Amstrad PCW tractor feed mechanism?

[erikarn]

hi! I've been wondering how to feed continuous stationary into my PCW8512/8256 and although I've found mentions of a tractor feed attachment, I've not seen it for it. I have two PCW + printer sets now, and although they both came in boxes, neither came with a tractor feed.

Does anyone have photographs / information about it?

Thanks!


-adrian

[GeoffB17]

Hello,

I've just dug out the cont paper feeder for my original PCW, and it's still there although I.m not sure I ever used it much. It's a fairly flimsy plastic thing that slots onto the top of the standard printer, there's a white cog wheel on the left underside of the feeder that connects with the white cog visible to the left of the platen on the top of the printer.  Some other nearby holes are for projections on the feeder to slot into.  The whole thing is about 2.5 inch square and just over 12 inches long.  When I get some better light I'll try to do some pics.

Most people using the PCW as a WP may never have needed the tractor, as the sheet feed system worked pretty well.  Tractor prob got put aside and forgotten.

I recently got a second PCW (my original is an 8256, the recent addition is an 8512) the printer is still packed but I expect there will be a tractor adaptor there too.

Pages 41/42 of the CP/M part of the manual illustrate the tractor assembly and detail how to mount and operate it.

Geoff

[erikarn]

thanks, pictures would be great.

Neither of my boxed PCWs came with a tractor attachment

[GeoffB17]

I've just got a hand into the box with the recent printer, and groped about.  Can't get the box out yet, it's under and behind other things.

I could feel the TF, and managed to get it out.  So yes, it's there.

Inspecting this other unit, which has been in the hands of others for many years so has not been cared for as has my unit, I see that it is missing some bits.   I THINK just the covers for the cogs at either end on the TF, and this may well NOT affect the operation.  I'll need to look further.   I doubt these are loose in the box.  I think that this PCW had been used by a school for a number of years long ago.

There is not very much in the manual.   OK if you've got the actual pieces in hand, but not if you've not.  I could scan the couple of pages if you've not got the manual.

I'll try to get the units in good light, and photo them side-by-side, top and bottom,

Geoff

[GeoffB17]

Found this pic on the web.

PCW looks somewhat grubby, and the TF seems to be like my recent unit and the cog covers are missing, but it will give you some idea.

Geoff

[GeoffB17]

Got some pics, hope they help.

Geoff

[erikarn]

Thanks! Yeah it does. I'm pretty sure I've not seen those in my PCW piles and I'm also pretty sure I'd have remembered seeing them. :-)

Thanks heaps again!


-adrian