I know this probably isn't the best place to try, but I'm completely lost on what to do. I need a belt replaced on an old IBM Selectric II typewriter and I was hoping a fellow old codger might have an idea how or where to have this done. :)
I'm about to try it myself...but the number of springs, gears, and levers is very intimidating.
That begs the questions...what are you doing with an IBM Selectric II?
Quote from: Gusington on November 20, 2012, 08:13:32 PM
That begs the questions...what are you doing with an IBM Selectric II?
Typing?
what is this typewriter device you speak of?
This will refresh your memories:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2Fthumb%2F0%2F07%2FNaked_Lunch_film_poster.jpg%2F215px-Naked_Lunch_film_poster.jpg&hash=7851c844dba23e635df7a9fe01ac359d02dcbb86)
I'm sure you've read it or at least seen the movie.
lol sometimes the easiest tool for the job is a typewriter. :) Plus I like the soothing hum of a device that will not crash on me or need to be upgraded.
Quote from: republic on November 20, 2012, 08:40:14 PM
Plus I like the soothing hum of a device that will not crash on me or need to be upgraded.
Except when you need a new belt that hasn't been made in 40 years...
;)
yeah.... take that down to the geek squad at best buy just to see the look on their faces.
I'm starting to wonder about the logistics of the whole thing.
OK, we know the electricity is the same.
But...what about that ink ribbon? I'm guessing Republic is crushing up walnut shells and boiling them down to make the replacement ink.
Try a google search for typewriter repair shops around your city?
Believe it or not (and I barely do), there is a resurgence of people who prefer a typewriter.
Not a huge groundswell, but enough to justify at least two full time repair shops in the metro Washington, DC area. (That I have heard of.)
There's actually a thriving parts market...but no one to put them in. I got the belt on eBay for $20.
So last week I called a local (70 miles away) repair shop and they assured me they could fix it and for only $65. I explained it was a Selectric and needed a belt swap. I'd already looked it up and read that the entire drive shaft has to come out. (The Selectric is a amazing feat of American engineering...the entire thing is driven by a single motor and hundreds of gears, levers, etc.) So the guy says "yes, yes I've worked with Selectrics for years and we even have a Selectric for sale here at the shop."
I actually have two Selectrics and arranged to have the one belt changed and the other greased up. I call the guy a couple days later and ask how it has gone. "I got that one fixed, but I can't replace that belt, there's no way your getting that fixed around here." So he "fixed" the one that wasn't broken, actually he just cleaned it and charged me $71.
There are special tools you need, and the timings can't get off...though it seems like if I learned how to do it myself I might have the market to myself! :)
wohaa IBM is that old? and you too?
my sincerestest regrett!
Try putting a want ad on your area craigslist. Chances are some local retired guy fixes them in his spare time.
Quote from: besilarius on November 21, 2012, 07:04:58 AM
Try a google search for typewriter repair shops around your city?
Believe it or not (and I barely do), there is a resurgence of people who prefer a typewriter.
Not a huge groundswell, but enough to justify at least two full time repair shops in the metro Washington, DC area. (That I have heard of.)
I get this catalog from the Vermont Country Store. There must be a market....
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/jump/productDetail/For_The_Home/Home_Furnishings/Home_Office/Brother_Electronic_Typewriter/55038
You're probably just as likely to find someone who can repair an IBM System/360 Model 20 minicomputer as repair an IBM Selectric 2...
Have you considered using an emulator (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPad)?
;)
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.)
All is fair, in love and war.
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.
Have you tried going to 1972? They've got tonnes of Selectrics there!
Thought this was in the flavour of this thread:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Brother-Typewriter-Factory-London-Science-Museum,19277.html
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.
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.
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. :)
do you do your taxes with an abacus?
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.
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.
I found someone to fix it! $170...but they promise a full restoration. The Selectric lives again!
Glad to hear it, Republic :)
I just saw this posted on the Iowa Class Battleships Facebook page.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXvWhb.jpg&hash=f78b50eaf1401af655676373995227ddd3f77756)
Those are IBM Selectric II's!!!