1974 IBM Selectric I #21 0349534
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Matt Watkins (Ignaciob)
Created: 04-18-2024 at 08:08AM
Last Edit: 07-10-2024 at 09:07AM
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Description:
In pretty rough shape to begin with, bought as parts to get right side platen knob, but that was broken in shipment. Fires up, but super sticky and hub sounds broken. I see now how typewriters are cannibalized so others may live. Update on 5/8/2024: I borrowed several parts off of it and decided to learn about how they're assembled. My gawd!!...there are a ton of parts and engineering in these things! I parted this unit out and kept the important bits.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Matt Watkins (Ignaciob)
Matt Watkins's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 307
First hunt and pecked on a 60's Smith Corona Sterling my mother had and Took typing class in 1982 on an IBM Selectric as a means to get into the computer class my sophomore year. Probably reached 60wpm. Once I moved over to computers I never really went back to typewriters, but 40 years later I find myself enjoying the sound, feel, and smell of a now-vintage Selectric 2 and just picked up a 1955 Silent Super. We'll see how far down the rabbit hole I go....
Update: July 2024. I have 26 typewriters at this point including an identical Selectric I used in high school. The collection kick started in April when I bought 16 in one purchase from a collector on his way out of the hobby. I've also had the good fortune of helping my local air museum find several period-correct WWII typewriters and even gave away a pristine 50's Smith Corona Silent Super to a 19 year old that was enamored typewriters.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the IBM Selectric I on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the IBM Serial Number page and the IBM Selectric I By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
