Selectric/72

[y11971alex]

Today, I went on a day trip to the Niagara Falls on the Canadian side.  While I was touring the neighbourhood, I found a Selectric for sale for $50 CAD, or roughly $36 USD, in operational condition with only a couple of quirks.  Unfortunately, I didn't have access to a car, nor was I expecting to be carrying a typewriter with me, so I had to lug it home via public transit.  :shock:



Nevertheless, it's in awesome condition.



Response is prompt, and action is fluid, after I repeatedly touched the sticky keys to loosen them from the grease applied when they were last serviced: 1971.  For a typewriter that hasn't been serviced for the last 35 years, it was up and running in record time.



According to the back panel, this was ordered and installed by Toronto Stock Exchange in Nov. 26th, 1970, so it's probably that this unit dates from 1970 or 1969.  Internal engravings show that this was made in Canada.



There's some minor dust in the mechanism.  :idea:

[klennkellon]

Cool, how to selectrics feel to type on?

[y11971alex]

Cool, how to selectrics feel to type on?

I can't say for sure about some keys, but the ones that are functioning properly feel like beam springs (obviously), but even lighter than beam springs. The tactility is extreme, because not only do you get the "interposer" dropping from under the keys, you also get the thud of the golf ball hitting the platen.  The solenoid on the beam springs is only a pale shadow of the knock with an actual Selectric. 

[SBJ]

Today, I went on a day trip to the Niagara Falls on the Canadian side.  While I was touring the neighbourhood, I found a Selectric for sale for $50 CAD, or roughly $36 USD, in operational condition with only a couple of quirks.  Unfortunately, I didn't have access to a car, nor was I expecting to be carrying a typewriter with me, so I had to lug it home via public transit.  :shock:

Hah cool, real cool.
Sorry you had to lug it all the way home, that does seem like a pain in the ass.

[Rally Man]

They made those things to survive wars, probably can use one as a shield too! 

I used to love playing with my grandpa's Selectric.  He would give me the letter balls when they broke so I can play with them.

Cool find. 

[chyros]

Nice . I've heard the typing feel is very distinct because of the mechanism that whacks the support bar out from under the keys or something. I'd like to give one of these a try someday, hopefully I'll run into one at the recycling centre at some point . 

[y11971alex]

Nice . I've heard the typing feel is very distinct because of the mechanism that whacks the support bar out from under the keys or something. I'd like to give one of these a try someday, hopefully I'll run into one at the recycling centre at some point .

I hope so too!  I also hope I could do some simple servicing work on this machine, since a Selectric servicing by a trained technician could cost me $150 per hour plus parts. 

[y11971alex]

I'll be sending off the Selectric to the typewriter repair shop here in Toronto. 

[Trystero]

Nice! I've got an IBM Selectric II Correcting and, while I quite like that it's a bit of a tank, I much prefer the rounded shape of yours. I too had to lug my huge lump of metal around on public transport hahaha

[y11971alex]

Update on the Selectric.  The technician called back, saying that it's soaking in a special solvent designed to dissolve the old lubricant, dating from 1970, that is turning into an adhesive. 

It's going to soak for 5 or 6 says, since a day-long soak only works for Selectric IIIs, for some reason. 

The sticker on the machine also reads "Johnston Office Equipment", which was once a competitor of the technician's firm.  Johnston folded a few years ago, so now they have something of a monopoly on Selectric repairs going on.  Even IBM Canada had to call them up to repair the Selectrics they still use a few months ago.