4 ms·
> Carriage return moved the paper (on typewriters before the IBM Ball) and moved the print head (the "ball" on an IBM typewriter, or the actual print head on TT
by bregma 1y ago
> Carriage return moved the paper (on typewriters before the IBM Ball) and moved the print head (the "ball" on an IBM typewriter, or the actual print head on TTYs and DECWriter equivalents) back to column 0.
Carriage return always returned the carriage to the far right. Neither the print ball (if there was one), the printwheel, nor the typebars moved. Linefeed rotated the platen.
It's true the carriage return lever operated both the carriage and the platen. Manually operated with the left hand and pushed one level deep it would release the carriage lock and let you return the carriage to the right. Pushed a second level deep it would rotate the platen one, one and a half, or two lines depending on the setting.
- kps 1y ago> Neither the print ball (if there was one), the printwheel, nor the typebars moved. Certainly the head moved on most if not all ball/cylinder/wheel devices. Look at the Selectrics, Teletype 33, the Diablo/Xerox/Qume terminals, as common examples.
- bregma 1y agoI have never seen a Selectric in which the ball moved instead of the carriage. I can't imagine how complicated the mechanics would be for that and how often it would jam, break, or malfunction. Certainly not something a company such as IBM would make their reputation on. I used many Selectrics in my time.
- kps 1y agoYou must be confusing these with something else. Every Selectric had a fixed carriage and moving head. IBM Selectric: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNUEUth7qjc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNUEUth7qjc IBM Wheelwriter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZabsF0aIE6k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZabsF0aIE6k NEC Spinwriter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCCB0AW9yT4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCCB0AW9yT4 Diablo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5bodpSsFl8&t=342 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5bodpSsFl8&t=342 Teletype Model 33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N8gu5F894k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N8gu5F894k