> Does anyone know where to find a punched card reader
> these days? I'm looking for a small desktop unit that
> I could interface to a PC.
>
Thinking a little more broadly might provide a larger solution set.
Computers weren't the only devices that used punched cards.
A good number of late '60's to early '70's-era programmable electronic
calculators used punched cards for easy loading of programs into the
calculator's memory.
Most of these were fairly low-volume devices, but, the mechanisms
might be adapted for automatic feeding. The devices were designed
to be small, desktop units that could easily fit on a desktop with
a calculator.
Vendors that made calculators that used such technology were
Compucorp/Monroe
and Hewlett-Packard.
The Compucorp/Monroe CR-01 card reader does have a motorized drive to run
the cards through the reading station. Some minor modifications may be
necessary
to match logic levels and clocking schemes, but it's a good start, and
may be more common than finding vintage computer punched card handlers.
You can see an example of the CR-01 in the exhibit for the Monroe 1665
electronic calculator at my "Old Calculator Web Museum" at
http://www.geocities.com/oldcalculators/monroe1665.html
Rick Bensene
The Old Calculator Web Museum
Received on Fri Jun 22 2001 - 13:12:03 BST