Unusual machines / why did they build it?

[10871087]

Just had a good idea for a new discussion. What was the most interesting, unusual, useless, specialty, one of a kind, or re-engineered machine or accessory you ever worked on. What was it, who made it, and what did it do or try to do. NOT the crappiest, fastest, or biggest (that is a different discussion) but the strangest thing you have seen.

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I'll start with a fine 1996'ish offering from the always industry trailing, Mita Copystar America. The Mita DD-1 was basically a small Laser printer that dropped the printed pages into the document feeder of an analog copier and started a run of copies. The thing had a print driver that would allow you to send the print/copy job with option like staple, punch, dpx & qty. It actually worked but it was pretty stupid from a technology standpoint since most of the other manufacturers were already well into their first generation of digital machines. I saw a few in showrooms but never saw one get sold.

[Ianizer]

Ricoh 1224c.

Why?

Oh yeah...
And Ricoh 1232c.

Faster Why?

-I

[mojorolla]

Anyone remember the color fax machines...?

[10871087]

Ricoh 1224c.

Why?

Oh yeah...
And Ricoh 1232c.

Faster Why?

Was the question really that difficult to understand?

[Hemlock]

Most WTF-ish: a tractor feed system for some of the old Oce' doc feeders. Designed to take the old line printer paper (green & white alternating lines, holes down the sides, continuous feed) and allow you to copy it to cut sheet. Only saw one out in the wild, never saw it used - probably a good thing.

[Ianizer]

Was the question really that difficult to understand?

Evidentally.
Did I answer improperly?
-I

[ss12]

Anyone remember sharp sf-8400?this had an edit function which worked with a red marker pen,never really worked properly if at all.once had to set one up which had to be done in a darkened room and by adjusting varistors on the edit board.total pita

[Jules Winfield]

Mita DC-2055 series with the editing tablet on the top of the platen cover. You used the little plastic stylus that came with it to select areas of the copies to mask out. Totally useless function. Never ever saw it used...

[10871087]

Most WTF-ish: a tractor feed system for some of the old Oce' doc feeders. Designed to take the old line printer paper (green & white alternating lines, holes down the sides, continuous feed) and allow you to copy it to cut sheet. Only saw one out in the wild, never saw it used - probably a good thing.

I had 1 customer that used that option on a Mita DC-8585 and it actually worked pretty well except you had to tend to the exiting pinfeed original to keep it folding correctly or you would end up with a mess.

[charm5496]

the Canon NP-4080 had a color cartridge CD unit changer that held 4 seperate color cartridges and would rotate them in and out as the customer selected for copying....This thing would give me nightmares it was such a mechanical disaster!!!!