ASR33 consumables

One of the issues with my ASR33 Teletype is consumables. Where can you buy teletype supplies these days? The three things it eats are paper, ribbon, and paper tape.

Paper

This is one of those occasions where google skills are needed! The paper needs to be continuous roll (this machine is not sprocket feed) and around 200mm wide. Well, between 190mm (to allow 72 characters) and about 220mm max width of roll holder area. I suspect it is based on US paper sizes so 8.5" (219mm) is what is expected.

I tried all sorts of googling on this - 8" paper, 8.5" paper, 8" paper, 210mm paper, 200mm paper, etc... I found bugger all.

The magic phrase I was missing is "telex paper". Google that and loads of people sell it, even Staples!

It is the proper stuff, low quality paper but works a treat.

Ribbons

The other concern was ribbons. This time I had no issue though. It seems that typewriter ribbons are still sold, a lot, enough for next day Amazon prime to have them. I tried a couple and found that 1009FN are what I want - they are exactly the right size, and even a black/red ribbon works (printing just the black side). It even has the eyelets at the end to auto reverse.

Some other ribbons worked, but were loose on the spools as the hole in the middle was too big. I have also ordered some black only for 1009FN so I can reverse it without printing red :-)

Paper tape

By far the biggest challenge was paper tape - continuous roll paper 1" wide.

Nobody makes it any more. I contacted the few web sites claiming to sell it, and either no reply, or replies confirming it is not made any more. There is someone selling antique Russian paper tape on eBay, and that is about it.

I was stumped, until I discovered the right phrase to google.

"Flightstrips"

These are 1" wide strips of paper used by air traffic controllers, and there are printers for them, and they take 1" wide paper tape on a roll. And they are still made, and you can buy them, albeit in a box of 10.

I'm happy to sell some of the rolls I have.

They are not quite "proper" paper tape in that they don't have some lubricant in them, and they also have a thermal print layer which is not needed, but otherwise they do work.

I still have some restoration to do on the punch anyway (was playing up even printing in cut down A4 paper), and I need to 3D print some spool holders, but I now have paper tape to play with, so should be a lot easier.