CPT Cassetype 4200
The CPT Cassetype 4200 is a dedicated word processing microcomputer system. It was the first product manufactured by the CPT Corporation. The CPT Cassetype 4200 is a two part system consisting of an electronic typewriter and a control console.
The typewriter is a modified IBM Selectric that has been transformed into a CPT Rotary II by relegating power transformation duties to the console and adding an interface that allows communication with the console. Six special keys have also been added that control how typed information is recorded onto the console cassette deck.
The console is a specially designed controller for the CPT Rotary II typewriter. It records information entered on the typewriter and the console keys to the lower cassette deck. On demand, the information can be played back to the typewriter from either cassette deck to reproduce copies of a document. It is also possible to include information in a document. CPT called this feature "Automatic (repetitive) Letter." Today, this is commonly known as mail merge.
The console connects to a wall socket for power, and in turn provides power to the typewriter. The console and the typewriter are connected together with a bidirectional data cable for recording of typed information onto tapes in the console, and automated retyping (aka printing) of information stored on tapes read by the console. A volatile memory buffer in the console stores up to 200 characters (one line of text or less) before they are written to tape. Each CPT Cassette tape stores about 40 pages on 140 feet of magnetic tape.
Acquisition
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Early this January, Martin and Mike unboxed a CPT 4200 word processing system donated by Jeffery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is now a great addition to the museum collection.
He wrote to the museum with the donation offer in early September 2004. "I have available for donation a CPT 4200 Series word processor, a mid-1970's dedicated word processor with modified Selectric typewriter [rebadged as a CPT Rotary II] and audio cassette-based storage system," he said in the email. The donation also included the user manual, dust covers and extra Selectric ball.
He also included these specs, which prove just how hefty the 4200 is:
Physical size: Selectric typewriter 20"x15"x7" (wdh); Processor 9"x20"x12" (wdh) Estimated total weight: 80 lbs
It arrived in two well packed boxes, but not well packed enough to prevent some minor shipping damage to the cassette storage system (the key that is missing in all the photos was later reattached without a problem). True to form, the modified selectric held up like a tank. We took off the case of the cassette storage box to reseat the internals, and got a look at the amazing archaic mechanical relay switches and the ten circuit boards, each of which controls a separate function.
Images
Typewriter
Front of our CPT 4200 Rotary II
Keyboard of our CPT Rotary II
Logo of CPT 4200 Rotary II
Back of our CPT Rotary II
Console
Side of our CPT 4200 Series Console
CPT Console with Case Off
Sticker on inside of CPT Console
Circut controller boards of CPT Console
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Documentation
The Highland Historic Computer Museum received a photocopied manual titled The CPT 4200 Series Training Manual with this donation. It has been reproduced here in multiple forms for research and study of computer history.
PDF version
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The museum has created a PDF of this documentation with Adobe Capture 2.0, software that uses OCR to recognize text, but can also preserve graphical areas. The advantages of this format include small file size and full text search, however this is not an historically accurate reproduction due to software limitations. This documentation was scanned in black and white at 200 ppi. |
High quality scans
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The museum has created several high quality scans to preserve the original CPT 4200 Series Training Manual with as much detail as possible. This documentation was scanned in greyscale at 200 ppi. |
Page showing CPT Cassetype System
Page showing how system is connected
Page showing Console features
page showing Typewriter features
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External links
- CPT Ink Ribbons
- Binary Dinosaurs - CPT Corporation
- Lexikon's History of Computing - Dedicated Word Processing Microcomputers (including CPT, among others)
