Opening Up a Selectric Typewriter - How it Works and How to Clean and Lube

[msiegel]

i'm really enjoying your recent spelunking

[timw4mail]

That is an awesome looking plug.

[keyb_gr]

So... Did you renew the foam? I suppose it was there to reduce noise. PC silencing is old and boring, typewriter silencing is the new trend...

[DrunkenDonut]

Nice write up and pics! I'm actually tempted to pull out my Selectric II and start poking around. I'm afraid mine will need a trip to a professional though, as it looks like some cables are out of place.

Being able to take the case off is a good start.  

I don't remember when I got mine, but it must have been at least 10 years ago. It was broken when I got it, and nobody has attempted to figure it out or send it out for repair since then.

I did notice that my foam is also breaking down. There's remarkably similar looking foam in my car underneath an ashtray that's also breaking down. Nasty stuff to clean up since it crumbly yet also feels oily at the same time. :yuck:

[timw4mail]

Bad news for IBM Model F users.  The IBM M uses what looks to be a pretty durable rubber sheet.  Probably both are replaceable but a pain to cut since there are 90 some holes to cut.

How is that bad news for the Model F users?

[EverythingIBM]

How is that bad news for the Model F users?

Model Fs (I prefer XT) use capacitative switches opposed to rubber membrane sheets found in Model Ms.

Capacitative mechanisms would be a lot of pain in the rip-side to fix. Although, if I am correct, each one has a little signature of an IBM employee who tested it. I ought to open mine some time and see.

EDIT: Before someone misreads what I said, I prefer the TERM *XT* over model F.

[trievalot]

Model Fs (I prefer XT) use capacitative switches opposed to rubber membrane sheets found in Model Ms.

Capacitative mechanisms would be a lot of pain in the rip-side to fix. Although, if I am correct, each one has a little signature of an IBM employee who tested it. I ought to open mine some time and see.

i ought to go get the 2 XT boards i know a guy has for $5 each.

[EverythingIBM]

i ought to go get the 2 XT boards i know a guy has for $5 each.

Well hurry and buy them! If you have a few spares, they'd be good for some modding. Hey, maybe it would be possible to put XT springs in a model M. I like the feel of the XTs better... but not the noise. Model M noise is good; especially my model M, sounds different than most model Ms I've come across. Perhaps because it's an older one? Whatever the case, I love the metal spring reverberation, especially when my spacebar makes a funny hissing "pssst".

[mr_a500]

EDIT: Before someone misreads what I said, I prefer the TERM *XT* over model F.

 
Why would you prefer the term "XT"? The original IBM PC, XT and AT keyboards (pre-Model M) were all Model F keyboards, so saying "Model F" is more accurate when describing the switch type.

[fohat.digs]

And now, yet another time-consuming project. I have 2 "working" Selectrics in the basement, I think maybe I have a brown II and a green III, but I have not looked in awhile.

Having spent a couple of months working on Model Ms, and a couple more working on Model Fs, that Selectric looks like another world.

I might have to be unemployed for a few months before I could get up the time and energy to tackle one of those.

I would like to eventually have one really nice working specimen. In a nutshell, can anyone tell me, what are the differences between I, II, and III, and which is most desirable? (ie for me that means dependable and durable)

Oh, yes, I like the green. Are the cases interchangeable?

[mr_a500]

I just picked this up for $30:


It looks pretty good for its age, but I'm still going to have to "de-gunkify" the thing. It works, but there's the occasional character spacing screwup and return doesn't return correctly.

I just found this great video (unsure if anybody's already posted it):

The narrator sounds like the voice of the computer in Zardoz.