[paper tape] [paper tape cutters] [felt ink rollers] [ink]
Last update: 1 March 2010 (added photos of original Feld-Hell ink bottle, accessories box)
Update: 17 Dec 2009 (expanded page with ink, ink rollers)
Update:12 April 2009
[paper tape] [paper
tape cutters] [felt ink rollers]
[ink]
Last update: 1 March 2010 (added photos of original Feld-Hell ink
bottle, accessories box)
Update: 17 Dec 2009 (expanded page with ink, ink rollers)
Update:12 April 2009
Hellschreibers print transmitted and received text on paper tape. The width of the paper depends on the mode that the Hellschreiber uses: asynchronous or start-stop. The Feld-Hell machine uses the asynchronous mode that simultaneously prints two lines of text, one above the other. This requires wide paper tape. The 72b/c "GL" machine uses the start-stop mode; it prints one line of text. This only requires narrow paper tape. Hell-80 machines can operate in both modes and require wide paper, but use rolls with a core diameter that is different from those used in Feld-Hell machines.
The
1941 Feld-Hell manual
has the following specification for
wide paper tape:
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width: 15 mm (0.6"), -0.1/+0 mm |
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thickness: 0.065 mm (25.6 mils), +/- 0.005 mm |
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core diameter (ID): 29 mm, -0/+1 mm. Note: the hub in the paper trays of my Feld-Hell have a diameter of 28.0 and 28.25 mm respectively, whereas the hub in my Hell-80 machine has an OD of 29.0 mm. |
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roll length: 250 meters. |
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gummed: on the side that is not printed on. |
The 1940 Feld-Hell description specifies a +/- 0.1 mm tolerance on the paper width, a core diameter of 30 +/- 1 mm, and a maximum ash content of 4% (ungummed paper). The hub in the paper trays of my Feld-Hell have a diameter of 28.0 and 28.25 mm respectively.
Narrow paper is only 9.5 mm wide.
1941 manual: "Registrierpapier", feuchtigkeitsicher gummiert; etwa 28 m pro
Stunde --> 46 2/3 cm/min
Research specified core ID,
roll OD: FH, Hell 80, GL
Gummed is not essential.
The type of paper makes a big difference in printing quality. The photo below show prints on narrow tape (Hell 72 "GL") and on wide tape (Feld-Hell). Both were printed with the same ink roller and ink! The narrow paper happens to be denser (less translucent) and smoother than the wide paper that I used. The latter clearly shows dispersion of the ink due to capillary wicking, which is obviously not desirable.
The influence of paper type on printing quality
Paper consumption:
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Feld-Hell asynchronous mode: 47 cm/minute continuously (i.e., also when not transmitting or receiving). A standard roll last for a little over 9 hours of operation. With 2.5 characters/sec, this implies a character width of 3 mm. |
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Hell-72 "GL" start-stop mode: 110 cm/minute when transmitting or receiving text. Again, 3 mm per character, as the transmission speed is 6.13 chars/sec. |
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Hell-80 asynchronous mode: XXXXXXXXXXXX |
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Hell-80 start-stop mode: XXXXXXXXXXXX |
Several rolls of 15 mm wide paper
tape
30.1 mm ID
DIMENSIONS?
wood core + desiccant granules to ”paper tape” page - Hell-80?
These paper rolls ("Schreibrollen") are no longer available off-the-shelf. So the options are custom ordering (rather expensive), or taking standard un-oiled telex paper tape (not quite as expensive) and somehow cutting it down from 11/16" (≈ 17.5 mm) to 15 mm.
If anyone knows a source of affordable paper tape, let me know!
Even telex punch tape rolls are becoming hard to find, especially the un-oiled ones... I arranged the purchase of a case at WNC Supply (40 roles @ 1000 ft (≈ 330 m); $255, January 2007 pricing) for Andrew (SM6MOJ), but WNC no longer appear to be carrying un-oiled 11/16" tape (October 2008)... Oiled tape is used for auto-lubrication of high-speed machines.
Rolls of telex punch tape
Remmelt-Jan, PAØRJW, has constructed a very nice motorized paper tape cutter. It consists of an electric letter-opener and a motorized "reel to reel" telex punch-tape transfer spooler. The letter-opener just happens to cut off 2.5 mm (≈ 0.1") - exactly what is needed when starting out with telex punch tape! The cutting speed is limited by the letter-opener. Remmelt controls the speed of the spooler with a variac (a.k.a. variable autotransformer, rheostat) and runs a roll of tape through the machine in about 4 minutes (about 5 km/h, 3 mph). Remmelt has already sliced some 32 km (20 miles) of tape this way, all with the original cutter blades of the letter-opener!
The set-up: letter opener, guidance for entering & exiting tape, and the
spooling machine
The inside of the letter-opener / pencil sharpener
Guide pins (from a VCR?) help the tape move through letter-opener in an orderly
fashion
(the blue ballpoint pen tube diverts the 2.5 mm cut-off away from the "main"
tape)
330 meters of 2.5 mm wide cut-off
- perhaps suitable for a "micro-Hellschreiber"?
I have considered experimenting with a telex tape splicing contraption that uses old-fashioned razor blades (that are also becoming hard(er) to find, hi):
Same felt ink rollers used in Feld-Hell, Hell-72 and Hell-80 machines.
"Farbrolle"
Diameters: OD, ID, width: 30 mm, 18.5 mm, 14 mm
The Hellschreiber ink roller and spare felt rings
Original small box
with spare ink roller
(photo courtesy John Alexander Wilson)
Original accessories
Feld-Hell box
(photo courtesy John Alexander Wilson)
Decades after introduction of the Feld-Hell, the Hell company developed and marketed a re-inking device or ink-applicator ("Einfärbvorrichtung"). This to put an end to the rather messy manual re-inking process. In October of 2009, I bought one of these gadgets via eBay for a mere €4.50 (≈$6.75). It is NOS ("new old stock"); mine was manufactured in 1970.
"Einfärbvorrichtung"
re-inking device for Hellschreiber felt ink roller
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"Einfärbvorrichtung Type EF 2/B - Gebrauchsanleitung" [instructions for using the re-inking device], 1 p. (courtesy Heinz Blumberg, DC4GL) |
Original
label on the packaging of the re-inking device
The 1941 Feld-Hell manual recommends using ink ("Schreibfarbe") that is a "colloidal solution of pigment in oil". This minimizes drying out of the felt roller and collecting deposits of ink on the spindle. The same manual prescribes the use of special ink "HB 45 violett". I am not aware of a source of this particular ink today.
An original ink
bottle
(photo courtesy John Alexander Wilson)
Water-based ink is not recommended: it causes corrosion of the thin steel bushing on which the felt ring is installed. Also, the capillary action of the paper causes such ink to be dispersed, making the printed text fuzzy shortly after being printed. Alcohol-based inks also tend to be rather "thin" and cause dispersion of the printed text.
o Registriertinte, numerator
ink, recorder ink, oil-based
I keep inked felt rings (including the one normally installed on the printer) wrapped in plastic kitchen foil (cling-wrap), to prevent them from drying out.
Various types
of ink used on the Hell ink rollers
Some other options are Pelikan dark violet "Stempelfarbe ohne Öl" (endorsing ink without oil). This is liquid ink that comes in a small bottle. Another (slightly) thicker liquid ink is Edding T25 (e.g., black); this is basically professional drafters ink.
I use Pelikan-brand endorsing ink on the roller of my home-built Hell-printer. It is thick and comes in a tube. The label says that it is intended for felt pads. Just what I needed. You just may want to use gloves when handling this type of ink!
Black
endorsing ink that I use on my home-built Hell printer
©2009 F. Dörenberg N4SPP
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