Fairchild Teletypesetter Standard Perforator Description

 

General

Two MODELS of Teletypesetter Perforators are in general use today.

They are the Standard Perforator and the Multiface Perforator.

Each has its own distinguishing characteristics and individual application in the publishing field.



Standard Perforator

THE STANDARD KEYBOARD PERFORATOR is designed for use with matrices cut on the unit system and is recommended for newspaper use. This Perforator contains a fixed counting mechanism.

Keyboard Arrangement (Standard Perforator)

THE STANDARD PERFORATOR keyboard has a compact touch system layout similar to that of a typewriter, plus additional keys to control the fixed spacing and various functions of the linecasting machine.


Only change between these two keyboards were paper key top circles with characters (top row).

Keyboard Arrangement (Multiface Perforator)

THE MULTIFACE PERFORATOR keyboard has a compact touch system layout similar to that of a typewriter, plus additional keys to control the fixed spacing and various functions of the linecasting machine.

Changing or re-programing the code bars in the counting magazine was possible.

THE MULTIFACE PERFORATOR is employed for book and job composition when a variety of type faces is required. It is distinguished from the Standard Perforator by its use of a removable Counting Magazine, instead of a fixed counting arrangement. The Counting Magazine may be removed and another inserted by the Operator in a few seconds without the use of tools or special skills. Counting Magazines can be provided to count any font of matrices from 5 to 14 points.

Perforating Mechanism

THE PERFORATOR is equipped with a mechanism that perforates code combinations containing one to six holes (plus a tape feed hole) in the tape each time a key is depressed.

Starting to Perforate Tape

WITH TAPE INSERTED in the punching unit and the tape control lever and the power switch both in the "on" position, the Perforator is ready for operation.


Before starting to perforate tape, the Operator should "condition" the Perforator as follows;



With the punch control lever in the left or "on" position, depress the RETURN, ELEV, and UNSHIFT keys. This assures the Operator that the pointers are at the starting position and the Perforator is in the unshift position.

Depress the TAPE key and REPEAT key simultaneously until all code perforations in the tape are advanced past the knife edge, then tear off this piece of tape by lifting and twisting. Feed out enough blank tape ("tape" combinations) to provide space for writing the name of the item, the size of type, or any other information desired.

Tape Winder

THE TELETYPESETTER TAPE \WINDER may be used to wind up tape in suitable rolls for use on the unwind reel of the Teletypesetter Operating Unit.


The Tape Winder mostly used for Teletypesetter operation has a capacity of 90 feet or 320 lines of 12 pica type.

Tape Winders for larger capacities are also available.

You wound them up like old alarm clocks.

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Computing the Counting Pointer Setting

1 SCALE DIVISION = 1 EM SPACE
OR 2 EN SPACES

EACH FULL SCALE division on the counting scale represents a thickness equivalent to the EM space for that particular font of type. One-half of a scale division represents an EN space which is one-half the width of the EM space (see Figure 47) .

The counting pointer is arranged to move from left to right along the counting scale in varying amounts proportional to the width of the characters added to the line as the various key levers are depressed. The starting point of the counting pointer is adjustable and should be positioned to conform to the column measure of the composition to be set.

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When using unit system matrices, the EM space has a count value of 18 units, and all other alphabet characters, figures, punctuation marks and special characters have a count value directly proportional to the EM space. When using the Multiface Perforator and non-unit system matrices, the EM space has a count value of 32 units, and the other characters with a counting value proportional to the EM space being used. The below list shows the character grouping for 18 unit matrices.

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Unit
Size
6    Period, Comma, Apostrophe, Hyphen, Vertical Rule, Quote, Thin Space, Lower case i
7    Lower case j f t
8    Capital I
9    All figures, $, Pound sterling, Semi-colon, Colon, Exclamation, EN leader. Asterisk
       Left and right hand brackets, All reference marks, Figure spaces, Lower case r s z, En dash and ( )
10 Lower case c e o
11 Lower case a b d g h n p q u v x y k fi, fl, Capital J S ?
12 Capital Z
13 Capital C T L ff
14 Lower case ae, Capital A B F O P Q V &
15 Lower case w oe, Capital D E G R U X Y H K N
18 EM space, EM leader, EM dash, EM fractions, % Ib, Capital M W OE, AE, Lower case m, ffi, ffl, @

The counting pointer moves one full scale division on the counting scale for each 18 unit value (unit system matrices) or 32 unit value (non-unit system matrices) . Accordingly, when the Perforator is used to count matrices with an EM space value of .1107", the counting pointer moves a full scale division for each .1107" of type. The theoretical counting pointer setting for any column measure is therefore determined by dividing the column width (measured in inches) by the EM space value (.1107"). Likewise, when the Perforator is used to count matrices with an EM space value of .100", the counting pointer setting can be calculated by dividing the column width (measured in inches) by .100".

Sample Calculation for Counting Pointer Setting for Matrices
With EM Space Value of .1107” (see below)
 Column measure (average newspaper column) 12 picas
 Column measure in inches  12 x .166" = 1.992"
 Value of EM space .1107"
 Theoretical setting 1.992" ÷ .1107" = 18 div.
 Allowance to provide margins against the
 possibility of sending tight lines into the vise  2 div.
 Counting pointer setting  17.8 div.

Counting Pointer Setting

The counting pointer stop should be positioned by loosening its clamping screw and moving the stop to a position so that the counting pointer returns to the calculated point of the counting scale when the "RET" key is depressed. After the clamping screw has been tightened, recheck the setting and refine if necessary.

The counting pointer stop arm is arranged so that in its right position it is used for narrow column widths, and in its left position it is used for wide column widths. See above figure.

Computing the Spaceband Justification Pointer Settings

THE MOTION of the space band
justification pointers must be adjusted
to agree with the font of type and also
with the kind of spacebands being used.

The minimum thickness of the spaceband
most commonly used is .037" and the
maximum thickness is .122".

The difference between these two
measurements is the total expansion
of which the spaceband is capable.

Note: Be sure that all spacebands
have the same number of ID marks
on front lower end of spaceband.

Mixing spacebands makes for
strange spacing between words.

• Right-Hand Spaceband Justification Pointer Setting
• WHEN PROPERLY SET, the right-hand spaceband justification pointer moves the indicator scale to the left, a distance proportional to the minimum thickness of the space bands in the line.
• The motion of this pointer is adjustable and must be set so that it indicates the proper relation to the brass size value of the type face being set. Therefore, the right-hand spaceband justification pointer must be reset each time the Perforator is to be used to perforate tape for a font of type in which the EM space value changes from that of the font previously used, or when space bands of a different size are to be used. (see below figure)

Setting of Right-Hand Spaceband Justification Pointer

for spacebands with a minimum thickness of .037" and a font of type having an EM Space value of .1107".

1. Move the counting pointer by hand to a convenient even scale graduation, such as 15.


2. Depress the space bar 10 times.


3. Open the hinged door in front of the adjustable spaceband mechanism. Position the right-hand space band justiflcation pointer by means of the right-hand thumb screw so that its total motion is 3.4 scale divisions.



This is indicated by the change in counting pointer location from 15 to 11.6 on the indicator scale. Return the pointers to their start position by depressing the RET (Return) key. Recheck the setting, and refine if necessary.
4. The value of 3.4 scale divisions is calculated as follows:
Minimum thickness of spaceband .037"
Total minimum thickness of 10 spacebands .370"
Brass size value of one scale division .1107"
Number of divisions motion for 10 spacebands 370" ÷ .1107" = 3.4*
* (3.35 actual-use next 1/10 above or 3.4)

Left-Hand Spaceband Justification Pointer Setting

THE DISTANCE between the left and right-hand space band justification pointers is proportional to the cumulative usable expansion of the spacebands in the line. This distance must be set to bear proper relation to the brass size value of the type face being set. Therefore, the left-hand space band justification pointer must be reset each time the Perforator is to be used in order to perforate tape for a font of type in which the EM space count value changes from that of the font previously used, or when spacebands of a different size are to be used.

Setting of Right-Hand Spaceband Justification Pointer

Setting of Left-Hand Spacebank Justification Pointer for Spacebands with a
Maximum Thickness of .122" and a Font of Type Having an EM Space Value of .1107"

• AFTER THE RIGHT-HAND spaceband justification pointer has been set and
  checked and the pointers have been spread by depressing the space bar
  10 times, adjust the position of the left-hand spaceband justification pointer
  by means of the left-hand thumb screw, so that the spread between the right
  and left-hand justification pointers is 6.0 divisions. (see above figure)
  This value is calculated as follows:

 Spread per space band 122"- .037"= .085"
 Spread for 10 space bands 850"
 Per-cent of spread which is considered usable 85%
 Total usable spread for 10 space bands  85% of .85 = .723"
 Scale Divisions 723" ÷ .1107"= 6.5 div.
 *Reduction to absorb .2 allowance in counting pointer setting 5 div.
 Net justification pointer spread  6.0 div.

* In calculating the reduction, it is estimated that there will be an average of four space bands per line. Therefore, the motion for four spacebands will be reduced by .2 scale divisions and proportionately, the motion for 10 spacebands will be reduced by .5 scale divisions.