geekhack
geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: SCTony on Sun, 13 September 2009, 10:18:41
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(Sorry about the typo in the title) I found this yesterday in a thrift store - an IBM Wheelwriter 3500 (Lexmark). It was made in early 1994 and uses buckling spring keys. It is in decent condition but needs a good cleaning. I mainly got it for the springs. And maybe the PLAY key.:smile: $8
I also found an interesting old calculator.
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Those Wheelwriters are still in use at my workplace.
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Yes they fit into the Model M. I hope the springs are compatible as well.
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It may be - it makes an arcing sound when turned on. The digits lit up but I didn't leave it on but for a second. Hopefully it will be a simple repair.
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an IBM Wheelwriter 3500 (Lexmark). It was made in early 1994 and uses buckling spring keys. It is in decent condition but needs a good cleaning. I mainly got it for the springs. And maybe the PLAY key.:smile: $8
I've read in numerous places that the buckling spring keyboards were supposedly an attempt to imitate the feel of the Selectric keys.
Here, they've unquestionably turned that around and built the Wheelwriter using the same keys as their PC keyboards.
I'm sure it costs a lot less to build an electronic typewriter like this, though, compared to the electromechanical Selectrics.
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Well the calculator is beyond my repair- the circuit traces are corroded. It has interesting switch mechanism though- spring over spring. It has very thick double-shot keys too.
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Lol that Wheelwriter sure is fun to type on. Lots of whirring and banging and beeping. Sounds like little hammers striking. I hate to use it for parts- maybe my mom will use it for her writing. Now to find a manual and to see how expensive the ribbons are...