A Dummies guide to the IBM Selectric
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- Опубліковано 20 лип 2015
- As I attempted to fix a broken IBM Selectric 3 (from 1976) that I purchased at a thrift store for 20$, I realized that there is a lot of documentation online but not a lot of videos. This is my attempt at remedying that problem.
I ended up learning a lot about how these typewriters work and thought I would share what I learned.
This is not a perfect guide and I am sure I made some errors but it should get you started.
Links:
engineerguy : • IBM Selectric Typewrit...
Yahoo group: groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/g...
I serviced Selectrics for 25 years. When they were sticking I removed all casings, ribbons, correction tapes etc and cleaned them with air pressurized varsol, then sprayed them with typewriter oil. The varsol washed all the old oil and grease out. Then greased cams, cam followers, cycle clutch, degreased rubber drive belt, checked adjustments. Looked and worked like new. Secretary's loved me
Beautiful engineering... good old days when finance guys weren't there to ask engineers to cut corners round...
I bought a black IBM Selectric III from the IBM showroom in Manhattan. It was about $700 or so but it was worth every penny. I had used other earlier Selectrics and that's why I bought my own. It was a fine machine. It had a wonderful keyboard and I could type well over a 100 WPM on it. I also bought three extra balls for it with different typefaces. I got plenty of use out of it until I sold it and bought my first Macintosh with MS Word. IBM Selectric typewriters can't be beat. They're just so smooth to use. This video really brings back good memories.
I just picked one up on the flea market, got it working in a day by just lubing the stuck parts. It was kind of a sensation to me and my friends, we had never seen anything like this device before. We were fascinated by the movement of the "ball"! Sadly after a few hours of typing the steel band that rotates the ball broke, causing huge sadness for everyone. I am now looking for a replacement band, I really want to see it live again. Wish me luck :(
You are an absolute godsend, I just bought an older 1961 ibm typewriter and have no idea how typewriters even work, (I work more with custom keyboards) luckily I knew that I found a gem when I saw it, I paid a whole 12 dollars for it. Thing is that it’s filthy, lots of keys are sticking, and it’s covered in dust from the inside out. So this video showing a little bit about what I have is super helpful even if it is a newer model, thank you.
Those things are a mechanical marvel.
I'm a new adept in the art of Selectric repair, got model III correcting recently. Thanks a lot for the explanations,
OMG…You’re a genius. I have one of those nut don’t have the confidence to work on it. I bough mine brand new back in the early 80’s.
Great video from the viewer's perspective, giving a general overview of the operation, disassembly, and common service tips. Thanks. I wish a few of the parts I wanted to see weren't out of focus or blocked by your arm.
This provides a wealth of information for someone repairing one of these little engineering beauties.
I really want one! I pulled a mint condition Smith Corona PWP-4500 PLUS word processor off the side of the road! MINT CONDITION! I love doing my work on it. These seem too cool!
I used the selectric in high school and college. Toward the end of my college, we had the computer lab with word processors. The paper template over the keyboard for Word Perfect looked like an instruction card in a jet airliner. Alt, Cap, & lots of tiny print to tell you how each function works. 1989? I think. I did use a manual portable before this. My fingers had muscle bulges!
Very informative, great vid. Thanks for posting it.
Thanks so much. Perfect for my level with some mechanical experience in advance, learned to type on one of these and knew a few switches, but not ever had the cover off. My used Selectric II isn't gummed up and issue were the two blocking plastic pieces with the patent sticker and jewelry warning sticker have warped a bit and interfering with the carriage movement in two spots. Removed them for now and thinking how I might unwarp the plastic.....
A local Thrift Store has a black IBM SELECTRIC III on its shelves for $35.00. It has been tempting me for a few days now.....
Small correction: you said that the set screws for the platen are allen screws. They're not, they're Bristol screws, and almost all of the set screws in the Selectric are Bristol screws. Using an allen key on them will eventually strip them out. Bristol is a little more like torx, and I've had luck using torx bits on them without doing damage, but only did that because I too didn't know that they used a completely different type of bit.
Fantastic Video!
Many thanks for a very interesting video. I used to work on the IBM 2740 and 2741, which had almost identical mechanics, but with added electronics to make them data transmitting machines as well as typing. That was long before I even retired. Now in my spare time I play with other things and I often need the small that was standard issue un the IBM toolbox. Can you please advise me where to find one. Thanks again.
Thanks for the post; it doesn't matter that you don't have that many views, as long as your content is great and each viewer appreciates it!
Amazing stuff