>> and 5 bit stuff almost unheard-of. > > > In the US, common for hams, not common for computers. Maybe they were > common for computers in the early 1960s.
I think at one time radio amateurs (at least over here) had to use 5 bit ITA2 machines for RTTY. It may even be to this day that RTTY implies that, and that ASCII is classed as 'data'. But the 5 level machines that were used over here tend to be Creeds (Creed 7s, 75s and 444s mostly). The RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain, a bit like the ARRL) 'Teleprinter Handbook' (on RTTY operation) does have some details of things like the Teletype 28, so I guess some made it over here, but I've yet to see one. > >> OK, we do see BRPE >> punches from time to time. > > > I'd really like to get one of those! I think shipping one is out of the question. Anyway, mine have 240V 50Hz motors. -tony