New To Me IBM/Lexmark WheelWriter 1000

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

Help Support :

launderess

Well-known member
Platinum Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2004
Messages
20,653
Location
Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage
There was me coming home after a hard day and what did one spy in the rubbish pile a few doors away? A typewriter. Now one already has three (one manual and two electric) but decided what the heck. An company located in this particular building was recently sold so one assumes the new young bloods are clearing things out.

Upon investigation one was reluctant, I mean the three already in house barely see much action and adding another could seriously put one endanger of another of "those" conversations. "What you going to do with *that*". "I swear it is time you saw someone about this habit of yours....". All that was lost when one saw the IBM logo, so here I am.

It is an IBM/Lexmark Wheelwriter 1000 and darn heavy but wonderful bit of electronic typewriter it is.

After giving the thing a good "scrubbing" with a disinfectant solution (well you don't know where it has been do you?), a quick turn on and test indicates all systems are go. Needs a new ribbon but that is easily enough sorted.

Darn thing is not designed for portable use but that is what exactly will happen. Will run up a cover on the Pfaff over the weekend and shove the thing under a bed or sofa until required. To make room the Olympia Monica II is getting the push. Have another Olympia "Monica" but it is electric and much better quality. IIRC the former was the last gasp of Olympia typewriters and does not have a good reputation. If cannot sell it on for ready money will simply donate to charity.

 
In case you don't have one, the link goes to the manual for this machine.

I am really surprised that it doesn't have a Parallel port on it so it could be used with your computer as well.

Doesn't seem that these are that old, 1994 or so. Back in the early 2000's we had a daisy wheel printer, IBM too. It could be used as a typewriter or printer. It was ok as a typewriter but it was very slow as a printer. We gave the printer away to a friend who was temporarily down on her luck.

Believe it or not, at some office supply stores (think small independents) you can still find daisywheel's in different fonts and languages. And they weren't very expensive, I think about $10.00 a piece.

 
Thanks Whirlcool

One of the first things done after arriving home with my new toy was to download the manual. So great minds think alike!

Will nab a ribbon or two off fleaPay as don't have time to get downtown for local supply store. Am here to tell you many of these units still must be in use going by how many ribbons are sold on eBay.

Can live without the quasi-computer like port for now. I mean it isn't as if one does not have a full sized and powered desktop PC and laser printer. Great thing is the typewriter has an array of "repeat" codes. Just the thing for doing menu cards, address labels or what not.
 
Let's not get ourselves in a dither! *LOL*

Didn't take snaps of mine but here is one (of many) on fleaPay.

Apparently these things have a huge following....

 
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Congratulations!

Laundress, the manager at our bank has one.  I asked her about it one day.  She told me that the Wheelwriter was indeed bank property.   She likes it,  she said one condition  when she is asked to transfer locations it that the typewriter goes with her.  I learned to type on IBM Selectrics and there really is nothing quite like it.
 
Or invitations to your Candle light suppers!

Aren't those engraved with handwritten fill in's?

That IS a stylish typewriter and will go so well with the white slimline with last number redial. I'm sure Onslow will try to borrow it for an Open University course.
 
Congratulations on your find!

There is something about the Wheelwriter's pace being slightly behind the keys being hit that makes developing a typing rhythm more difficult to achieve than on an electric like a Selectric. UH OH, the mention of a Selectric will bring Jon Charles in here. We have a Wheelwriter in the office for envelopes and the occasional form. At least it corrects.
 
Tom...

I have the same trouble with the Wheelwriter..that split-second delay throws off my rhythm.

I am a sucker for a Selectric....there must be literally two dozen around the compound if not more. In Jr. High I'd buy them cheap to fix and resell. Still lots of parts machine stacked up someplace.

If anyone ever finds an IBM 2741 (Selectric w/computer interface) let me know, I'm on the hunt! -Cory
 
Well of course invitations to one's exclusive gathering such as Candlelight Suppers are handwritten. Type written notices are more for the Hoi polloi. *LOL*

Ribbon has not arrived yet so cannot comment on how much or even if the Wheelwriter will throw off one's typing rhythm. However nothing could be worse than the manual Hermes typewriter in our collection. It is like banging down upon day old bread.

If one hadn't come across the Wheelwriter wouldn't have bothered, but just couldn't let it go to scrap by passing it by. Learned to type on and worked with many an IBM Selectric, but they aren't exactly portable are they?
 
I can't believe that someone remembered the IBM 2741. In the 70's those were used by a lot of airlines to print off flight data, such as dispatch paperwork, aircraft wight and balance, flight plans, etc.

And that's what they were, IBM Selectrics 1/2 way embedded in a table top. One guy from our computer division at our airline said they were also used as a "master console" for the IBM 360 system which ran the reservation systm too. When it would print a flight dispatch the thing would chatter like all get out at a speed I would never guess anyone could ever hope to type! They used the IBM "Golf Ball" as a print head.

They were all replaced in the early 80's with a CDC 3000 CRT terminal and a separate DECwriter which served as a central printer. If more that just a few flights were leaving at the same time you'd see the ramp guys hanging around those DECwriters waiting for their flight release paperwork to print.

The Avis car rental company used the 2741 as reservation computers when they had the Avis "Wizard" reservation system. They were installed in the rental counter and they were all red.
The link leads to a photo of an IBM 2741 and a brief description of one. [this post was last edited: 10/26/2014-10:42]

 
Back
Top