IBM Selectric User manual

‘Elm Selectric®Typewriter ‘Operating Instructions

©1967 International Business Machines Corporatl .

Contents
Preface
The Top of Your IBM “Selectric”
Typewriter
Multiple Copy Control Lever
Line Space Lever
Paper Release Lever
Paper Guide
Copy Guide and Copy Guide Scale
Paper Bail
Line Finder
Platen Knobs
Platen Variable
Page—End Indicator
Clear View Card Holder
Your IBM “Selectric”Typewriter
Keyboard
Margin Scale and Margin Stops
Margin Release Key
Tab Control (Set and Clear)
Tab Key
On/Off Control
Shift Keys and Shift Lock
Multiple Character Keys
Typamatic Keys
Index Key
Backspace Key
Carrier Return Key
Hyphen/Underscore
Space Bar
13
13
14
14
14
15
15
16
17
18
18
18
19
20
21
21
21
21
25
25
26
Typing Techniques
Centering
Partial Carrier Return
Tab Stops in Forms Typing
Making Corrections
Inside Your IBM “Selectric”Typewriter
The Carrier
Lever Action Elements
Type Pitch
Changing Typing Elements
To Remove an Element
To Replace an Element
Impression Selector
Stencil Control
Changing Ribbons on Your IBM “Selectric”
Typewriter
Changing aFilm Ribbon
To Remove aFilm Ribbon
To Install aNew Film Ribbon
Changing aFabric Ribbon
To Remove aFabric Ribbon Cartridge
To Install aFabric Ribbon Cartridge
28
28
28
29
30
30
30
31
31
31
33
33
33
33
33
34
34
34
34
35
35
35
35
35
35
36
Care and Cleaning of Your IBM “Selectric”
Typewriter
Removing and Replacing the Platen
To Remove the Platen
To Replace the Platen
Cleaning the Erasure Dustpan
Removing and Replacing the Deflector
To Remove the Deflector
To Replace the Deflector
To Clean the Typing Element
Typewriter Maintenance
Typing Tips
Typing Cards and Labels
Drawing Vertical Lines
Line Return Without Vertical Spacing
Printing Vertical Columns
Reminders
Before You Begin
For Your Typing Ease
Typing Touch
Supplies
IBM “Selectric” Typewriter Supplies
and the IBM Supply Agreement
Typing Elements
Film Ribbons
Fabric Ribbons
Carbon Paper
Index

Refer to this photograph while reading the Operating Instructions to help
you locate the individual features of the lBM “Selectric” Typewriter.

Preface
The IBM “Selectric” Typewriter, featuring a small,
globe-shaped element containing all type characters,
makes typing fast and easy. The element skims across
the page typing out characters rapidly and evenly.
Type clash has been eliminated because typebars have
been eliminated. There is no carriage and, therefore,
no vibration or machine movement. This actually
provides more work area around your machine.
Type styles can be changed in seconds by lifting off one
element and replacing it with another. This versatility lets
you select the type style best suited to each typing job.
Your IBM “Selectric” Typewriter offers many features
that help make all typing jobs easier. The IBM Stroke
Storage System reduces typing errors by storing the
second of two rapidly typed characters until the first is
printed out. All service keys are within easy reach from
the keyboard control area, and an Impression Control
lets you adjust the impact of the typing element to suit
each application.
Whether you are using the Film Ribbon, or Fabric
Ribbon Cartridge, with the IBM “Selectric” Typewriter
you can expect your typing to be smoother, faster,
and have fewer errors than ever before.

The Top of Your IBM
“Selectric” Typewriter
The IBM ”Selectric” Typewriter has no
moving carriage. In fact, there is no carriage
in the traditional sense. There is nothing
to interfere with the work you are doing, or
bump other objects on your desk. This
actually increases the amount of usable
space around your typewriter.

Multiple Copy Control Lever
To allow space for additional copies, move
the Multiple Copy Control Lever from the
forward position toward the rear, one space
for every five copies. The weight of the
paper you use will affect the correct Multiple
Copy Control setting. This Lever adjusts the
platen to assure that the typing element
will strike squarely on the paper.
Line Space Lever
The inner Lever on the upper right side of
your typewriter is the Line Space Lever.
Line spacing of your choice, single or double,
is selected by moving this Lever to the
appropriate setting. The setting for single
spacing is indicated by one line, double
spacing by two.
Paper Release Lever
Move this Lever forward in order to reposition
or remove paper from the typewriter. When
you are ready to type, be certain that this
Lever is back, in the position furthest from you.

Paper Guide
To insert and align paper accurately, move
the Paper Guide to the desired location.
Square your paper pack. Insert the paper in
the slot behind the platen with the left edge
against the Paper Guide. The Paper Release
Lever should be back for this insertion. Use
the typamatic action of the Index Key to roll
the paper around the platen.
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Copy Guide and Copy Guide Scale
The Copy Guide prevents the refeeding of
paper around the platen and provides a flat
surface for erasing. The top scale of the
Copy Guide is marked off in inches and aids
in centering paper in the typewriter. The
bottom scale is the pitch scale and corre—
sponds to the Margin Scale. It is used to
determine the number of characters that can
be typed per inch. The number directly
under the one—inch marking represents the
number of characters per inch that can
be typed on your typewriter.
On the left and right side of the Copy Guide
there are small white horizontal brackets
indicating the correct placement for the left
and right paper edges when you wish to
center paper in the typewriter. The outer
edges of these brackets are for centering
81/2” paper (standard size). The inner edges
are used to center 8” paper.

Paper Bail
The Paper Bail holds paper firmly against
the platen. Pull the Paper Bail forward to
insert paper and push it back, against the
platen, to hold paper in typing position.
Line Finder
The Line Finder, located on the right end
of the platen, permits you to leave a
typewritten line and return again.
-Move the Lever forward before leaving the
typing line.
-Make your insertion or correction.
-Return to the approximate typing line and
return the Lever to its home position.
Moving the Lever forward enables you to type
anywhere on the page. Moving the Lever
back will reengage the normal spacing action
to permit areturn to the original typing
location. Touch the Carrier Return Key to
return to the correct typing alignment.
You will find this Lever useful in anumber
of operations:
-Erasing
-Typing superscriptsor subscripts
-Creating double underscores

Platen Knobs
The left and right Platen Knobs enable you
to rotate the platen manually in order to insert
paper or to change the position of the page
vertically.
Platen Variable
Variable platen action is achieved by pressing
in against the left Platen Knob—providing
free-rolling of the platen in either
direction. This enables you to permanently
change the position of the writing line and
aids when reinserting a page for corrections
or additions.
-Before setting the Page-End Indicator, align
the top edge of the paper with the writing
line on the Clear View Card Holder.
-Rotate the Indicator until the 2position (the
setting for standard—size paper) is in line
with the horizontal mark on the top of the
typewriter adjacent to the right Platen Knob.
When using other than 11” paper, add one
inch to the Indicator setting of two (2) for each
inch longer than 11”. For each inch shorter
than 11” subtract one inch from the Indicator
setting for standard-sizepaper.
Note: Remember that there is only ahalf inch
of space between 0and the number 4on
the Page-End Indicator. Therefore, when you
add 1to the number 4the setting will be 1/2.
The setting you arrive at when you add 1to
31/22 will be zero.
Page-End Indicator
The Page-End Indicator rotates in descending
numerical order (4, 3, 2, 1, 0) as you type.
It is calibrated in half inches. One complete
revolution of the platen equals 41/2”. Two
revolutions equal 9”. Since standard—size
paper is 11” long you must add 2” to the
9”, represented by the two revolutions of the
platen, to equal 11”. Therefore, when using
standard paper, set the Indicator on 2. When
you reach zero for the second time you
will be 41/2" from the bottom of the page. From
that point on the Indicator will show the
number of inches to the bottom of the page.