![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp74_1guCx-Mo3B0Y_UX-figYmq2MdqLSRHh9WB5vVmAycxfwyhRthJeqcJYZb-nSUfE0f9BCgDIs1jwpfuXzX6Sdv3dyY7JPqxFkIX9flTWpBA7L_QtxDYGOgbN-rCMxqQHIGikbMZ462qOtEf6JzaThegh6E6_O8uYyHXn2yLw6_Ps-07Kng/s280/Big%20Blue.jpeg)
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Here I've underlined areas in this pre-repair typing sample where the letter spacing was crowded against other letters. The problem didn't seem to be consistent or present any pattern.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfD_I1b1hbiuO_E1YS1XAZnyordVeykChaHO1elZB-oHCMrFpU_vH7NY_nUwXOLIR6ogo7guVhu6OZYvCV34fU8EbbKm2t1ALRSdsLFafz2V0m5NhiJKm3_rzaEb0QxNiQl_vn3kCrK3VUCjQ3PVdAONVxqnx8gqIa59g5wspcfquJ6RHzVMq/s280/Invoice.jpeg)
Steve's invoice, whose style harkens back to my TV repair days.
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Here's the part Steve replaced. It's obviously an original IBM part, complete with label and part number. It's great having access to a guy who not only was factory-trained and with decades of experience, but still has on-hand original replacement parts.
When he originally restored this machine, he installed a 1.5 line spacing feature (that wasn't originally on these model 721s), and also the EXP or express backspace feature, which involved not only installing additional internal parts, but the EXP button and the L-shaped RETURN button. So this blue 721 is rather unique in having these additional features.
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The keyboard now with EXP (express backspace) key and the original rectangular RETURN key now replaced with the L-shaped key.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBjCHUPaFIgJbsZLDzTZUqlsIIg3DF0ZgDsOAYEptMpBfrwEar6mOfIqRN0LHXu41OEwh6f58DxmVffiYiuhkQ-Uvdl15JaC2shzZjiJTbB86mnNL4nv2i3Elb8eJjor4h8Uk14fqL5SN1KtowodJskoOYmu_ywsxwhOshBgECEXYxadhzWED/s280/Part%203.jpeg)
Of course, the white correction marks do stand out on off-white paper. This is one of the things about owning the 70-series Selectrics, they may be curvy and pretty but don't have lift-off correction.
I've mentioned this before, but electric machines with soft-touch keyboards seem to draw out the typographical errors in me, partly due to my sloppy technique but also because there's less forgiveness when you inadvertently lean on the keys too hard or slightly strike an errant key, it doesn't take much of a key-throw or force to trigger the printing. For this reason, I recently increased the keyboard tension on my 6-series electric SCM machines, and now I'm much less error-prone.
So for now, I'll be mainly using white paper with this Selectric 721, to give the appearance that I'm a decent typist!
Lookin" good! Happy to see you've got your 721 working well again (:
ReplyDeleteGood on Steve. Norm likely would have drank your beer while leaving the typewriter untouched.
ReplyDeleteHi Joe, I wish I had a "Cheers" - like place where I could meet up with other
ReplyDeleteTypewriter enthusiast, unfortunately I live in a Mayberry, Military Small Town USA
And the closest Typewriter repair shop to me is about 4 in a half hours away
Course I'm sure there are a few bars along the way.
Interesting repair, and yes it is very cool and fortunate you have access to an IBM
Wizard, I have always enjoyed putting new parts on an old vehicle
Adds to the charm. I plan to catch up on these other blogs. Hope this Sunday 7-21-24 finds you very
Well my friend. ~~~~ cheers
Nice! A real 1900's-style repair experience, the good kind.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking machine. Glad you got it to better than factory condition. That model of the Selectric is one I really like. I have yet to get one.
ReplyDeleteBack in the day of TV repair shops we too, also returned all the old parts. I also worked as a mechanic at a local garage where all the old parts were put in a bag or box (to avoid dirt in the car or truck) and given to the customer who more than once told us to just throw them away.
Wish I had an IBM repairman close-by. My Selectric-II needs a belt; a repair I dread to do.
I like the aftermarket upgrades you've made.
ReplyDeleteThe Cheers reference reminds me that I've been trying to pair drinks with machines as I write. I had a blue cocktail on a cruise to Alaska last year that used glacier ice (which is blue), but since that's not easy to source in ABQ, maybe try an "Electric Iced Tea" which is a variation on the Long Island iced tea but which swaps blue curaƧao for the triple sec and a clear lemon-lime based soda for the cola.
Chris, that’s a great idea!
ReplyDeleteHello Joe. Is there a way to contact you through email or something. I recently got a Groma kolibri and I was cleaning it and it looks nice but now the carriage is stuck to the left. It seems like something under the carriages holding it from moving I can send pictures I'm not sure what's wrong. I was so proud of my work it looks so nice. But it's stuck now and I can't even get it back in the case. Please help. Lee Williams.
ReplyDelete