I originally went to get the $5.00 typewriter...
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The change in keyboards came as a result of electric typewriters. Both the underscore and the hyphen were moved to the same key to place both of them on a repeat action key. By holding down the key, it would repeat, thus allowing the operator to underline or create a dashed line.
whirlcool
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Having a typewriter around is always handy. It can be used for quick small jobs that just can't be done efficiently on a computer, like ONE address label, etc.
Back when I was in college, (1969-73) I had a Royal semi electric portable. The space bar, shift buttons and carriage return were all manual, but the other keys were electric. It didn't really have any feel to it like the IBM Selectrics do.
I never really liked it, I got rid of it within days of graduating.
We are currently looking out for a IBM Selectric III machine in tan. Not in any special hurry.
A former neighbor of ours in Chicago had a IBM typewriter dealership and repair center in Elmhurst, IL. It was a very large business with a lot of customers. When the IBM PC came out in 1981 his business dropped considerably. Then he added IBM PC's to his product line. When IBM introduced the PS/2 series of computers his business all but disappeared. His company folded in 1989.
Back when I was in college, (1969-73) I had a Royal semi electric portable. The space bar, shift buttons and carriage return were all manual, but the other keys were electric. It didn't really have any feel to it like the IBM Selectrics do.
I never really liked it, I got rid of it within days of graduating.
We are currently looking out for a IBM Selectric III machine in tan. Not in any special hurry.
A former neighbor of ours in Chicago had a IBM typewriter dealership and repair center in Elmhurst, IL. It was a very large business with a lot of customers. When the IBM PC came out in 1981 his business dropped considerably. Then he added IBM PC's to his product line. When IBM introduced the PS/2 series of computers his business all but disappeared. His company folded in 1989.
autowasherfreak
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John, I like your Model B Executive, nice color. Is this the one that uses both film and fabric ribbon? How do you control which ribbon you want to use. I would like to have one of those dual ribbon models, were they available in both standard and executive?
I like both ribbon systems, I like the fabric because you use a blk/red ribbon, the film for correspondence. I also noticed something interesting about the Model C with the different keyboard. It has a detachable power cord. Here's some pictures of it. I wondering if this was converted from 220v to 110v?
I like both ribbon systems, I like the fabric because you use a blk/red ribbon, the film for correspondence. I also noticed something interesting about the Model C with the different keyboard. It has a detachable power cord. Here's some pictures of it. I wondering if this was converted from 220v to 110v?
autowasherfreak
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Here's the other end.
To my knowledge, IBM did not offer dual ribbon capacity. The machine was either carbon or fabric ribbon.
Many other manufacturers offered that -- Royal, Smith Corona, Remington, and I believe Underwood.
I'm just a wealth of useless knowledge!
Ron
Many other manufacturers offered that -- Royal, Smith Corona, Remington, and I believe Underwood.
I'm just a wealth of useless knowledge!
Ron
Jim...that is interesting....I wonder if our overseas friends can pipe in on that cord....I'm thinking UK power.
Ron -- IBM did offer dual ribbon capability, at least on the A and B Models. Inside the B-Model Executive, as well as a B-Model Standard I had in the past, was enclosed the fabric ribbon. On the machine, you flipped it's lid forward to reveal the spool.
In an earlier post, you may have seen me speak of "earmuffs" That's the two protrusions you see on my Exec under the carriage at the side of the typewriter. Those hold the film/carbon ribbon.
The ribbon switch has an additional detent which turns off/on the fabric ribbon. Actually, it shifts the ribbon advance ratchet from the film ribbon advance to the fabric ribbon advance. When using the fabric ribbon, yes, the frame that presents the ribbon to the oncoming type bar makes quite a jump.
Whereas my C Model has "ribbon rewind" as one of the toggles, these "dualies" ifyou will, had a metal tab inside the typewriter that you pressed to rewind the fabric ribbon.
Something interesting I saw comparing C Models with a user on Vacuumland. My C has two toggles at the left, Ribbon Position, and Ribbon Rewind. His has only the Ribbon Position. I don't know, but wonder, if Ribbon Rewind was done with an internal metal tab, as described above, an additional detent on the Ribbon Position toggle, or some other method.
John
Ron -- IBM did offer dual ribbon capability, at least on the A and B Models. Inside the B-Model Executive, as well as a B-Model Standard I had in the past, was enclosed the fabric ribbon. On the machine, you flipped it's lid forward to reveal the spool.
In an earlier post, you may have seen me speak of "earmuffs" That's the two protrusions you see on my Exec under the carriage at the side of the typewriter. Those hold the film/carbon ribbon.
The ribbon switch has an additional detent which turns off/on the fabric ribbon. Actually, it shifts the ribbon advance ratchet from the film ribbon advance to the fabric ribbon advance. When using the fabric ribbon, yes, the frame that presents the ribbon to the oncoming type bar makes quite a jump.
Whereas my C Model has "ribbon rewind" as one of the toggles, these "dualies" ifyou will, had a metal tab inside the typewriter that you pressed to rewind the fabric ribbon.
Something interesting I saw comparing C Models with a user on Vacuumland. My C has two toggles at the left, Ribbon Position, and Ribbon Rewind. His has only the Ribbon Position. I don't know, but wonder, if Ribbon Rewind was done with an internal metal tab, as described above, an additional detent on the Ribbon Position toggle, or some other method.
John
Crap, I suppose you guys will want to see the IBM 3741 8" diskette "keypunch" machine when you're in town! ...and once again, no pics...
autowasherfreak
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Heck Yes!
I'm interested in anything made by IBM, not just typewriters.
I'm interested in anything made by IBM, not just typewriters.
autowasherfreak
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Ribbon Rewind
If it doesn't have a ribbon rewind, it probably uses the film ribbon. Film ribbon models didn't have a ribbon rewind on the outside of the machine. If you can find the thread, I will look at it, I can probably tell if it's fabric ribbon or film ribbon.
If it doesn't have a ribbon rewind, it probably uses the film ribbon. Film ribbon models didn't have a ribbon rewind on the outside of the machine. If you can find the thread, I will look at it, I can probably tell if it's fabric ribbon or film ribbon.
autowasherfreak
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I have a IBM pictorial reference/adjustment manual and model C and D had dual ribbon capability too.
I'm wondering if the fabric ribbon was used for rough drafts and the film for final copy.
I'm wondering if the fabric ribbon was used for rough drafts and the film for final copy.
Hey Cory....
Yeah, I want to see the keypunch machine....and you wouldn't have a 1401 RAMAC system by chance, would you? Hehe!
Jim, I can imagine all kinds of uses for the dual ribbon. Like you say, fabric for rough draft, film for final. Fabric for internal correspondence, memos, carbons. Fabric for the peons, film for the executives who drove Lincoln's, Cadillac's, and Imperials with great big fins on them....
John
Yeah, I want to see the keypunch machine....and you wouldn't have a 1401 RAMAC system by chance, would you? Hehe!
Jim, I can imagine all kinds of uses for the dual ribbon. Like you say, fabric for rough draft, film for final. Fabric for internal correspondence, memos, carbons. Fabric for the peons, film for the executives who drove Lincoln's, Cadillac's, and Imperials with great big fins on them....
John
autowasherfreak
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IBM Instruction Manuals
I have instruction manuals for Selectric I, II, and III in PDF format that I've burned on to CD. I also have manuals for Model D (Standard and Executive), Model B Standard, and Model C Executive.
I have instruction manuals for Selectric I, II, and III in PDF format that I've burned on to CD. I also have manuals for Model D (Standard and Executive), Model B Standard, and Model C Executive.
Here's a picture (not mine, from the web) of the first IBM I learned Fortran and Assembler programming on back in the day. It's an IBM 1130. The console keyboard and printer were mainly used to setup the machine functions and program it though they could be used for actual data entry. Most programs were pre punched onto cards on IBM keypunches and fed thru the card reader on the left and the the results were printed out on a larger and separate printer about the size of a medium home freezer. Above the console printer that rectangular piece has the red "stop" sort of an emergency button on the left and the dial on the right (forget what that is) and all that stuff in the center is indicator lights to the various functions and processes going on.
BTW pushing the emergency stop button did not stop all peripherals like the card reader and form printer. If the big printer was caught in an endless loop it would keep going until you shut that off as well, spewing paper everywhere. Somehow I really remember that LOL
BTW pushing the emergency stop button did not stop all peripherals like the card reader and form printer. If the big printer was caught in an endless loop it would keep going until you shut that off as well, spewing paper everywhere. Somehow I really remember that LOL
Beautiful, beautiful machine! One thing I really like about about iron of this vintage is how no one was afraid to use color. Look at that platen knob..BLUE!
Attached is a shot of the 3741 (not mine, but same condition). One word: HEAVY. Any experts on this equipment?
Attached is a shot of the 3741 (not mine, but same condition). One word: HEAVY. Any experts on this equipment?
Can't say as I know anything about the diskette punch but you can tell they carried over the styling and the keyboard and switches from the 129 card punch if what I'm seeing across the top of the keyboard those 3 little toggles. Even the on/off switch is located much the same on the lower left. The only thing maybe not the same is that the keyboard on it looks fixed anddoesn't look to swivel 3 or 4 inches either way like those on the card punches.
Section "Sign" & IBM Power Cord
The double, partially overlapping S "key" is a Section Sign - usually used to refer readers to a particular section of a document. It's often used along with the "backwards P" which as we all know, refers to a paragraph.
And as for the power cord pin configuration, I've seen plenty of these on office machines, IBM especially. I don't believe it indicates any sort of 220-volt conversion, just a proprietary connector (although I think used by others) - and they're very cool.
The double, partially overlapping S "key" is a Section Sign - usually used to refer readers to a particular section of a document. It's often used along with the "backwards P" which as we all know, refers to a paragraph.
And as for the power cord pin configuration, I've seen plenty of these on office machines, IBM especially. I don't believe it indicates any sort of 220-volt conversion, just a proprietary connector (although I think used by others) - and they're very cool.
The IBM 407
Here's a machine no one is likely to see anymore but one I was very familiar with, the IBM 407 accounting machine. It's not a computer per se but more like a glorified adding machine calculator. Why it's so interesting is how it is programmed. You see the chrome handle on the right hand side, well that "door" is about the size of a dishwasher door and you pull it open and off. The "backside" of that door itself is sort of one big pegboard or litebrite circuit board panel with push pins and such arranged in such a way as to control the functioning of the machine process including spacing, forumulas etc. To change from one type of accounting, say receivables to payables or monthly statements required you to remove the door, put it away on a huge rack on the wall and grab another whole door and hook it on the bottom hinge and close it up. That's how it's programmed as to what job it's supposed to do etc. but to enter your accounting data that was done again on IBM punch cards, you can see the punch card holder on the left top. You punched all your data on the cards and laid them face down in the holder and put the weighted "lid" back on top of the pile and then turned it on basically. It held form paper about 20 inches wide and used a chain printer much like a bicycle chain spinning around to print. As it "calculated" it shook and shaked and so the whole machine is mounted on heavy springs. Probably weighed a ton literally, these machines were all steel and iron.
Here's a machine no one is likely to see anymore but one I was very familiar with, the IBM 407 accounting machine. It's not a computer per se but more like a glorified adding machine calculator. Why it's so interesting is how it is programmed. You see the chrome handle on the right hand side, well that "door" is about the size of a dishwasher door and you pull it open and off. The "backside" of that door itself is sort of one big pegboard or litebrite circuit board panel with push pins and such arranged in such a way as to control the functioning of the machine process including spacing, forumulas etc. To change from one type of accounting, say receivables to payables or monthly statements required you to remove the door, put it away on a huge rack on the wall and grab another whole door and hook it on the bottom hinge and close it up. That's how it's programmed as to what job it's supposed to do etc. but to enter your accounting data that was done again on IBM punch cards, you can see the punch card holder on the left top. You punched all your data on the cards and laid them face down in the holder and put the weighted "lid" back on top of the pile and then turned it on basically. It held form paper about 20 inches wide and used a chain printer much like a bicycle chain spinning around to print. As it "calculated" it shook and shaked and so the whole machine is mounted on heavy springs. Probably weighed a ton literally, these machines were all steel and iron.
autowasherfreak
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IBM had some great colors. The typebar typewriters had some interesting colors like lemon yellow and even orange. I've seen some interesting adds for the the Model A and B machines on eBay.
I saw a Selectric with bright blue platen knobs and I think blue keys. There's a chance I might have saved the picture it. If I did I will post it, it's rather cool.
I saw a Selectric with bright blue platen knobs and I think blue keys. There's a chance I might have saved the picture it. If I did I will post it, it's rather cool.
