The Texas Instruments Silent 700 Electronic Data Terminal.

This is one of a couple of Acoustic Couplers I collected. This had already fallen out of use when I started and was going to be dumped. Actually, quite a nice self-contained unit, in its own carry case. Undo four clips on the side, and the whole lid comes away.

Once the lid is removed the device is revealed in all its glory. It has a good, solid qwerty keyboard, some extra buttons on the side and at the top, the cups for the phone cradle to rest on. I’ve no idea what this was used for, but the label says:

‘TO DELETE CHARACTER(S)
JUST ENTERED USE
SHIFT O (LETTER OH) (S)

FOR CASCAID OR LEDGER
ENQUIRY SYSTEMS’

As you can see it still has its original thermal paper roll still installed.

This rear view shows the phone cups more clearly and also its serial interface, which is a 15-way D-Sub connector. I have no idea what speed this thing ran at, but it couldn’t have been much fun to use. To anyone that complains how slow their Internet service is, just think of being in the shoes of whoever used this;-)