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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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#1
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IBM Selectric III
I have had a Selectric III for quite a few years and it has always
worked perfectly. As I was using it today, and while it was working just fine, in mid-sentence, it began typing characters that didn't correspond to the keys I was hitting. Any idea what's going on? It's never done this before. |
#2
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IBM Selectric III
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#3
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IBM Selectric III
You can probably get another used Selectric III very cheaply.
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#4
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IBM Selectric III
"mc" wrote in message .. . You can probably get another used Selectric III very cheaply. Can you? I remember those, I haven't seen one in years. Seems like the sort of thing that would be collectible some day if it isn't already. |
#5
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IBM Selectric III
"James Sweet" writes:
"mc" wrote in message .. . You can probably get another used Selectric III very cheaply. Can you? I remember those, I haven't seen one in years. Seems like the sort of thing that would be collectible some day if it isn't already. A bunch on eBay, most not very cheap though. --- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/ Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/ +Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm | Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs. |
#6
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IBM Selectric III
When someone says their Selectric is suddenly typing the wrong characters, I
wonder whether this is a troll. The ball can be put on only one way, and locks in place. It isn't clear how it could suddenly slip. The mechanism that moves the ball is, if I remember correctly, laterally "balanced". If it broke, it seems the symptoms would be more serious than just the wrong characters. |
#7
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IBM Selectric III
"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message . .. When someone says their Selectric is suddenly typing the wrong characters, I wonder whether this is a troll. The ball can be put on only one way, and locks in place. It isn't clear how it could suddenly slip. Teeth broken off the bottom of the ball are another way to get wrong characters. |
#8
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IBM Selectric III
Good morning.
It can happen. The tilt and rotate tapes get the ball in the general vicinity of the correct character, then the alignment pawls, one vertical for the part the ball mounts on and another horizontal that engages with teeth in the bottom of the ball itself, engage to ensure correct alignment by the time the ball fires into the platen. Any problem with any of these can cause incorrect or incomplete characters being printed. The tapes drive the ball in one direction, spring tension alone pulls it back in the other. Lee Richardson "William Sommerwerck" wrote in message . .. When someone says their Selectric is suddenly typing the wrong characters, I wonder whether this is a troll. The ball can be put on only one way, and locks in place. It isn't clear how it could suddenly slip. The mechanism that moves the ball is, if I remember correctly, laterally "balanced". If it broke, it seems the symptoms would be more serious than just the wrong characters. |
#9
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IBM Selectric III
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#10
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IBM Selectric III
In article ,
"William Sommerwerck" wrote: When someone says their Selectric is suddenly typing the wrong characters, I wonder whether this is a troll. The ball can be put on only one way, and locks in place. It isn't clear how it could suddenly slip. The mechanism that moves the ball is, if I remember correctly, laterally "balanced". If it broke, it seems the symptoms would be more serious than just the wrong characters. Nope; just incorrect characters, that's all. If one or the other of the bands breaks, then only a "vertical" or "horizontal" subset of characters can be selected. If one of the band "drivers" becomes maladjusted, then characters above, below, to the right, or to the left, of the desired one will be selected. A comparison of the source to the printed output vis-a-vis the position of the characters on the ball will give a lot of clues. Isaac |
#11
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IBM Selectric III
In article ,
"mc" wrote: "William Sommerwerck" wrote in message . .. When someone says their Selectric is suddenly typing the wrong characters, I wonder whether this is a troll. The ball can be put on only one way, and locks in place. It isn't clear how it could suddenly slip. Teeth broken off the bottom of the ball are another way to get wrong characters. True, but I've seen balls so used that the metal plating was mostly worn off, but with intact teeth; I don't think there's any way for them to get broken while installed. (That Selectric had been used in an airline reservation system; there was a "crater' on the platen at every possible character location.) Isaac |
#12
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IBM Selectric III
"isw" wrote in message
... The Selectric is probably the last and most wonderful "mechanical mechanism" ever to be designed (there's nothing "electrical" in one except for the motor, which just rotates a shaft; everything else is purely mechanical). It really is a magnificent piece of engineering. It includes, among other nifty features, a totally mechanical two-key rollover, and a simple but clever device that absolutely forbids multiple keys being depressed simultaneously. I agree. It is probably the last of the world's great purely mechanical machines (with no electrical control signaling, only mechanical movements). I have a Selectric II in my office which I bought in 1975 and still use occasionally. I had the University's typewriter technician overhaul it for me just before he retired, so it will probably last me the rest of my life. |
#14
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IBM Selectric III
"isw" wrote in message
... In article , "William Sommerwerck" wrote: When someone says their Selectric is suddenly typing the wrong characters, I wonder whether this is a troll. The ball can be put on only one way, and locks in place. It isn't clear how it could suddenly slip. The mechanism that moves the ball is, if I remember correctly, laterally "balanced". If it broke, it seems the symptoms would be more serious than just the wrong characters. Nope; just incorrect characters, that's all. If one or the other of the bands breaks, then only a "vertical" or "horizontal" subset of characters can be selected. If one of the band "drivers" becomes maladjusted, then characters above, below, to the right, or to the left, of the desired one will be selected. A comparison of the source to the printed output vis-a-vis the position of the characters on the ball will give a lot of clues. Thanks for the clarification. I agree that the Selectric is a Truly Neat mechanical device. My only problem with the Selectric is that it has a "woman's" keyboard, unlike the original IBM PC, which had a "man's" keyboard. It took my fingers years to adjust to the Selectric. |
#15
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IBM Selectric III
"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message
. .. When someone says their Selectric is suddenly typing the wrong characters, I wonder whether this is a troll. The ball can be put on only one way, and locks in place. It isn't clear how it could suddenly slip. The mechanism that moves the ball is, if I remember correctly, laterally "balanced". If it broke, it seems the symptoms would be more serious than just the wrong characters. As well as the Rotate Tape and the Tilt Tape which shift the golf ball to its various character positions, there are keyboard interposers and selection latches, a couple of mechanisms which can result in suddenly the wrong character being typed, without the character being in any way out of place. It's been a couple decades since I used to fix hundreds of these, though. Henry Mydlarz |
#16
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IBM Selectric III
Actually The Selectric III (3 Pitch) is still widely used by Insurance
and Trucking companies. I repair plenty of the as well as the II and even some 721. I do not sell Selectric III for a low price as the demand is still there. You can get a Selectric I for a low cost or a 721. On Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:02:37 -0500, "mc" wrote: You can probably get another used Selectric III very cheaply. |
#17
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IBM Selectric III
"Luc" wrote in message
... Actually The Selectric III (3 Pitch) is still widely used by Insurance and Trucking companies. I repair plenty of the as well as the II and even some 721. I do not sell Selectric III for a low price as the demand is still there. You can get a Selectric I for a low cost or a 721. What is a 721? |
#18
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IBM Selectric III
On Sat, 2 Feb 2008 11:07:32 -0500, mc wrote:
"Luc" wrote in message ... Actually The Selectric III (3 Pitch) is still widely used by Insurance and Trucking companies. I repair plenty of the as well as the II and even some 721. I do not sell Selectric III for a low price as the demand is still there. You can get a Selectric I for a low cost or a 721. What is a 721? Probably an IBM 72 with 'special features'. http://www.selectric.org/selectric/ Jonesy -- Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux 38.24N 104.55W | @ config.com | Jonesy | OS/2 *** Killfiling google posts: http://jonz.net/ng.htm |
#19
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IBM Selectric III
Sometimes, when I always stop off at the Goodwill store on my way to the
food store, I see a IBM Selectric typewriter for sale.Typewriters in that store usually sell for $7.00. cuhulin |
#20
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IBM Selectric III
Luc wrote:
Actually The Selectric III (3 Pitch) is still widely used by Insurance and Trucking companies. I repair plenty of the as well as the II and even some 721. I do not sell Selectric III for a low price as the demand is still there. You can get a Selectric I for a low cost or a 721. I passed up a free one Saturday at a church yard sale. I did take the Nitsuko (NEC) digital PBX and five telephones, though. -- Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to prove it. Member of DAV #85. Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
#21
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IBM Selectric III
Your rotate tape may be either broken or bent. Other problems could be
found on the arms that control tilt and rotate. Then again, your ball may also have come loose or the pin hole may be cracked. The main problem is that it is a 3 pitch machine and we used to call them a nightmare until IBM came out with their earlier electronic made from Selectrics. On Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:06:59 -0800 (PST), wrote: I have had a Selectric III for quite a few years and it has always worked perfectly. As I was using it today, and while it was working just fine, in mid-sentence, it began typing characters that didn't correspond to the keys I was hitting. Any idea what's going on? It's never done this before. |
#22
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IBM Selectric III
To be honest, They are not cheap and are still being made for use in
the insurance and transportation industry. I just sold 10 of them to a large insurance comapny. On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:24:48 GMT, "James Sweet" wrote: "mc" wrote in message . .. You can probably get another used Selectric III very cheaply. Can you? I remember those, I haven't seen one in years. Seems like the sort of thing that would be collectible some day if it isn't already. |
#23
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IBM Selectric III
Luc" wrote in message
... Your rotate tape may be either broken or bent. Other problems could be found on the arms that control tilt and rotate. Then again, your ball may also have come loose or the pin hole may be cracked. The main problem is that it is a 3 pitch machine and we used to call them a nightmare until IBM came out with their earlier electronic made from Selectrics. On Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:06:59 -0800 (PST), wrote: I have had a Selectric III for quite a few years and it has always worked perfectly. As I was using it today, and while it was working just fine, in mid-sentence, it began typing characters that didn't correspond to the keys I was hitting. Any idea what's going on? It's never done this before. I serviced both the Selectric I, II and III for more than a decade, attending to hundreds (possibly thousands) of service calls. I recall the Selectrics to be only two pitches - 10 and 12. Although these were completely mechanical, I never thought of them as a nightmare. The Selectric Electronic you mention, however - the still very mechanical "ELT", was to me a nightmare. Mercifully it was soon replaced by the daisywheel "Wheelwriters" Henry Mydlarz |
#24
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IBM Selectric III
Hello,
I'm French and i love very much the IBM selectric typewriter. I have created a site : www.ihop.fr If you have a question about it or If you want to buy to me a ribbon, parts, golfball, printwheel, quiet fonts, or complete typewriter (in french condition = AZERTY) contact me at : or ----- I'm sorry for my bad english :-/ Bye Renaud |
#25
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IBM Selectric III
I have seen IBM Selectric Typewriters for sale in the thrift stores
before, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Rescue Mission.Goodwill usually sells typewriters for $7.00, unless the prices have gone up lately. www.shopgoodwill.com cuhulin |
#26
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IBM Selectric III
wrote in message ... I have seen IBM Selectric Typewriters for sale in the thrift stores before, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Rescue Mission.Goodwill usually sells typewriters for $7.00, unless the prices have gone up lately. www.shopgoodwill.com cuhulin Might depend on the area, but I haven't seen a typewriter of any sort in a thrift store in over a decade. |
#27
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IBM Selectric III
James Sweet wrote:
snip Might depend on the area, but I haven't seen a typewriter of any sort in a thrift store in over a decade. Once again, most anywhere in the 'rust belt' (or Great Lakes northern states); average price of typewriters at Goodwill: $2.00 Michael |
#28
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IBM Selectric III
I have bought (and still own) four old typewriters at the thrift stores
around here before.Three of them are very old vintage Underwood typewriters.I also own a very old brass cash register I bought at a thrift store years ago, it has beveled glass windows on it.A thing of beauty it is, so are my old vintage typewriters.Those IBM Selectric typewriters though, I always thought they were only regular typewriters.If I see one at a thrift store again for sale for only a few dollars, I will buy it just for the heck of it. cuhulin |
#29
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IBM Selectric III
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#30
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IBM Selectric III
If you take the case off the Selectric, you will see a couple of
pulleys on the right hand side where the tilt and rotate tape are operated from.Bothe of these pulleys have and adjustable threaded rodon them for adjustments. Depending on which letter is misfiring, side by side or up and down, that will determine which tape pulley to adjust. Do not make to maney turns on the shaft or you will throw the alignment way off. Good luck On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:20:58 -0800, isw wrote: In article , wrote: I have had a Selectric III for quite a few years and it has always worked perfectly. As I was using it today, and while it was working just fine, in mid-sentence, it began typing characters that didn't correspond to the keys I was hitting. Any idea what's going on? It's never done this before. A pair of thin metal strips impart "tilt" and "rotate" motions to the ball. You can see those strips not very far down inside the typewriter (they run from one side to the other, and connect to the ball carrier), and if you push on them (gently), the ball should move appropriately. Two possibilities: 1) One of the strips is broken. That should be easy enough to discover. 2) One or both of the mechanisms that pull on the strips has fallen out of adjustment (the nature of a Selectric is that the adjustments tend to be "binary"; i.e. either they're right, or they're NOT). If that is the case, it should be possible to readjust things to work properly again. I haven't adjusted a Selectric for a *long* time, but if you're "mechanically inclined", you should be able to find the appropriate adjustment, which will be some sort of threaded rod or screw, or something similar. AIR, there is a pair of vertical arms with pulleys on the tops for those metal strips to pass around, on the left side as viewed from the keyboard. They move laterally according to how many levels of "tilt" or "rotate" is necessary to position the desired character on the ball. Looking at the ball, and the incorrect letters being printed, should let you discern whether it's "tilt" or "rotate" that's in error. If you can find the adjustment, crank it one way until it's wrong, then the other, counting turns, and then set it back half way between. I don't think that being "wrong" can cause any damage; just incorrect letters being printed. |
#31
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IBM Selectric III
If you want real fun with an IBM, play around with the memorywriters.
I used to hate working on those. On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:03:16 +1000, "Larry" wrote: wrote: : I have had a Selectric III for quite a few years and it has always : worked perfectly. As I was using it today, and while it was working : just fine, in mid-sentence, it began typing characters that didn't : correspond to the keys I was hitting. Any idea what's going on? It's : never done this before. These 3 items would cause wrong characters that would not be perfectlt formed characters: 1. Take the ball off and look up the centre of it. Is there a thin groove in the circular piece or is that broken out? 2. While the ball is off, check the back of the tilt ring (thing the ball mounts on) and see if the vertical spring on the back of it is not broken. This spring pulls the rotate detent up and locks the ball in position rotationally when it strikes the paper. 3. With the ball still off; on the left side of the tilt ring is the tilt detent which locks the tilt ring in one of the 4 rows of letters when the ball strikes the paper. It is a vertical spring that you can see to the left and on the left side of the left post. If the characters are wrong but perfectly formed, my guess would be a broken spring down inside on one of the selector interposers. You would likely need to get help to find this. There are people repairing them still. Try Googling selectric repair. Here is one I found http://www.selectric.com/ Where do you live? Larry (Retired IBM tech) larry17 at gmail.com |
#32
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IBM Selectric III
James Sweet wrote:
wrote in message ... I have seen IBM Selectric Typewriters for sale in the thrift stores before, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Rescue Mission.Goodwill usually sells typewriters for $7.00, unless the prices have gone up lately. www.shopgoodwill.com cuhulin Might depend on the area, but I haven't seen a typewriter of any sort in a thrift store in over a decade. I fixed IBM selectric typewriters, along with their typebar and dictation equipment from 1977-1980. I still have the original service manuals and parts for them in my old tool bag including my half cycle wheel... Sal |
#33
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IBM Selectric III
I still have all my IBM tools and still use them to this day. I am
just missing my manual as it was destroyed in a fire and I have not been able to find a replacement. On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:35:15 -0400, Sal wrote: James Sweet wrote: wrote in message ... I have seen IBM Selectric Typewriters for sale in the thrift stores before, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Rescue Mission.Goodwill usually sells typewriters for $7.00, unless the prices have gone up lately. www.shopgoodwill.com cuhulin Might depend on the area, but I haven't seen a typewriter of any sort in a thrift store in over a decade. I fixed IBM selectric typewriters, along with their typebar and dictation equipment from 1977-1980. I still have the original service manuals and parts for them in my old tool bag including my half cycle wheel... Sal |
#34
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IBM Selectric III
I have all kinds of old antquated business machines. I like to display
them in my shop, after I recondition them, and allow school kids to take tours and see the machines. On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:03:18 +0000 (UTC), bz wrote: wrote in news:12978-47C06698-555@storefull- 3258.bay.webtv.net: I have bought (and still own) four old typewriters at the thrift stores around here before.Three of them are very old vintage Underwood typewriters.I also own a very old brass cash register I bought at a thrift store years ago, it has beveled glass windows on it.A thing of beauty it is, so are my old vintage typewriters.Those IBM Selectric typewriters though, I always thought they were only regular typewriters.If I see one at a thrift store again for sale for only a few dollars, I will buy it just for the heck of it. cuhulin I have an Underwood radio telegraphy 'mill' for copying CW. Pin feed roller, all caps with a 'slash zero' and a similar Underwood regular typewriter. |
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