eric F.

@ef1j95

Serializer code block. The bits aren’t moving very well. Hence, sticky bits!

9/1/2018, 1:54:25 PM

Favs: 5

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Loosened up the code block bits, then the parallelizer froze. In the meantime, I discovered that the reader works. Next to figure out what it’s sending and receiving.

9/6/2018, 9:19:47 PM

Favs: 8

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

I think I’ve got this. Code block has 9 bits. First is always down - start bit. 7 bits follow and one even parity bit.

9/10/2018, 6:11:18 AM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Here it is on my super-improvised DSO (=Tek 2445+phone). Missed the start bit because I had a negative trigger. The Olivetti is sending something that looks right. Interface box creates RS-232 signal (-12V = 1, +12V=0). 20ms/div, so 100 baud?

9/10/2018, 6:27:14 AM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

8 bits in under 80ms. Probably 110 baud.

9/11/2018, 10:30:23 AM

Favs: 5

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

7E2 at 110 baud. I can see the bits flying, but I can't catch them with any of my machines.

9/12/2018, 8:23:49 AM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Trusty Sol-20! Caught the slow bits!

9/15/2018, 6:03:26 AM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

The Olivetti is sending! I now have a very loud and very heavy ASCII keyboard. With a paper tape reader.

9/15/2018, 6:14:35 AM

Favs: 8

Retweets: 1

eric F.

@ef1j95

Working on the Olivetti parallelizer. Here it is in slow motion...

9/16/2018, 9:23:25 AM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

So strange... suddenly started sending at 150 baud. Moved something? Jiggled something? Broke something? Who knows? This is “5”... 0 1010110 0 start bit, followed by LSB and 0 parity bit. About 66ms, so actually a little bit slower than 150...

9/16/2018, 8:48:06 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Mechanical telecommunications.

9/16/2018, 9:04:53 PM

Favs: 5

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

The Te-318’s major problem is with the parallelizer and the copy frame. The design is quite cool.

9/23/2018, 4:53:59 PM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

The serial mark / space signals (rest / work or riposo / lavaro) supply / remove current from the electromagnet. The parallelizer disk is triggered by the start bit. The disk rotates and moves “needles” in or out radially. These each connect to a rod and push “selector levers.”

9/23/2018, 5:01:47 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

The selection levers represent the now parallel 8-bit signal. These are “read” by “feelers” that are pushed down by the copy frame. One feeler moves up and the other down. A sequence of bails moves to transmit the bits to the teleprinter bars.

9/23/2018, 5:06:09 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

The problem is, most of the levers coordinating the feelers are broken. They also lift the feelers out of the way so the selection levers can move during the next cycle.

9/23/2018, 5:11:04 PM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

I think they broke because the clearing cross-bar that resets the copy frame (aka transfer reset plate) had a rubber gasket that became a glue. Some of the feelers were stuck in this and it prevented them from moving.

9/23/2018, 5:16:05 PM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Printing replacements should be straightforward. Getting in there, though, is the challenge. I’m open to suggestions.

9/23/2018, 5:21:06 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Unfortunately, those suggestions will probably be limited unless someone out there happens to know a retired Italian postal worker with telegraphic equipment experience.

9/23/2018, 5:29:19 PM

Favs: 0

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Almost got the copy frame out last night. Trying to make sure I can get it back together. So close...

9/29/2018, 10:46:55 AM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

The copy frame is out! The saga continues! Ho boy, I hope I can get this back together...

9/30/2018, 9:15:29 PM

Favs: 5

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Olivetti post n/n+1. Here are the steps I took to remove the copy frame from the parallelizer.

10/1/2018, 7:26:00 AM

Favs: 4

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Copy frame tear-down.

10/1/2018, 9:33:35 PM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

First attempt to rebuild parallelizer in the Olivetti.

10/20/2018, 12:02:44 PM

Favs: 8

Retweets: 1

eric F.

@ef1j95

Rebuilt parallelizer. Looks good and seems to be working correctly...

10/20/2018, 5:47:47 PM

Favs: 4

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Puddle of goo? Motor cap died.

10/20/2018, 8:46:34 PM

Favs: 4

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

It sure smells phenyl-ly. I'm certain that this ca. 1970 capacitor oil contains no PCBs whatsoever.

10/21/2018, 6:40:47 PM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Fra-geel-ay... must be Italian!

10/25/2018, 10:29:45 AM

Favs: 6

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Docs indicate this is a start motor, but its specs and wiring (to my novice eyes) appear like a run cap - one that produces the second phase for the motor. comments/ suggestions? CA in schematic.

10/26/2018, 6:42:11 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Confusion!

10/26/2018, 9:49:38 PM

Favs: 6

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

VICTORY! Successfully receiving bytes from the Sol. Three test messages. A few reception errors (FF), but surprisingly steady. U = 01010101, * = 10101010. 7-bit ASCII even parity.

10/27/2018, 4:24:05 PM

Favs: 24

Retweets: 4

eric F.

@ef1j95

It sends! It receives! It punches! It reads! (Sort of). But it still doesn’t print...

11/6/2018, 9:06:48 PM

Favs: 4

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

It’s freakin’ heavy, too. And loud. Next steps of Olivetti TE-318 repair saga will focus on the print carriage. #CRLF

11/11/2018, 7:26:10 AM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

New Olivetti developments: Print carriage out.

11/17/2018, 4:28:49 PM

Favs: 5

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Debating whether to dunk the carriage in a detergent solution like @curiousmarc ‘s teletype aquarium. Only concerned about the felt (?) washers in a few spots.

11/17/2018, 9:12:33 PM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Carriage oiled and sticky parts worked loose. Seems to be back to operational condition. Think I will forego dunking it at this point.

11/18/2018, 12:40:50 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Continuing thread of esoteric Olivetti knowledge. Notes on the print carriage operation.

11/19/2018, 9:36:15 AM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

This Thanksgiving I am also thankful for, after four months of teleprinter repair, having all of my fingers.

11/22/2018, 3:42:07 PM

Favs: 7

Retweets: 1

eric F.

@ef1j95

...and up-to-date tetanus shots.

11/23/2018, 9:51:55 AM

Favs: 0

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Tantalizing close!

11/28/2018, 7:42:10 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

But the coupler fix with epoxy didn’t hold. Not unexpected...

11/28/2018, 7:45:29 PM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Here it is in action. The tally: Receiving. Print carriage is working. Print bar needs to be fixed. Have to figure out coupler... weld? Fabricate something new?

11/28/2018, 7:56:21 PM

Favs: 4

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Why... I have the feeling that I will be making new functions unit sensors in the not-too-distant future. These parts fell out today. Up side: understanding functions unit, which “captures” certain ASCII codes, like ENQ, CR, LF, BELL.

12/2/2018, 7:29:09 PM

Favs: 1

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Functions unit on the Olivetti is model F 813. Another fascinating part of the teleprinter mechanics. The sense sliders “read” the code bars and activate different control functions corresponding to their ASCII values. Here are sliders 17 and 18 — ENQ and SPACE.

12/3/2018, 7:48:09 AM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Stroke bar removed. I have to repair the chewed up plastic. How would you do it? Epoxy?

12/8/2018, 6:10:39 AM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Trying this hack first. 2mm steel rod embedded in epoxy. Hoping the rod will distribute the load of the print head over a larger area.

12/8/2018, 5:53:51 PM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

While the stroke bar fix cures, finally have a new inked ribbon loaded and working in the print head.

12/9/2018, 2:04:15 PM

Favs: 4

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Here’s the end-game of the Olivetti repair saga... fixed stroke bar and coupler between the print shaft and print head. I had to adjust the stroke bar, but I still couldn’t get an impression on the paper. Pushing it too far forward caused the print head to chatter erratically.

12/12/2018, 4:58:28 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

These are my notes on the stroke bar.

12/12/2018, 5:00:22 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Here’s the winning move: I had to adjust the stroke cam in the print head. It gives the print wheel just a few milliseconds more to travel and strike the page before the recovery cam pulls it back.

12/12/2018, 5:02:49 PM

Favs: 3

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Before buttoning it up, I also managed to get the tape reader working. I had switched the second and third bits between the reader and the serializer block slides. Notice “10101010” from the reader becomes “10101100”. (Rightmost bit in the code block is always down=start bit.)

12/12/2018, 5:42:44 PM

Favs: 6

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

The bell and lamp are back in and the case is on. It is much quieter.

12/12/2018, 5:45:23 PM

Favs: 5

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

The Olivetti TE-318 reassembled.

12/13/2018, 9:02:56 PM

Favs: 12

Retweets: 3

eric F.

@ef1j95

View from the right side. The RS-232 interface (and power adapter) attaches to the side.

12/14/2018, 4:57:21 PM

Favs: 10

Retweets: 1

eric F.

@ef1j95

More TTY: after tweaking the horizontal control.

12/22/2018, 8:13:39 AM

Favs: 7

Retweets: 0

eric F.

@ef1j95

Motor cap in. A bit of a hack, but it’s working.

10/27/2018, 4:07:54 PM

Favs: 2

Retweets: 0