#ibm correcting selectric ii

[netscapenavigator-official]

I've recently come into possession of an IBM Correcting Selectric II Typewriter. It draws power (about 200W to be specific) from any outlet, but it does absolutely nothing. I got it to fire up once, but after cycling the power, it failed to start again.

Because it's drawing power successfully, most people online seem to think the mechanics are just jammed up. A few different sources have recommended that I give the motor a push to see if I can get it unstuck and/or break the initial friction that's preventing it from starting up. Problem is, nowhere online can I find a guide on HOW to push the motor.

I successfully took off the top case and found the motor, but the thing is surrounded by its metal chassis, and getting to rotor isn't very possible. There's no obvious way I can rotate it manually, and I'm pulling my hair out just trying to get this stupid typewriter to turn on.

[billconrad]

Are Today’s Writers Spoiled?

    My father was a hard-core author who published from the mid-70s through the 2000s. He began with an IBM Selectric II typewriter and sought out the only publisher, McMillan, willing to take on a ceramic textbook. Later, he used this same typewriter to typeset and self-publish his books, which were sold mail order from our garage.

    Today, publishing is quite different. A person can use a free online word processor like Google Docs to write a book, convert it to an eBook, or print on-demand book and publish it online where millions of people can download it.

    And the tools we have? Word, Front Page, Excel, Visio, Grammarly, Photoshop, ProWritingAid and Hemmingway. There are even AI-powered resources like ChatGPT. Plus, the internet is a research powerhouse that can fact-check, locate information, find existing works, locate publishing resources, correct flaws, and inspire ideas. Well, I guess that is it. Anybody can publish a book without any effort and make millions of dollars. Umm, no.

    Take the topic of Nelson Mandela. With a few minutes of internet research, ALL the essential facts about this amazing man are available. Are they accurate? Multiple sources can easily confirm the vital facts. What can be done with this verified information? Write a book, report, article, educational pamphlet, children’s book, or fantasy story with Nelson as a character or a parody based on researched facts.

    For example, an author could use Google Docs to write a time travel story where the main character meets Nelson Mandela. Then, check it with Grammarly, import a table from Excel, and use free online tools to place their book on Amazon. Heck, the cover design could be done by the AI image generator SDXL. The resulting book would be wholly fact-checked, grammar-checked, and properly formatted with excellent cover art. The apex of the spoiled author is to use an AI program like ChatGPT to write the entire book. Truly remarkable.

    All true, but there is a problem my father never faced. Readers have a thousand time travel books to choose from or can download a free time travel story from many sites. Do you like horses? “Hey, ChatGPT. Write a time travel story with Nelson Mandela riding horses.” Done!

    This wide variety makes it nearly impossible for an author to get a potential reader’s attention. I did an Amazon search for “Nelson Mandela books,” and 409 results appeared. Poetry book? 80,000 results. Religion book? 100,000 results. Harry Potter book? 4,000 results. Side note: When I did this search, I found “Welcome to Hogwarts (LEGO Harry Potter).” Lego publishes books? I do not even know what to say…

    It gets worse. A nobody reader can leave a scathing review that stays public until the last hard drive in the universe stops spinning. And oops. The server crashed, and your Google Docs book got deleted. Plagiarism? It is now easier than copying files off a floppy disk.

    Alright, I’m getting lazy. “Hey ChatGPT. List the problems facing modern authors.”

1. Oversaturation of the Market: With the rise of self-publishing and digital platforms, more books are being published than ever, making it harder for authors to stand out.

    Discoverability: Competing for attention in a crowded marketplace requires significant effort in marketing and branding.

2. Financial Instability

    Low Royalties: Traditional publishing contracts often offer modest royalties, and self-published authors may struggle to make consistent sales.

    Pressure to Write Quickly: Authors may feel pushed to produce content rapidly to keep up with market demand, which can lead to burnout.

3. Marketing and Promotion

    Lack of Support: Many authors, especially in the self-publishing world, must handle their marketing and promotion, which requires time, money, and expertise.

    Social Media Pressure: Authors are often expected to maintain a solid social media presence to engage readers, which can be overwhelming and detract from writing time.

4. Changing Reader Habits

    Shorter Attention Spans: With the dominance of digital content and streaming services, some readers may have shorter attention spans, impacting interest in lengthy works.

    EBook vs. Print: The shift to eBooks and audiobooks changes how books are consumed, and some authors struggle to adapt.

5. Technological Disruption

    AI and Automation: Tools that generate content, like AI-written texts, are emerging, potentially altering how stories are created and valued.

    Piracy: Digital piracy remains a significant concern, with unauthorized copies of books cutting into authors’ earnings.

6. Diversity and Representation

    Gatekeeping: Some authors face barriers related to race, gender, or identity when trying to break into traditional publishing.

    Pressure to Represent: Authors from marginalized backgrounds may feel obligated to focus on specific narratives, limiting creative freedom.

7. Creative Challenges

    Writer’s Block: Pressure to produce can exacerbate creative blocks.

    Balancing Art and Commerce: Authors may struggle to balance writing what they are passionate about with what sells.

8. Mental Health Concerns

    Isolation: Writing can be a solitary profession, leading to feelings of loneliness or disconnection.

    Public Criticism: Negative reviews, online trolls, and cancel culture can affect an author’s mental health.

9. Industry Gatekeeping

Traditional Publishing Barriers: Many authors face rejections or long waits for decisions from conventional publishers.

Focus on Trends: Publishers may prioritize trendy genres or themes, making it harder for unique or unconventional stories to find a home.

10. Sustainability

Environmental Impact: Authors may grapple with the ethics of traditional publishing’s reliance on paper and physical distribution.

Cultural Shifts: Trends and norms evolve quickly, requiring authors to adapt their writing styles and themes to remain relevant.

    Today, authors face many challenges my father could not have imagined in the seventies. When he started, there were only TWO ceramics textbooks. I searched Amazon for “ceramics textbook,” and 242 books appeared. This number is incorrect because my father amassed over 500 hardcover ceramics textbooks during his writing effort.

    And the quality of the modern ceramic textbook? Nearly every new ceramic textbook, potter’s manual, glaze recipe cookbook, reference book, or guide has my father’s books in the appendix or bibliography. So, I know they must be good.

    My father faced many technical and economic challenges that today’s authors can only read about in history books. Instead, our challenges are the extreme competition, cut-throat marketing, developing new ideas, and utilizing new technology. So, today’s authors have many tools at their fingertips that my father could only dream about, but we face sophisticated modern readers and mountains of existing work. We certainly are not spoiled, but neither was my father.

    You’re the best -Bill

    November 27, 2024

    Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:

   Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.

    Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.

    Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.

    Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.

    These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.

[eliteauto3kebay]

Vintage IBM Correcting Selectric II Typewriter - Selling As Is | eBay https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/l?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F204105146135&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[aholefilledwithtwigs]

[a-typewritten-blog]

Thrift find: three IBM Selectric II ribbons and two correction tapes!

[andmaybegayer]

I bought a typewriter!

Now you might be thinking many things about this like “Well that seems excessive” and “hey Kali aren’t you a Computers Dipshit” and the answer to both of those is yes.

There’s another two posts in me about this, one about why this typewriter in particular is such an interesting piece of cultural history, and another about how it works and why it’s Like This. This post is about neither of those interesting things and instead about me showing off the cool new thing I got and explaining why I wanted it.

One of the old boxes of ribbon cartridges that came with this. Manufactured 1984. Graphic design truly is my passion.

Alright breakdown of what I got:

1976 IBM Selectric II Typewriter (with Courier 12-pitch typing element)

An original Vinyl cover for the machine

Three additional typing elements (in Orator, Artisan and Diplomat)

The original manual

Two large boxes of ancient ribbon cartridges.

A bag full of correction reels

A few pads of correction film

An antique toothbrush for cleaning the elements

A box of accessories that came with the typewriter: Correction tape, typeballs, correction films, three typeballs, some fontface samples on an old envelope, and a toothbrush.

This is an old working machine, not a showpiece. In fact, it was in use right up until the day I bought it and I fully intend to keep using it for as long as I can. This thing is 44 years old, also known as twice my age, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to be the one who breaks it.

I bought it for ZAR 1200 (about USD 70) from a woman who deals in imported wines, she used it to fill in shipping forms. She has several other typewriters and has been slowly selling them off so I don’t feel bad about this. She’d had it since the 80′s. USD 70 is an absolute song for a working Selectric, they usually go for at least double that without any accessories, but no one is buying typewriters around these parts.

The original manual, dated 1978.

I’ve wanted a typewriter for a little while now, because I wanted a writing tool that produces physical artifacts quickly and immediately. I’m very avidly aware that while I write more than I ever have (mostly Tumblr posts) these days, they’re all very ephemeral. They will not outlive Tumblr, and they certainly will not outlive me. Carbon black on paper is much more long lived, typewritten texts are still readable over a century later in many cases. MySpace accidentally deleted everything that happened on their site before 2013. You decide which one is more sensible.

In addition, this is a nice way for me to produce writing that is too personal for my usual habit of cracking open a Tumblr edit tab. A lot of posts are languishing in my drafts folder after I realised I didn’t actually want to post them online and just needed to get them out of my head. This is mostly intended to take the place of wandering in circles in my room talking to myself.

A sample sheet with the four font faces that came with this typewriter

Now you may say that I should just type stuff on a computer, or write out notes longhand. To that I say a) printing is the worst experience one can have on a computer and b) I hate writing by hand. I could never keep diaries as a kid because it involved writing by hand and it sucked, in fact I’m almost certain that I don’t actually know how to write and that I just figure out the shapes of letters new every time I have to do it. I can type extremely naturally, almost at my speed of thought. I will only get better at this. It is also UNBELIEVABLY loud.

I’ll have to talk more about the historical and social legacy of the IBM Selectric and, to a lesser degree, that of typewriters in general in another post, as well as the utter miracle of engineering prowess that is the IBM Selectric. Let’s just say that those were also a big part of why I chose this. It’s a really important piece of history for engineers, computer nerds, typists and secretaries, the last of which is a group to which I have no real claim but I think they’re neat.

A scan of the demo page the last owner wrote for me, showing most of the capabilities of the machine.

This thing is a battleship, it’s in basically perfect condition. The only problems are that the correction tape needs to be replaced and realigned, and the currently installed typeball is stuck on and the release lever isn’t working. These can both be solved without too much trouble, plus there’s a phone number for a repair and servicing place that the previous owner took it to stuck on the outside, so that’s good for me. Yes, there are still places that service these machines as normal business, I was very surprised.

 little bit of my own demo text. Did you know William Gibson wrote Neuromancer, that cyberpunk hyperfuturistic work of fiction, on a typewriter? He didn’t own a computer until after it was published.

1:1 pixel focus of the text from the above photo. It is a VERY smooth operator. You can see where I corrected an error in the word “channel”.

That’s about all I got for now, this is extremely cool. I’m really enjoying using it.

[mxargent]

IBM ( @ibmblr ) Correcting Selectric II, Goodwill find. In pretty good shape, but some keys need oiled and the carriage won't advance past halfway regardless of margin settings.

[miloroastscoffee]

Picked up this adorable drawer set with type balls. Nothing fancy but ones we didn’t have.

[klaus-laserdisc]

Took in another orphan. Couldn't bear to see it scrapped. IBM Correcting Selectric II Cutting edge technology for the late 60s. Gonna try to find it a home. I have a blue non-correcting model that also needs a place.

[ksstradio]

Tradin' Post for Monday, July 29th, 2019

Tradin’ Post for Monday, July 29th, 2019

For sale,Freezer works very well ,not frost free asking 100.00 or best offer call 903 885 0550

SEARS Portable Sewing Machine. Includes cams for decorative stitching. $20.00. Call (903) 438-9175. Okay to leave message; will call back.

IBM Selectric II Correcting Typewriter. Carriage needs repair. Ribbons and correction tapes included. Free. (903) 438-9175

For Sale: an Ashley…

[netscapenavigator-official]

So, I got that IBM Correcting Selectric II to work. The motor is just gunked up and needs a push to overcome the friction from the old, sticky lubricant. It took me two days to diagnose them entire machine and get it running and typing like normal, but now it works (almost) flawlessly. So, now I have a new dilemma: Wtf do I use this thing for?

[eliteauto3kebay]

ICYMI: Vintage IBM Correcting Selectric II Typewriter - Selling As Is | eBay https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/l?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F204302208767&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[a-typewritten-blog]

The other day aqualinux was telling me how he’s obtained an IBM Selectric III typewriter (the machine I learned how to type on in my HS sophomore year), and then like a day later there one was at a yardsale I went to.

The woman handling the yardsale told me the story: Some family friend named Betty had this typewriter and it kept having some issue, so whatever relative would bring it home and repair it. He’d return it to Betty, and immediately she would claim it was on the fritz again. This kept happening. And apparently while he had the case taken apart (as it still is here) Betty just told him ‘nevermind, keep it.’ So the upshot the seller gave was, she thinks this machine works but can’t vouch for how long or well, and to not be put off by how the case is akilter to the keys because no one has bothered to secure it back on.

I left it alone, I have thought about getting a Selectric (I am more inclined toward a green II rather than a blue III) but this wasn’t the day or the item. It did have a ribbon cartridge, correction cartridge, and Prestige Elite 12 ‘golf ball’ typehead under the hood...

[eliteauto3kebay]

Vintage IBM Correcting Selectric II Typewriter - Selling As Is | eBay https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/l?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F204302208767&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[eliteauto3kebay]

ICYMI: Vintage IBM Correcting Selectric II Typewriter - Selling As Is | eBay https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/l?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F204105146135&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr