GNT 4601 Paper Tape Punch - Punching Words into Paper tape

Phil shows us the GNT 4601 paper tape punch. It's a exhibit at the Centre for Computing History. Controlled from an old DOS laptop and programmed in Borland Turbo C, the computer allows people to type in their name and have it punched into the paper tape.

[vileCR]

Funny you mentioned CNC machines; I'm currently working with an Emco CNC lathe that can accept programs and save them from and to paper tape. It's mind boggling! And it was manufactured in 1988 so not really that old!

[alanpecherer]

I used to sell these things in the mid-80's to folks who were involved with videotape editing. They would store their edit lists on paper tape. They were not cheap, I think the punch/reader was like $2500. Fortunately at that time, nobody gave a crap about money, it seemed like it was running ankle deep in the streets. They were exceptionally reliable, at least. Truly primitive!

[eliotmansfield]

I worked in the Olivetti repair lab in the 80s and these things came in for repair. Essentially we just blew the dust out of them. I think i plugged it into a Olvetti M10 and sent an alphabet out from basic and then read it back in again. In fact now I think about it, I made a loop of tape with the alphabet punched into it and I left it running all day and the basic program just checked that it received a to z.

[jodebanzie]

hi, I wonder if you can help me....I'm a photographic artist working on a project to do with the sinking of an iron ore carrier in WW2. The work is commemorative and as part of the installation I would like to find a way of writing the names of the 40 crew in morse code on paper tape. I've not been able to get my hands on an original morse perforator, but wonder if you might be able to help or suggest something? Willing to pay, of course. Thank you so much.

[rodrigobrasiliense]

I have an equal machine. I want to punch something but I do not know how. Can you help me? I want to at least test the machine to see if it's okay. Is it possible to drill the tape without connecting to a computer?

[PolskieKomputery]

Where can I download this software? :) I have this tape puncher and I want to test it.

[michaelnitschke]

Has anyone managed to get the software to be able to do this?

[d_rrr_vince]

Please amplify your mic as it is hard to listen on my phone.

[paulklasmann]

Is the source code available? I'd like to test my GNT machine.