> > Paul, if you come across any VT52s that have the built-in screen > printer could you take some pictures please. > > Has anyone ever seen one? I had an idea it used a silvered-paper and > burned it off? or am I mis-remembering.
I have one. Well, in a VT55, but that is a VT52 with a graph-plotting board, so I guess it counts :-) It appears to be electrolytic. You have to keep the paper damp (there is a wick inside that you put water on. The paper goes between a helical electrode on a spinning drum and a straight strip, the latter being replaced when you fit a new roll of paper. Whether it is some chemical in the paper that changes colour, or metal depositied from the electrode I don't know (the former seems more likely). I have never got it to work. Whether that is due to electronic problems (that I can fix) or chemical problems with the old paper (which I can't) I don't yet know. -tony
