1949 IBM Model A Executive #91 - 14 - 0177
Status: My Collection
Hunter: William Saxbe (wsaxbe)
Created: 06-09-2021 at 10:36PM
Last Edit: 06-13-2021 at 01:47AM

Description:
Pretty neat machine. Glitzy.
My current project. Not working yet (the paper was merely part of the photo op). Several clues indicate it may have been one of the very first Executives off the line at IBM's plant in Toronto Canada, or possibly made to display a milestone at the factory.
Serial is 91- (the factory code for Canada) 14-0177. The 'for-sale' production serials in Canada supposedly began at 001-0097 so this is pretty early in the production run. The whole thing is coated in that extra thick 1950's high-quality chromium. Keys and knobs are a lovely deep dark blue, except for the two spacebars which are brown.
One fun thing you can do with old carbon ribbon machines is some sneaky detective work. The tail end of an old ribbon was still in the take up spool. Most of it was type testing and even an address for a hairstylist, but there were several mentions of the Toronto office and IBM. Reading the tape backwards up to the light makes you feel like a spy. It's got the classy Executive only 'Modern' font.
Inner workings need some help, but I've got a donor model B that I can cannibalize. Several frame pieces need JB weld. I've already switched out the belts and rewired the motor to get the power roll spinning, but there may be some more serious issues internally. A worthy project.
Typeface Specimen:

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Hunter: William Saxbe (wsaxbe)
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RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the IBM Model A Executive on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the IBM Serial Number page and the IBM Model A Executive By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.