Another DVORAK Selectric

I just finished this IBM selectric 3 for a customer. It was a custom build because he wanted the Dvorak keyboard and the Selectric II style ribbon in Marlin blue. This machine came with the 210 bicycle ribbon and because it is harder to locate these days it makes sense to change it to the more available Selectric II style ribbon.

 

 

 

Converting the ribbon was pretty straightforward. In addition to changing the ribbon plates, the ribbon lift guides were added and ribbon lift arm were changed. Changing to the Selectric II style ribbon is an effort to help make sure ribbons will be available for the foreseeable future. The 210 ribbon is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive and as far as I know, no manufacturer is still making them, so once existing stock is depleted, there likely won't be any more made. The SRS Selectric II ribbon was used during early production on the SIII's and again right before production ended in the mid-1980's. The SRS Selectric II style is still widely available from many sources and is still in production, so it makes sense to convert it as part of the rebuild.

The keyboard was also converted to DVORAK layout (American Simplified) per customer request. I've gone into great detail about how I convert these in other posts and go the extra steps of making the dual-impression system function properly. That requires modifying the velocity vane to interface with the proper low-velocity interposers once they are relocated. 

 In addition to these modifications, I did a thorough overhaul. It received a complete teardown and washout cleaning in solvent to remove old grease and gummed oil. Wear items were replaced and everything was relubricated with synthetic grease and oil. 

 

 Now I just need to get it ready for shipping to the customer. I have purchased double-walled boxes to protect it and I will use a board to bolt it down with bolts, washers and spacers so it doesn't move around inside the box or the metal covers. Keeping my fingers crossed as shipping companies are known to be rough with packages. 

Selectric III Ribbon Conversion

 IBM Selectric III models were equipped with two different types of ribbons - the 1299095 SRS style, also used in Selectric II models and the 210 CRC "Bicycle" style on machines built between February 1982 through October 1984 (that's the official dates anyway). It was nicknamed "bicycle" since the outline of the ribbon cartridge looks like a bicycle. The 210 style was designed supposedly to address the complaints of users who got carbon on their fingers when changing the ribbon on earlier machines. The 210 style was designed in a "cassette" where the ribbon lift arms were part of the ribbon housing. The ribbon was already threaded through the lift arms and didn't require the user to touch the ribbon film during replacement. I'm sure IBM saw another advantage as it meant users had to buy this new design ribbon directly from IBM until the aftermarket could ramp up to produce them, which increased IBM's profits on supplies. The many third-party suppliers for the older style 1299095 ribbons for the Selectric II had cut into their supply market and my guess is IBM wanted to recapture some of that.

Because the 210 "Bicycle" ribbon was only used for about two and one half years on only two models, the Selectric III and the IBM Personal Typewriter, it never had the demand in the market that the more common 1299095 ribbon had. Offices didn't like them since they needed to stock additional ribbon part numbers and preferred to use the same ribbon for all their IBM Selectrics. It was confusing for office supply stores to determine which ribbon was needed since buyers didn't know the build date of their typewriters. Even IBM apparently agreed that it was better to only use one ribbon design as they switched back to the 1299095 ribbon in December 1984.

Today, it's growing harder to obtain the 210 "bicycle" ribbon and the prices for them have risen sharply.  According to my sources, the 210 "bicycle" ribbon is out of production mainly because no company produces the plastic parts for the ribbon cartridge anymore due to lack of demand. There are still some NOS (new old stock) ribbons for sale, but once these are gone there likely won't be any more. In order have better availability in the future, a Selectric III or IBM Personal Typewriter can be converted to use the more common 1299095 SRS ribbon. Just replace the ribbon plate, ribbon guides and ribbon lift arm with the parts for the 1299095 SRS style. The Escapement Bracket is slightly different, but can be modified in situ if you don't want to replace it.

Here is a Selectric III that I just refurbished for a customer and I suggested converting the ribbon from the 210 style to the 1299095 SRS style to reduce his ribbon costs and improve ribbon availability in the future.

I still repair/refurbish Selectrics, but I've been so busy with customer machines that I haven't refurbished any for sale lately. Maybe once I retire from my day job I'll get back into rebuilding them for sale.

IBM Selectric Typewriter Cycle Clutch Hub Pulleys

 As many of you may know, I've been reproducing the Cycle Clutch Pulley, also known as the Main Pulley or Main Hub for IBM Selectric typewriters for a few years now. This grew out of a necessity to source replacement pulleys for the Selectrics that I reconditioned. The original pulleys were injection molded nylon that crack from age. Many of these pulleys are 40 years old or older, so you can't really blame IBM for a bad part since they lasted well beyond the design life of the Selectric. IBM stopped providing parts support for all typewriters when Lexmark was founded and Lexmark stopped supporting all typewriters, even Lexmark branded ones many years ago. Without a supply of replacement Cycle Clutch Pulleys, these typewriters are unrepairable and wind up in landfills.

At the time, I had over 100 Selectrics that needed Cycle Clutch Pulleys. There was no way I would ever find 100 good used pulley from parts machines, so I decided I needed to try to make my own. Making the drawing of the pulley was the toughest part as it is fairly complicated and needs to be highly accurate. I chose to make the part from aluminum so the part would last as long as possible. After a few tests and few revisions, I started installing them on Selectrics that I was refurbishing. They worked great and once I was satisfied they performed properly, I let other Selectric repairmen know about them. That's when I started selling them on ebay and directly to people who knew me.

After a few years, I've sold over a thousand of these pulleys and used hundreds of them myself. I've sold them all over the US and many foreign countries. If your Selectric has the dreaded "thump thump thump" sound, then you need a Cycle Clutch Pulley. Just contact me.

 

Springfield, MO Typewriter Repair

I have recently moved to the Springfield Missouri area. Now that I'm settled in, I'm restarted my typewriter repair service. I specialize in IBM Selectric typewriters, but I have and can repair antique, vintage manual and electric typewriters and even electronic typewriters.

I repair all kinds of typewriters, IBM or otherwise. 
I'm located about 6 miles south of Springfield in Nixa, Missouri. Please contact me before coming by. My email address is in my profile.

Garnet Rose IBM Selectric II - SOLD

Here's a terrific IBM Selectric II with correction that I just finished. I gave it a complete overhaul including a chemical wash, synthetic lubrication, high mortality parts replacements, careful inspection and adjustment and numerous upgrades to make this machine like-new again.

A beautiful machine, inside and out. Literally each and every part is cleaned, inspected and reconditioned or replaced, if necessary, to return it to like-new appearance and operation

Complete with Dual-Pitch and Correction, this machine is the standard by which other typewriters are measured. Such a dream to use.

It has a 15" platen, Error Correction and the wonderful Selectric "touch" keyboard that everyone loves. It is a Dual-pitch (10 and 12 cpi) typewriter that uses any of the elements for a Selectric I or I (88 character elements).

 

IBM Selectric II
    Dual-Pitch Correcting, model 895
    Freshly Cleaned, Lubed and Adjusted
    New Sound Insulating Foam
    Ready To Use

Extras Included:

New Black Vinyl Dust Cover
Printed Owner's Manual

One Year Guarantee on everything. No disappointments. Contact me for more information or to come by to see it in person. It's located in Nixa, Missouri (close to Springfield, MO) and because it's so heavy, I really don't want to ship it.

Price: $350

I can also service and repair your Selectric. Simple repairs to full overhauls and rebuilds. Parts for Selectrics also available. 

Raven Black Selectric II - Sold

Just finished. This is a beautiful Mid-Size Raven Black Selectric II with Correction. This machine was previously reconditioned by IBM in 1981 and apparently not used much after that.

 
But time has it's way with all things and over the last 30 or so years while it wasn't used, the oil and grease stiffened, causing it not to work. The first step to any successful reconditioning process is to remove the old oil and grease and free everything up again. Then inspect and replace all necessary parts and finally re-adjust the machine to bring it back to like-new operation. A long and tedious process, but one that can't be rushed. I spend somewhere between 25 and 30 hours on each machine. Obviously I"m not getting rich rebuilding Selectrics, but I know you will be proud to use it for years when I'm finished.

Literally each and every part is cleaned, inspected and reconditioned or replaced, if necessary, to return it to like-new appearance and operation. It's amazing how many things I find that need correction during the process, some of which were incorrect from new.

 

 

It has a 13" platen, Error Correction and the wonderful Selectric "touch" keyboard that everyone loves. It is a Dual-pitch (10 and 12 cpi) typewriter that uses any of the elements for a Selectric I or I (88 character elements).

IBM Selectric II
    Dual-Pitch Correcting, model 893
    Freshly Cleaned, Lubed and Adjusted
    New Sound Insulating Foam
    Ready To Use

 

Extras Included:

New Black Vinyl Dust Cover
Printed Owner's Manual

One Year Guarantee on everything. No disappointments. Contact me for more information or to come by to see it in person. It's located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and because it's so heavy, I really don't want to ship it.

SOLD

I can also service and repair your Selectric. Simple repairs to full overhauls and rebuilds. Parts for Selectrics also available. 

Marlin Blue Selectric III - Sold

Here's a beautiful Marlin Blue Correcting Selectric III that I just finished. What a great machine! A real closet queen that was a personal machine and saw very little use back in the day. It still needed lots of TLC to remove sticky, hardened grease and oil from years of just sitting around to return it to factory-perfect operation.

 

This one is the best of the best. Produced near the end of production in December 1983, this one also has the latest revisions and uses the more common and less expensive SRS ribbon that Selectric II's also use. Highly desirable.  

IBM Selectric III
    Dual-Pitch Correcting, model 6705
    Lighted Margin Scale
    Freshly Cleaned, Lubed and Adjusted
    New Sound Insulating Foam
    Ready To Use

It has a 15" platen, Error Correction and the wonderful Selectric "touch" keyboard that everyone loves. It is a Dual-pitch (10 and 12 cpi) typewriter that uses any of the elements for a Selectric III (96 character elements).

 

Extras Included:

New Black Vinyl Dust Cover
Printed Owner's Manual

One Year Guarantee on everything. No disappointments. Contact me for more information or to come by to see it in person. It's located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and because it's so heavy, I really don't want to ship it.

SOLD

I can also service and repair your Selectric. Simple repairs to full overhauls and rebuilds. Parts for Selectrics also available.