Bill said > Hi - COVID project.... I have been attempting to read some old Honeywell > DDP-516 papertapes using the OP-80A or Teletype reader but it's inefficient > and I don't want to damage the tapes. Does anyone have a reliable > papertape reader for sale, or recommend one currently out there on Ebay,
I have an EECO MT-82 (manual on bitsavers), and it's ok but pulls the tape through in short sharp bursts rather than a continuous smooth action, even on the lowest baud rate. I have the serial version, there is a separate I/O board for serial and parallel. For some reason the right-hand spindle always runs, perhaps the driver transistor logic has some problem. I don't use the spindles anyway as I have no reels (I am designing 3D printed ones) but the spindle speed is way too fast for old tapes anyway, I think. With the OP-80A you could try rigging up a small motor to pull the tapes through at slow speed, say a LEGO Technic M size motor driving LEGO tires through a simple gearbox. And build up some sort of tape guide from LEGO as well. Steve.
