Selectric Typewriter conversions

From: John Lawson <jpl15_at_panix.com>
Date: Mon Feb 3 21:16:00 2003

On Mon, 3 Feb 2003, Marvin Johnston wrote:

> Does anyone remember what was required to convert an IBM Selectric
> Typewriter to a computer printer? I seem to recall a kit of some sort

  Modified Selectrics were used, ISTR, as consoles on several models of
mid-60's BIg Blue Iron. They spoke, of course, EBCDIC. There were kits in
the early BYTE mags to make these units transcieve ASCII.

  Making a 'manual' Selectric into an ASR or even RO machine is
"mechanically non-trivial" as they might say.

  IMHO, of course, knowing a little bit about how the Selectric tosses
it's element around. Metallic VooDoo I heard one tech refer to it.


  Cheerz

John
Received on Mon Feb 03 2003 - 21:16:00 GMT