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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: quadibloc on Fri, 29 July 2011, 08:12:23

Title: IBM Selectric Anniversary!
Post by: quadibloc on Fri, 29 July 2011, 08:12:23

So soon on the heels of IBM's 100th anniversary, I read this news item:

http://www.reghardware.com/2011/07/29/ibm_selectric_golfball_anniversary/

Sunday, July 31 will be the 50th anniversary of the IBM Selectric!

Of course, one can go back long before 1961... all the way back to 1895... and find the Blickensderfer... but I know that a Varityper, based on the Hammond, needed one to press very forcefully on the keys to make it work, and so there were reasons why the Selectric succeeded where the Blickensderfer went by the wayside.

First, you need a good typewriter - easy to type on, producing copy of high quality. The ability to type a diversity of characters is just gravy - a nice extra, but not attractive enough to get people to use a typewriter that works less well than an ordinary typebar office typewriter. (And, to make things worse, unlike the Hammond, the Blickensderfer, which came first, had a non-QWERTY keyboard.)

Title: IBM Selectric Anniversary!
Post by: mr_a500 on Fri, 29 July 2011, 08:33:01

I'm still trying to find a good Selectic. Last month I saw a perfect condition original Selectric on Craigslist - and it was the exact colour I wanted - but then I noticed the seller just copied the picture from Wikipedia. I asked the seller for an actual picture, but he kept saying it was identical to the one he posted. After asking for the third time, the seller finally sent a picture - of a dirty Selectric III. (not even the same colour!)

I'll get one eventually. I have to. I can't let my balls go to waste.

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13315&stc=1&d=1288905449)

Title: IBM Selectric Anniversary!
Post by: N8N on Fri, 29 July 2011, 08:34:47

dang, I didn't realize people wanted those.  There was one in Goodwill for $30 or so the other day (was in there looking for cast iron skillets or other kitchen gadgets...)  isn't there now though, I've been back since.

Title: IBM Selectric Anniversary!
Post by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 29 July 2011, 19:39:49

Quote from: mr_a500;389330

I'm still trying to find a good Selectic. Last month I saw a perfect condition original Selectric on Craigslist - and it was the exact colour I wanted - but then I noticed the seller just copied the picture from Wikipedia. I asked the seller for an actual picture, but he kept saying it was identical to the one he posted. After asking for the third time, the seller finally sent a picture - of a dirty Selectric III. (not even the same colour!)

I'll get one eventually. I have to. I can't let my balls go to waste.

Show Image

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13315&stc=1&d=1288905449)

Sigh... I want a blue or beige selectric, model I or II (not III as the keys can wear off and I don't like how it looks).