CREED 7B Restoration

bambi · #1

I thought I would tell you about the UK CREED Model 7B restoration that I have just completed...

The machine had been stored in a semi open garage for 20+ (?) years.
As the photos show, the 'Dust cover' as the manual calls it - the case was quite rusty.
I removed this and repainted with flat black as the crinkle paint is challenging to find these days.

The next job was to remove years of lubricants.
During this cleanup 2 line filter capacitors we found to have exploded at some time.
These were replaced with modern equivalents.

The keyboard was cleaned, so the keys could be read again.

I also recreated the missing logo, and placed that on the cover, as well as removing and washing all the oil out of the sound insulation inside the cover.

Rubber feet for the cover and the main unit were replaced. Divots in the cork platen (from resting engaged for years) were filled with chopped cork.
A missing paper tension rod was replaced with a stainless steel rod and rotating cylinder sleeve.

All was ready for power up eventually, when one of the governed motor carbon contacts was found to be missing.
So there was a 3 month pause before a used replacement could be collected.

That has now been installed, and yesterday (Oct 12, 2025) I was able to run it successfully for the first time. The motor speed for this one is 3000 RPM.
I was able to successfully call, connect and communicate between
the CREED and one of my other TELEX terminals locally via I-TELEX.

There are still some adjustments to do but so far things seem to be going well.

This terminal has no Answerback, so an electronic version will be used.
A 02:44 video of the still images of the restoration is <here>.

#2

Oha... Top Arbeit.
Glückwunsch.

#3

Hi Bambi,

Great work! I have seven Model 7s here (3 x 7E, 1 x 7C, 2 x 7B and 1 x 7B/RP) but only one 7E works properly, the other two 7Es throw a line feed with every character, and the others are in the queue for some tlc. The 7Es and 7C are 230v AC mains versions and the 7Bs have DC motors.

It seems that no matter how long these machines have sat unused, with a little attention to oil and grease, they just start working, but not always quite right...! I found that the first big problem on the two on the repair bench was the RFI filter on the incoming 230v mains supply. Switch on, and 'phut'... the circuit breaker tripped! Replacing them with a modern equivalent cured the problem. I now need to find some time to attack the LF problem on those two 7E machines.

Any Creed cover is as rare as hen's teeth, so to have the GPO Cover, No 1 is a real find and a luxury. I have one but it's in a poor state like yours was, so it was good to see the process you used to refurbish it.

Are you using the 80-0-80 Double Current card in i-Telex or through some other connection?

I haven't forgotten about restoring to service my BT Whisper Telex machine, and a while ago I did strip it down and photograph the dis-assembly and re-assembly procedure, but then failed to write up any notes, so I'll have to go through the process again!

ttfn

David

bambi · #4

Hello David:

Thank you for your interesting post. Wow you have a nice collection of terminals.

CREED: Since posting I have had some issues with mine that were not known when the video was shot: The terminal was stuck on double line feed and overprinted the last 4 characters.
Single line feed has been restored and I was able to print an additional 2 characters - I hope to get the last 2
printing correctly soon.

The 'Dust cover' - I did not know they were rare-ish. It does reduce the noise somewhat but as the printing area is open
it is still a noisy machine for sure.

I use the connection with I-TELEX that I use for the Siemens T100 (M100). That is not without problems, so I suspect
something is not as good as it could be. My voltage from the I-TELEX is 72.5V.

Even though I replaced all those capacitors I do get a ground leak occasionally so the the Earth Leak safety switch (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI))
does trip now and then.

OT - I hope to 'dress' mine at some stage as the stage prop 'Console' as featured in the movie Brazil (1985), just for some photos.

3M Whisper Writer - is that the terminal you have? I also have one of these . I would be most interested in how you connected it
with the I-TELEX if you have the time to share that. Currently mine has a US 300 baud modem board. I had to replace the line feed plastic sleeve between the motor and the roll paper shaft.
-byes- bambi