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197X IBM Selectric MC Composer Serial # unknown 197X IBM Selectric MC Composer typewriter, Serial # unknown Guillermo Fernandez Boan's 197X IBM Selectric MC Composer typewriter. 2019-11-18 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Guillermo Fernandez Boan: 197X IBM Selectric MC Composer Serial # unknown There is not many literature about this typographic monster.
And there is an easy explanation: An Wang word processors bring the art of typing to a league of its own.
I've give one hour to the User Manual of the MC Composer. Enough to understand that an MC Composer operator should need no less that three months to manage the complicated operation involved.
IBM itself give birth, few months later, to its Mainframe created "Display Writer" program.
I've used the Display Writer, an unfriendly word processor program, and looks a piece of cake in comparison with the MC Composer operation.
Nevertheless, there are not many of this beasts available, and a 70 bucks deal was very hard to resist!
Of course, the "Typewriter" part is linked to the Magnetic Card reader with an umbilical cord that ressembles the one the first astronauts use to their space walks. And you can not disconnect the above cord from the typewriter nor the MC Reader.
With a gross weight over eighty pounds, is absolutely impossible for one person to move it from one place to another.
The only reference I have about the machine history is that it was used in Buenos Aires City Hall, on the building planification department. It cames with several ribbons (you can not use common Selectric ribbons in a Composer, there are special Composer ribbons as there are special Composer golfballs). It cames with around thirty used Magnetic Cards, Probably, once I find how to operate the monster, that Magnetic Cards will show part of its active history. Who knows...
My elder son is a computer technician. Hopefully he will help me to understand the tricky operating system.
And, last but no least: Until now I am not sure about the operating voltaje. It is a 100v or a 220 v machine? Hope to find any label, or perhaps taking a look at the electric motor. (my other Composer operates in 220 volts).

197X IBM Selectric MC Composer #unknown

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Guillermo Fernandez Boan (ORTBRAKER)
Created: 05-10-2016 at 05:40PM
Last Edit: 11-18-2019 at 07:30PM

Description Hunter 25 Photos 4 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

There is not many literature about this typographic monster.
And there is an easy explanation: An Wang word processors bring the art of typing to a league of its own.
I've give one hour to the User Manual of the MC Composer. Enough to understand that an MC Composer operator should need no less that three months to manage the complicated operation involved.
IBM itself give birth, few months later, to its Mainframe created "Display Writer" program.
I've used the Display Writer, an unfriendly word processor program, and looks a piece of cake in comparison with the MC Composer operation.
Nevertheless, there are not many of this beasts available, and a 70 bucks deal was very hard to resist!
Of course, the "Typewriter" part is linked to the Magnetic Card reader with an umbilical cord that ressembles the one the first astronauts use to their space walks. And you can not disconnect the above cord from the typewriter nor the MC Reader.
With a gross weight over eighty pounds, is absolutely impossible for one person to move it from one place to another.
The only reference I have about the machine history is that it was used in Buenos Aires City Hall, on the building planification department. It cames with several ribbons (you can not use common Selectric ribbons in a Composer, there are special Composer ribbons as there are special Composer golfballs). It cames with around thirty used Magnetic Cards, Probably, once I find how to operate the monster, that Magnetic Cards will show part of its active history. Who knows...
My elder son is a computer technician. Hopefully he will help me to understand the tricky operating system.
And, last but no least: Until now I am not sure about the operating voltaje. It is a 100v or a 220 v machine? Hope to find any label, or perhaps taking a look at the electric motor. (my other Composer operates in 220 volts).

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:







Memory Cards box
Memory Cards box

One of the Composer many Memory Cards
One of the Composer many Memory Cards

One of the Memory Cards in the MC Reader slot
One of the Memory Cards in the MC Reader slot


the "umbillical cord"
the "umbillical cord"

a dozen of special Composer MC ribbons, unused (you should be brave enough to use them in this hard to use and to understand typewriter)
a dozen of special Composer MC ribbons, unused (you should be brave enough to use them in this hard to use and to understand typewriter)

eighteen golfballs, all of them just fit in a Composer typewriter
eighteen golfballs, all of them just fit in a Composer typewriter


First page of the User's Manual
First page of the User's Manual


electronic panel to fit into the IBM MC composer
electronic panel to fit into the IBM MC composer









Hunter: Guillermo Fernandez Boan (ORTBRAKER)

Guillermo Fernandez Boan's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 9679

Argentinian lawyer resident in Buenos Aires city.
For half a century, enthusiast typist. Now enthusiast typewriter hunter.


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