Teletype ASR33

UvA Computer Museum catalogue nr 96.31

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This machine, made by the Teletype Corporation, was probably the most widespread computer terminal ever (maybe except the VT100 series terminals from Digital Equipment Corp.). Probably even today (1996) some teletypes are in use. The ASR33 has an integrated papertape reader and puncher for off-line data preparation and storage. This was not so with the KSR or Keyboard Send Receive version; ASR stands for Automatic Send Receive.

Teletypes work fully mechanically, the only electronics being found in the power supply. The need for regular maintainance (lubrication, adjusting), without the help of specifically trained personel and special tools, makes it difficult to keep these devices operational in a museum environment.

The ASR version is shown here on a small plastic card holding a table of the 5-bit Telex code on the back side. Indeed it is seen that the machine on the card - an ASR32 - uses narrower paper tape than the 7 and 8 channel versions customary in computing (5-channel tape was used in some early computers, though; an example being the Dutch Zebra).