Most of the teletypes I used could barely be read up close because the ink was so thin.

The Kleinschmidt teletype was an amazingly long-lasting technology. Not only were they still in use when I worked in broadcasting in the sixties, they were the mainstay of our Army communications center when I was in Tehran during the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79.

I remember listening to the news on the radio decades ago when there was the background sound of a teletype machine running. This gave the impression that you were getting up to the minute news. For example: "I have just been handed this teletype with details of the escaped convict."

This immediately brings back the machine oil smell and incessant -- but soothing -- chatter of the lone UPI teletype machine at our college radio station. And occasional bells -- hot news has arrived! Hard to imagine the collective racket from these old beasts in that miserable-looking dungeon.

Not surprisingly, UPI was in no hurry to upgrade their non-revenue college affiliate equipment; but for as long as we had it, the mighty teletype formed the on-air newsreader's sonic bed -- no tape loops, thank you! Imagine our disappointment when we were finally upgraded to a dot matrix model. Kess inky and oily, but absolutely unsuitable for background sounds. Zip! Zip! Ziiiiiiiiiiip ... zip-zip ...

It must have been very warm in that room with all those machines going, at the end of summer. Both guys are of course understandably in short sleeves with the air shaft windows open -- I note that they’ve also eschewed neckties, which were probably a safety hazard, leaning over the teletype machines.

His shirt is extremely clean for messing with all that carbon all day.

If that were me, my fingers would be blue all over not to mention my white shirt.