Reviving a Siemens T100

[EdwardG]

Hello Everybody.

Recently I did acquire my first Telex, a Siemens T100. There is no FSG, just the machine.
After opening it up (and before applying power), it looked pretty clean, no mice droppings, dust nests and the like.
So power was applied and the motor started, cranks rotated, the gears spins.
But, the keyboard is blocked, and the mechanism which holds the ribbon moves constantly up and down
(ribbon also moves slowly from left to right and vice versa).

Is this supposed to happen, or is the 60mA current a necessity to unblock the keyboard and also to stop
the up/down movement?

There is also a little difference of this machine compared to pictures from the internet, there is a little
extra device with a switch mounted inside, just right of the lamp bulb. Any idea what it's meaning is?
lifting the switch manually stops the motor.

Regards,

Ed

[DF3OE]

Any teleprinter needs current loop to operate. In Europe it is 40mA, 60V or higher.
Otherwise it just "runs open" and is just clattering along.
Could you provide a picture of your machine to see what version it is?

[FredSonnenrein]

Hi Ed.

Recently I did acquire my first Telex, a Siemens T100. There is no FSG, just the machine.
After opening it up (and before applying power), it looked pretty clean, no mice droppings, dust nests and the like.
So power was applied and the motor started, cranks rotated, the gears spins.
But, the keyboard is blocked, and the mechanism which holds the ribbon moves constantly up and down
(ribbon also moves slowly from left to right and vice versa).

Yes, the movement of the ribbon support is normal, because without line current the machine "runs through".
Apply 40 mA to the receiver magnet and the "running" shall stop.
Regarding the locked keyboard: Are all keys locked? or only some of them,
for example the numeric keys because the keyboard is in the "letters" position.
Please excuse this question: You know about the figs / letters shift?

Is this supposed to happen, or is the 60mA current a necessity to unblock the keyboard and also to stop
the up/down movement?

As noted above: Yes. What kind of plug is attached at the end of the cable.

There is also a little difference of this machine compared to pictures from the internet, there is a little
extra device with a switch mounted inside, just right of the lamp bulb. Any idea what it's meaning is?
lifting the switch manually stops the motor.

This is an automatic motor stop, or sometimes also called time switch.
If the line is idle (i.e. 40 milliamps) this unit cuts the power from the motor,
because there is nothing to print.
The motor will start again either by hitting the key "A..." (or "Bu") or by an
interruption of the 40 mA loop.

[EdwardG]

I was already afraid that it indeed needed the current to work.

Anyway, here is a picture of the typelabel and one of the 'extra' device.

[FeTAp616]

I was already afraid that it indeed needed the current to work.

Anyway, here is a picture of the typelabel and one of the 'extra' device.

It will need loop current, and you got one with a self-disconnect that should turn off after som idle time.
Kongrats a nice machine!

Greetings Helge

[DF3OE]

Yes, that's an automatic timer switch. It stops the motor after circa 1 minute without any
line operation and can be restarted by pushing the A... key at the keyboard or by any incoming
signal.

[EdwardG]

Hello Fred.

Yes, the movement of the ribbon support is normal, because without line current the machine "runs through".
Apply 40 mA to the receiver magnet and the "running" shall stop.
Regarding the locked keyboard: Are all keys locked? or only some of them,
for example the numeric keys because the keyboard is in the "letters" position.
Please excuse this question: You know about the figs / letters shift?

Yes, I know of it's functions. All keys in both modes are blocked, that is, they can be pressed a little,
but not all the way down to activate the internal mechanism.

This is an automatic motor stop, or sometimes also called time switch.
If the line is idle (i.e. 40 milliamps) this unit cuts the power from the motor,
because there is nothing to print.
The motor will start again either by hitting the key "A..." (or "Bu") or by an
interruption of the 40 mA loop.

Ah interesting! Will it also start the motor automatically when data is received?
In that case this machine (when it is properly functioning) can be left 'on' 24/7.

Regards,

Ed

[EdwardG]

You were quicker than I was responding ....

[FeTAp616]

No, this is a "dedicated line" machine. Basically two teletypes connected directly. No or other things.
You can use this as such between your Living room and your garden shed but thats a bit booring.
To get it to work you would need an FSG.

Greetings Helge

[FeTAp616]

You were quicker than I was responding ....

mere coinidence. I've got a similar machine from the German Police.