The Selectric, children, was an electric typewriter with a roller which remained in place while the type, on a changeable ball so that you could change fonts, moved back and forth. The Selectric III was the first typewriter which could be plugged into a computer to use as a printer.
You can get a good used Selectric for around $10. And, good as it was, it wasn’t the first typewriter you could plug into a computer, not by a long shot. I forget who made the one I worked with back in the ’70s, but it sure wasn’t a Selectric - I’m an IBM certified Selectric tech, I know.
My 10year old granddaughter was at a flea market with me when she saw this case and asked what it was. I told her it was a typewriter. What’s that she said. So I bought it for $7.00 and stopped at an office supply store and found a ribbon for it. The kids thought it was the neatest thing ever.
KingRat, in that case, I want mine back! On the other hand, though, they did require expensive maintenance from time to time - especially when one of the control bands broke.
runar over 15 years ago
So do I, Flo, but you probably can’t get ribbons for them anymore.
stpatme over 15 years ago
The Selectric, children, was an electric typewriter with a roller which remained in place while the type, on a changeable ball so that you could change fonts, moved back and forth. The Selectric III was the first typewriter which could be plugged into a computer to use as a printer.
KingRat over 15 years ago
runar says: So do I, Flo, but you probably can’t get ribbons for them anymore.
IBM still makes ribbons for the full range of Selectics
farren over 15 years ago
You can get a good used Selectric for around $10. And, good as it was, it wasn’t the first typewriter you could plug into a computer, not by a long shot. I forget who made the one I worked with back in the ’70s, but it sure wasn’t a Selectric - I’m an IBM certified Selectric tech, I know.
suzin10c over 15 years ago
My 10year old granddaughter was at a flea market with me when she saw this case and asked what it was. I told her it was a typewriter. What’s that she said. So I bought it for $7.00 and stopped at an office supply store and found a ribbon for it. The kids thought it was the neatest thing ever.
runar over 15 years ago
KingRat, in that case, I want mine back! On the other hand, though, they did require expensive maintenance from time to time - especially when one of the control bands broke.