector coming out
of the read of the unit with 6 female contacts installed.
>>
>> I was able to connect the ARS-33 to a VT-330+ at 110B 8-N-2 and send
and receive on the teletype.
>>
>> The punch seems to work as well.
>>
>> The reader will "chatter" then the reader is put in the stop position
and the tape out sensor is pressed but the sprocket does not advance and
the reader pins to not move.
>>
>> Questions:
>>
>> 1. Why the reader is not advancing and the pins are not activating?
>> Could this be a read enable contact not being in the active position?
>> 2. What are the outs of the RS-232 DB-25. Other than TX, RX and GND
>> 3. What are the pin outs of the 3 x 5 rectangular connector. I think
>> this is the current loop and other control signals.
>>
>> Does any any of the items below for sale or have a 3D model I can
print:
>>
>> 1. Roll Paper spindle (the spindle that the roll paper spins on)
>> 2. Paper Tape Punch Spindle (the spindle that the paper tape spins on)
>> 3. Paper Tape Chad feed tube
>> 4. Paper Tape Chad Box
>>
>> I will be connecting this to either a PiDP-8/I or a PDP-8/E for now
and eventually a PDP-8/L
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
12:15 p.m.
On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM Mike Katz via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
I'm still looking for the following items for the
ASR-33
rubber hammer (180502)
paper spindle (181043)
paper tape spindle (183918)
paper tape ends (182935)
chad box (182924 or 182965)
Hi, Mike,
The best source I am aware of for the rubber hammer (180502) is Dave
Tumey's reproductions made in TPU. He made a multi-lifetime order
some time back and has been generous in making them available to
hobbyists. Write him at <davetumey(a)yahoo.com> and provide a mailing
address. In the past he would throw a few in a #10 envelope and send
them.
There's a print file for the chad bucket at
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3353088/files
There's a non-original papertape spool holder at
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4689072
I think at least one of my ASR33s has a cut-off broom handle for a
paper spindle.
I don't have a source for any of those original parts, and they often
break or go missing, so there's demand for modern replacements.
Cheers,
-ethan
21
days inactive
24
days old
17 comments
10 participants
participants (10)
-
Bill Degnan -
Ethan Dicks -
Frank Smith -
Michael Thompson -
mike -
Mike Katz -
Mike Stein -
Paul Koning -
Tony Duell -
William Sudbrink