IBM Selectric II Correcting Typewriter

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

rp2813

rp2813

Well-known member
Platinum Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
18,010
Location
Sannazay
I came across one of these on the Nextdoor classifieds page and decided to go for it, considering the prices they can command in proper working order.  After decades of using a laptop or PC keyboard, I'm no longer disciplined enough to type with the level of accuracy needed for a non-correcting model, and the key travel and pressure required with a manual model rules out one of those. 

 

The Selectric has been sitting unused and uncovered for a number of years.  I've pulled up some videos that address the two known issues the machine has, but there may be more.   Many of the keys stick, and the carriage barely returns.  I think the first thing to do is a combination of hitting it with a vacuum and some canned air. 

 

After watching the videos, unsticking the keys looks simple enough, but it's a tedious process that involves cleaning and re-lubing three pivot points for each of the 60 levers.  The carriage return problem has three potential sources, so that will involve some sleuthing.

 

Does anyone here own one of these and perform their own maintenance?  I would appreciate any pointers and/or warnings about what not to mess with, or links to good DIY resources.  Apparently the belts on these are such a colossal PITA to replace that even professional repair persons never stopped hating that job.  I hope mine isn't in too bad of shape.
 
Thanks!  I downloaded the operating instructions. 

 

It was mentioned in one of the clips I viewed that the maintenance/repair manual is over 100 pages.  I don't even know if a single PDF could hold all of that.
 
IBM Selectric: Preferred by 9 out of 10 . . .

 

. . . literary griffins.

839e6ee28cf0a27a9de2f1eb1949e29a643ac17a19b51a45c1843a83c35c3b80.png


 

Illustration by Nick Greenwood from my out-of-print book.

www.nickgreenwood.net

Nick Greenwood Illustration

Nick Greenwood Illustration
www.nickgreenwood.net
 
Liked IBM IBM Selectric Typewriters

Because they were what we had at high school where one took three years of secretarial courses (typing, steno, etc...). Of course back then typing was necessary for most office jobs, and if one could hit 90 or more WPM without errors, well the world was one's oyster.

Seems so long ago now, has it been that long?

One came into office, took cover off typewriter, but of course had coffee and perhaps a muffin or roll to finish before starting one's day. No matter where you went sounds of typewriters filled the air. Royal, IBM, Olivetti, Hermes, Olympia...

So sad when you think about it; scores of typewriter servicemen put out of work with arrival of word processing. Wasn't keen on WANG at first, but sure enough it took hold and if you wanted a job, WP was becoming standard. Now it's all Microsoft Word....

 
Ahhh!!! the IMB Selectric!  My father rarely interfered with course selections when I was in High School.  However, the one class he made me take was typing when I was a sophomore.  He said, "It will serve you well for the rest of your life."  He was right!  The first semester we began with Remington manual typewriters with no letters on the keys.  We did rhythm drills to music like "The Baby Elephant Walk"!  When we came back from Christmas break, we were introduced to the strange new world of the IBM Selectric.  Those things took some getting used to!
 
If you fear ear worms, turn back now.

 

This will bounce around in your head for all eternity (all-IBM Selectric version).

 

<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

 

Selectrics, Wheelwriters and Quietwriters, oh my!

 

<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
 
My Mom worked for a country doctor in Monte Rio, Calif. from ‘65 until late ‘72. Besides assisting the doctor in the exam room and taking the x-rays, she also ran the front office. Part of her daily duties were to transcribe the doctors daily patient notes that he dictated into a Dictaphone.

She would sit at her desk, Salem cigarette in the ashtray next to her with the headphones on as she rapidly typed the days patient notes. When she first began working for Dr. Schaap he had a manual Olympic typewriter. One day a typewriter salesman came into the office to demonstrate the new IBM Selectric. Mom begged Dr. Schaap to spring for this very expensive typewriter, justifying the expense with the promise that she would be able to get the work done a lot quicker. The doctor got her the Selectric and boy could she make that machine fly! I would sometimes get off the bus in Monte Rio after school and walk to the doctors office and wait for Mom to get off work and ride home with her. It would amaze me how lightening fast she could type on that Selectric.

When I worked for the county Human Service Dept., before we got PC’s I used to do some typing on a Selectric there. They really were the best electric typewriter ever made IMO. But they could be temperamental too. I bought a used one in the 80’s and after a few years it started to act up, so I donated it to a charitable organization that was looking for a typewriter. I imagine now it would be very difficult to find anyone that would know how to repair one of these great typewriters.

I’m spoiled now by using a computer or iPad, with the instant capability to make corrections without an eraser or Whiteout. I’d be hard pressed to go back to a typewriter, I’m not that accurate of a typist, LOL.

Eddie
 
WW, this machine was acquired from a private party, but coincidentally she lives in a mobile home park on Blosson Hill Rd.  The Selectric belonged to her grandparents but had been sitting for several years.  If it had been covered, it probably wouldn't be in such bad shape.

 

Eddie, I remember an office I worked in where there was one typist who was so fast on her Selectric that the ball would fall behind and continue banging out two or three characters after she had stopped typing.  I wonder how many WPM that was.
 
 
I had two years of typing in high school.  Mrs. Day both years, her husband was a merchandiser for JCPenney at a larger city 40 mins distance.  There were several Selectrics among the manuals.  I placed 3rd (or 1st? I get the sequence of 1sts and 3rds across the years mixed-up between typing and science) on a Selectric at district UIL competition.
 
My Aunt Agnes taught typing for 25 years. She always typed on a Royal manual and could consistently do 120 WPM.

She bought me my first typewriter for my 12th birthday. It was an old, used Underwood manual that she had refurbished by the same typewriter service man that Richmond HS used. It was even dipped in some kind of lubricating solvent that spotlessly cleaned all the keys. Even though it was from the ‘30s it typed like new. The only inconvenience were the tabs had to be set manually with moveable tabs behind the carriage.

Eddie
 
My absolute favorite Typewriter

So easy to get into a rhythm with a Selectric, and you can type faster. I certified on my last day of Office Practices at 125 WPM using an IBM Selectric.
 
Our typing classes in middle and high school were on Olympia manual typewriters...all the middle school classes were on them; the first typing class in high school were on them (if you went beyond that class you used IBM Selectric--you were probably going a secretarial route...).

That was a nice nostalgic ad---I vaguely remember---that sportscaster is cute. It felt like end-of-an era jingle-wise (that and GE brings good things to life were about the final really good jingles out there).

I have a couple of typewriters still around--a 1950s Royal portable, and a late '70s Adler electric office machine (incredibly heavy but types wonderfully) in a case. Loaned them to a friend last summer with sons 18 and 21 years old--they had never had an opportunity to play on typewriters (keyboards, of course, but not typewriters)....they were enthralled. Fun pandemic playthings for two great guys....got them back none the worse for wear.
 
In my best form in high school typing class,  I burned 142 wpm on a Selectric II and was the fastest in the school.  It was a few characters behind me in keeping up.  I inherited fast fingers from Mother.
 
I picked up a Smith Corona Coronet Super 12 electric off eBay. They're a dime a dozen now. Sometimes the shipping costs more than the typewriter depending on the condition. But I've wanted one of these since high school but I couldn't afford it and my parents wouldn't chip in. So now I decided to get one because I finally could. They were very expensive back in the day..and would be several hundred in todays money. The invoice was one someone posted on EBay I found interesting

estesguy-2021122019235504308_1.jpg
 

Latest posts

Back
Top