Dr. CockroachFound this Smith Corona Typewriter for $8 and it works fine. No, the Hello World is not from IO... I might be able to patch IO into the keyboard electronics so please pray for me on this one :-)
The keys press a small rubber? coated finger across the meshed contacts so I think that the contact is acting like a capacitor. Going to begin mapping out the matrix...
So far so good. The contacts are simple make and break. Makes the use with IO a little easier :-
So here it is March 4, 2018 and I have cobbled up a plug in adapter to where the keyboard ribbon cable connects to the main board. Take a look at the progression and either shake your head or chuckle a little but the connection is rock solid.
At least this way I can restore the typewriter back to the way it used to be later :-)
Here is how the connector has mapped out.
All wired up and ready for input from IO :-)
Just at the point where IO is able to send a signal to the typewriter with each sequencer cycle. This is just the beginning.
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Muahahah!
Jacking done properly. Such a pity modern electronics is just too small for artistry like this, it takes all the fun out of it. ;-)
Nice one Doc; "First, do no harm..." :-D
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When I brought it home, my wife told me not to kill it so I had to promise her that I would be able to put it back the way it was Lol
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Nice find. I can't wait to see this working! I will have to be on the lookout for a typewriter like this. I would cheat and use a few eproms as the decoding but it is a lot more impressive with what you are doing!
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Thanks, I make weekly trips to my area thrift stores and almost always find items donated like this so keep checking around :-)
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Not so cool as my Robotron S6130 :) But acceptable enough!)
Does it already has RS-232 Input and can be used as terminal? Or you need to modify it?
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No RS-232 but it looks like I can disconnect the keyboard ribbon cable and patch into the board. the keyboard uses 17 conductors for its matrix so I will have some fun in mapping things out :-) If all else fails then I have a good cheap typewriter :-)
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Hey Artem, I just checked out your Robotron Youtube. Your right, it is cool :-)
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