CPT Cassetype 4200

From Lexikon's History of Computing (http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/01AboutThisEncyclopedia.htm) Master Chronology (http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/01HISTORYCD-Chrono1.htm) "1971 (May) CPT Corporation is founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its first product is the Series 4200 word processor (to be shipped in 1972). "

CPT (Cassette Power Typing) Corporation of Minneapolis, Minnesota, produced dedicated word processing systems and was one of the best known names in such systems during the 1970's and early 1980's. The original product, the CPT 4200, was a cassette tape base memory add-on for IBM Selectric typewriters.

http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/cpt/index.php http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/DedicatedWPMicros.htm

Acquisition
Early this January, me 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 us 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.