Full Answer
What is a golf ball in typewriter?
Instead of the "basket" of individual typebars that swing up to strike the ribbon and page in a typical typewriter of the period, the Selectric had an "element" (frequently called a "typeball", or less formally, a "golf ball") that rotated and pivoted to the correct position before striking.
When did the IBM Selectric typewriter come out?
The Selectric typewriter, launched in 1961, was an overnight hit. “Sales of [the Selectric] in the first 30 days exceeded the forecast for six months. We figured in our branch office that we’d sell 50 or 60 and sold 500 to 600,” IBM salesman John Vinlove told USA Today in 1986 for a story about the typewriter’s 25th anniversary.
When was the IBM Mag Card II typewriter invented?
In April 1973 the IBM Mag Card II Typewriter was announced, providing space for up to 8,000 characters in electronic memory. IBM also sold a tape reader (IBM 2495) that could be connected to 360 series mainframes, and would read the MT/ST tapes.
What was the first typewriter with Shift keys?
^ This design dated back to the Remington No. 2 (1878), the first typewriter with a shift key and extensive symbols). ^ a b "History of the IBM Typewriter". etypewriters.com. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
When did the golf ball typewriter come out?
July 31, 1961Released on July 31, 1961, the Selectric was unarguably a game-changer in the typewriter space.
When did the IBM electric typewriter come out?
1961In 1961, however, IBM introduced a revolutionary way to make a typewriter work, and work well. This was the IBM "Selectric" Typewriter, which replaced type bars and moving carriages with a printing element, a sphere no larger than a golf ball, which bears all alphabet characters, numbers and punctuation symbols.
What is the value of an IBM Selectric typewriter?
A real, electronic Selectric word processer cost $150,000. Check out the whole article here.
When did IBM stop making typewriters?
IBM replaced the Selectric line with the IBM Wheelwriter in 1984, and transferred its typewriter business to the newly formed Lexmark in 1991.
Who invented the golf ball typewriter?
The “golf ball” Thomas Watson Jr. called it “the most totally distinct invention we've ever made as a company.” The type balI worked by revolving and tilting—according to the direction of a sophisticated mechanism—as it moved across the page. Each character had a binary code, one for tilt and one for rotate.
How much is an Olivetti typewriter worth?
On average, fully serviced and restored typewriters can be worth up to $1,000, and the earlier the model, the higher its estimated value. For example, a functional Olivetti Studio 42 from the 1940s is listed for $850, whereas a working Olivetti Lettera 32 is only listed for a little over $200.
How much is an old electric typewriter worth?
An older machine in working condition runs about $200. If you have a great typewriter repair store, you can find non-working typewriters from this vintage for $50 and under. Refurbished vintage typewriters can be had from $200 all the way up to $800!
How much does an IBM Selectric cost?
The International Business Machines Corporation announced that it had reduced the purchase price for its new Selectric 111 typewriter line by about 12 percent. The company said that the new purchase prices for the line range from $810 to $1,035. The previous range was from $895 to $1,175.
How much is an IBM Selectric III typewriter worth?
Compare with similar itemsThis item IBM Correcting Selectric III (3)Nakajima WPT-150 Electronic TypewriterAdd to CartAdd to CartCustomer Rating2.0 out of 5 stars (7)4.1 out of 5 stars (499)Price$99999$232.99$232.99Sold Bypopculture2000FD Distribution2 more rows
Does IBM still make a typewriter?
Equipped with ahead-of-its-time features such as reprint and spell-check, the IBM Wheelwriter is still used in many homes and offices today.
Does IBM still sell typewriters?
We are pleased to offer a number of the most popular IBM Electric Typewriters ever produced. Our selections range from factory certified IBM typewriters that are packed and sold in original packaging, to our meticulously reconditioned (21-step reconditioning process) IBM typewriters.
Are typewriters worth any money?
Typewriters that were made in the 1940s or earlier, especially those manufactured in the 19th century, may be worth some money if they're still in working order. Non-working antique typewriters are typically worth about $50, but refurbished models can earn $800 or more.
When was the IBM Mag Card II Typewriter introduced?
In April 1973 the IBM Mag Card II Typewriter was announced, providing space for up to 8,000 characters in electronic memory. IBM also sold a tape reader (IBM 2495) that could be connected to 360 series mainframes, and would read the MT/ST tapes.
When did IBM start making magnetic tape typewriters?
In 1964 IBM introduced the " Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter " and in 1969, a "Magnetic Card Selectric Typewriter". These were sometimes referred to as the "MT/ST" and "MC/ST", respectively.
What is a Selectric typewriter?
A Selectric typing element. The IBM Selectric typewriter was a highly successful line of electric typewriters introduced by IBM on 31 July 1961. Instead of the "basket" of individual typebars that swing up to strike the ribbon and page in a typical typewriter of the period, the Selectric had an "element" (frequently called a "typeball", ...
What typewriters used 96 character encoding?
The Selectric III and "Electronic Typewriters" used a new 96-character element. IBM also produced computer terminals based on the Selectric mechanism, some of which (all models of the IBM 1050 series, and IBM 2741 models using "PTTC/BCD" code) used a different encoding.
When did IBM replace the Selectric line?
IBM replaced the Selectric line with the IBM Wheelwriter in 1984 and transferred its typewriter business to the newly formed Lexmark in 1991. By the Selectric's 25th anniversary, in 1986, a total of more than 13 million machines had been made and sold.
Which typewriter made elements for the normal typefaces usually used with the composer?
Univers. Ruling Font. In contrast to the Selectric typewriter, only IBM made elements for the normal typefaces usually used with the Composer. GP, which made elements for the Selectric typewriter, did make one Composer element in an Old English typeface.
How wide is a typewriter font?
Characters were proportionally spaced, three to nine units wide, the size of a unit being selectable as either 1/72", 1/84" or 1/96" to allow for the three sizes of type. (A monospaced "Typewriter Font", in which all characters occupied four units, was available for brief imitations of conventional typed text.)
Where was the Selectric typewriter ball at the 1964 World's Fair?
The Selectric type ball starred at the IBM Pavilion at the 1964 – 1965 World’s Fair in New York City. The pavilion was topped with an enormous spherical structure that resembled the Selectric typewriter’s golf ball head and housed a 500-seat theater.
Who is the writer of the end credits logo?
Television producer and writer Stephen Cannell ’s signature end-credit logo—shown here and familiar to anyone who watched television during the 1980s—depicted Cannell typing on his Selectric. Cannell was the creator of popular ’80s TV shows like The Rockford Files, The A-Team and The Greatest American Hero that were syndicated internationally.
Who invented the Selectric stamp?
In June 2011, the US Postal Service immortalized Eliot Noyes and his revolutionary design of the Selectric typewriter as first class-rated “forever” stamp. Throughout the decades since its invention, writers of all stripes—from novelists and screenwriters to comedians and poets—have declared their devotion to the workhorse Selectric.
When did Eliot Noyes stamp come out?
The commemorative Noyes stamp is one of 12 in the Pioneers of American Industrial Design pane, which honors some of America’s most influential industrial designers and makes its debut in July 2011. For more on Eliot Noyes please visit Good Design Is Good Business in IBM’s Icons of Progress.
What was the name of the machine used by secretaries?
Sidekick to secretaries. Throughout the 1960s and ’70s, the Selectric served as the iconic machine of secretaries— its primary users at its debut. The famed relationship between S electric typewriters and secretaries is still celebrated in movies and TV series depicting the era, including the current hit TV series Mad Men.
When did IBM discontinue the Selectric typewriter?
The Selectric typewriter was discontinued in 1986 after 25 years of success. IBM.
When did Selectric typewriters stop selling?
The Selectric typewriter was discontinued in 1986 after 25 years of success. According to IBM, by 1986, the company sold 13 million Selectric typewriters worldwide.
How fast can a Selectric typewriter type?
According to IBM, expert typists on the Selectric could offer up 90 words per minute, easily besting the standard 50 words per minute those same folks were tallying on other typewriters.
Who was the managing editor of Selectric?
CNET News managing editor Jon Skillings was one of those people who benefited from the Selectric. In a 2004 CNET story that noted it had been 175 years since the first typewriter was patented, Skillings thought back to the all the things IBM's Selectric brought to the table.
When did magnetic tape come out?
Magnetic tape, which came to the device in 1964, allowed users to store characters. "The Selectric typewriter, from its design to its functionality, was an innovation leader for its time and revolutionized the way people recorded information," Linda Sanford, senior vice president for Enterprise Transformation at IBM, ...
When was the Selectric discontinued?
The Selectric typewriter was discontinued in 1986 after 25 years of success. IBM. Later this month, IBM will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Selectric typewriter. Released on July 31, 1961, the Selectric was unarguably a game-changer in the typewriter space.
Overview
History, models, and related machines
Keyboard layout
Selectric mechanism
Inked and correcting ribbons
Type elements and fonts
Features and uses
The IBM Selectric typewriter was a highly successful line of electric typewriters introduced by IBM on 31 July 1961.
Instead of the "basket" of individual typebars that swung up to strike the ribbon and page in a typical typewriter of the period, the Selectric had an "element" (frequently called a "typeball", or less formally, a "golf ball") that rotated and piv…
In popular culture
The Selectric typewriter was introduced on July 31, 1961. Its industrial design is credited to influential American designer Eliot Noyes. Noyes had worked on a number of design projects for IBM; prior to his work on the Selectric, he had been commissioned in 1956 by Thomas J. Watson Jr. to create IBM's first house style: these influential efforts, in which Noyes collaborated with Paul Rand, Marcel Br…