IBM Selectric II Belt replace

Started by republic, November 20, 2012, 07:57:12 PM

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republic

#15
November 21, 2012, 07:32:02 PM
I recently discovered there's nothing more satisfying than writing an angry letter to a politician on a Selectric.  The "THWACK THWACK" of the ball onto the paper gives a kind of catharsis that my inkjet can't duplicate.  And the hum of that monster electric engine makes you feel your not quite in control of the thing...

Another reason to resurrect the Selectric, is that my wife was almost happy it died.  I only got it a few months ago and she said it was silly to use that old thing to do envelopes...so I challenged her.  I told her if she could address an envelope by hand faster than I could do it on the Selectric, I'd put it away.  Needless to say I won.  :)  (Being a Typing/Computer Science instructor for over 10 years might have given me an unfair advantage.)

besilarius

#16
November 21, 2012, 08:32:39 PM
All is fair, in love and war.
"Most gods throw dice, but Fate plays chess, and you don't find out until too late that he's been playing with two queens all along".  Terry Pratchett.

During filming of Airplane, Leslie Nielsen used a whoopee cushion to keep the cast off-balance. Hays said that Nielsen "played that thing like a maestro"

Tallulah Bankhead: "I'll come and make love to you at five o'clock. If I'm late, start without me."

"When all other trusts fail, turn to Flashman." — Abraham Lincoln.

"I have enjoyed very warm relations with my two husbands."
"With your eyes closed?"
"That helped."  Lauren Bacall

Master Chiefs are sneaky, dastardly, and snarky miscreants who thrive on the tears of Ensigns and belly dancers.   Admiral Gerry Bogan.

LongBlade

#17
November 21, 2012, 08:51:23 PM
Quote from: republic on November 21, 2012, 07:32:02 PM
I recently discovered there's nothing more satisfying than writing an angry letter to a politician on a Selectric.  The "THWACK THWACK" of the ball onto the paper gives a kind of catharsis that my inkjet can't duplicate.  And the hum of that monster electric engine makes you feel your not quite in control of the thing...

Another reason to resurrect the Selectric, is that my wife was almost happy it died.  I only got it a few months ago and she said it was silly to use that old thing to do envelopes...so I challenged her.  I told her if she could address an envelope by hand faster than I could do it on the Selectric, I'd put it away.  Needless to say I won.  :)  (Being a Typing/Computer Science instructor for over 10 years might have given me an unfair advantage.)

Ha! Great story.
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

Silent Disapproval Robot

#18
November 21, 2012, 10:50:01 PM
Have you tried going to 1972?  They've got tonnes of Selectrics there!

MIGMaster

#19
November 22, 2012, 11:41:31 AM

airboy

#20
November 22, 2012, 11:48:23 AM
I had one of these in College to type my papers.  Far better than most people had - in 1983-1984.  It was a very good machine in its day.

LongBlade

#21
November 22, 2012, 01:02:41 PM
I learned to type on one in high school. Actually a fine machine.

By college I had a word-ish processor. It was capable of holding one line of type in memory. The screen only showed about sixteen characters, but it was enough to preview and spell check anything before hitting return, at which time it would hammer out the line in full and get ready for the next. Cool tech for the day.
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

republic

#22
November 22, 2012, 11:07:15 PM
There's just something about the Selectric.  A giant chunk of American steel made in the US...  (Though the HUGE electric motor, at least in both of mine, is made in Japan)  Plus it is quick.  I use a couple typewriters in my classes so the kids will know what to do if confronted with one of the dinosaurs.  Also the idea of margins, and page layout is easier to show on a typewriter. 

Anyhow I have a low end Brother (2000's), a Swintec (Late 1990's), and a IBM ActionWriter 1 (1985) and the Selectric is faster than all of them.  Though the ActionWriter is quicker overall because I can keep typing while the carriage is returning.  The Brother and Swintec are hopeless because while the carriage is running back I can type more than the memory can hold...so they both just start beeping at me.

A typewriter is a little silly...but there's something to be said for a device that does its job without complaint for almost 40 years.  I can't afford a fun hobby like building a plane or restoring a car...but maybe I can save the Selectric.  :)

GDS_Starfury

#23
November 22, 2012, 11:23:08 PM
do you do your taxes with an abacus?
Jarhead - Yeah. You're probably right.

Gus - I use sweatpants with flannel shorts to soak up my crotch sweat.

Banzai Cat - There is no "partial credit" in grammar. Like anal sex. It's either in, or it's not.

Mirth - We learned long ago that they key isn't to outrun Star, it's to outrun Gus.

Martok - I don't know if it's possible to have an "anti-boner"...but I now have one.

Gus - Celery is vile and has no reason to exist. Like underwear on Star.

LongBlade

#24
November 22, 2012, 11:35:04 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on November 22, 2012, 11:23:08 PM
do you do your taxes with an abacus?

That's not old school.

Filing them on clay tablets shows you pwn Retro.
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

Staggerwing

#25
November 23, 2012, 04:25:34 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on November 22, 2012, 11:35:04 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on November 22, 2012, 11:23:08 PM
do you do your taxes with an abacus?

That's not old school.

Filing them on clay tablets shows you pwn Retro.

Especially if your IRS check is a 6 ft stone donut.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?  -Voluspa

Nothing really rocks and nothing really rolls and nothing's ever worth the cost...

"Don't you look at me that way..." -the Abyss
 
'When searching for a meaningful embrace, sometimes my self respect took second place' -Iggy Pop, Cry for Love

... this will go down on your permanent record... -the Violent Femmes, 'Kiss Off'-

"I'm not just anyone, I'm not just anyone-
I got my time machine, got my 'electronic dream!"
-Sonic Reducer, -Dead Boys

republic

#26
November 29, 2012, 08:06:10 AM
I found someone to fix it!  $170...but they promise a full restoration.  The Selectric lives again!

LongBlade

#27
November 29, 2012, 08:12:05 AM
Glad to hear it, Republic :)
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

republic

#28
January 15, 2013, 09:21:57 PM
I just saw this posted on the Iowa Class Battleships Facebook page.



Those are IBM Selectric II's!!!
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