[WTF] 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]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

Ricoh 1224c.

Why?

Oh yeah...
And Ricoh 1232c.

Faster Why?

-I

[mojorolla]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

Anyone remember the color fax machines...?

[10871087]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

Ricoh 1224c.

Why?

Oh yeah...
And Ricoh 1232c.

Faster Why?

Was the question really that difficult to understand?

[Hemlock]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

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]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

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]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

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]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

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]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

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!!!!

[JimHegs]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

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...

I have had one of those edit pens sitting in the pencil cup on my desk for the past 8 or so years, I'm glad i'm not the only one who knows what they are. I never saw a customer use it either but it was cool on a demo.

2011-07-14_11-04-19_797.jpg

[Jules Winfield]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

I haven't seen one of those in years...

[copyruss]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

Way before digital copiers. Mita 900d Express. Was a modified 900d made to print reverse image transfers - like for t-shirts & coffee mugs. Had a second lense in the optics to achieve the reverse image. Special toner that was expensive as hell - like $45/gram. Had no clue it was a special machine until I ran a copy - imagine my surprise seeing a reverse image test chart that was in perfect focus. Just did a search and someone is trying to sell one!

Repos4Resale Repos4resale has just received an Xpres

[KenB]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

There were a few...

1. Canon had a CFF (computer forms feeder) attachment for the NP6060. It was a tractor feed doc feeder that would copy onto letter sized paper at a preset reduction ratio.It would swing into place on a pivot.

I had precisely one of 'em, and it never worked from Day One.

2. Canon had a PC (DOS based) fax server around 1994 or so. All it ever did was constantly lock up, and the fax board it used, while a name brand, was a joke. It would only work with a Novell network with Windows 3.1 clients.

3. While a number of companies made them, G4 fax never did actually take off. When it worked, it was great - super fast and really good quality - but that's when it worked. There were so many different protocols out there that nobody ever standardized on one.

Sadly, I had a few of these - at a trucking company, a library, and a bank.

[10871087]

Re: Unusual machines / why did they build it?

3. While a number of companies made them, G4 fax never did actually take off. When it worked, it was great - super fast and really good quality - but that's when it worked. There were so many different protocols out there that nobody ever standardized on one.

Since you bring up ill-conceived fax items:

Mita had an Ai-1515F forever ago that could send an 11x17 fax which was cool selling point for architects and design people. The problem was that the only way the feature actually worked was if the fax on the RX end was also a 1515F (which it never was). This was detail the sales rep never fully explained so I spent more then a few service calls explaining to customers why the people on the receiving end of the faxes would receive the fax "shrunk" down to 8.5x11.

It went something like this:

TECHNICIAN: You need another one of these machines on the receiving end for the 11x17 faxing to actually work.

CUSTOMER: Huh... the sale rep said it will send an 11x17 fax

TECHNICIAN: I'm sorry sir, the fax machine on the other end of the conversation has a max paper size of 8.5x11 so it is physically impossible for them to actually receive your document onto 11x17 paper

CUSTOMER: Huh... the sale rep said it will send an 11x17 fax, and my client said it came on the small paper on their end.

TECHNICIAN: Yes, I understand what you are saying but if the receiving fax can't even physically hold 11x17 paper then it certainly can't output onto 11x17 paper.

CUSTOMER: Huh... now I'm really confused... the sale rep said it will send an 11x17 fax, and my client said it came on the small paper on their end.

TECHNICIAN: The only time that feature can work is when there is another Ai-1515F on the receiving end of the fax.

CUSTOMER: Huh... the sale rep said it will send an 11x17 fax.

TECHNICIAN: I'll have the sales rep call you.