IBM Selectric

IBM Selectric
Company type	Product line
Industry	Typewriters, Office equipment
Founded	1961-07-31
Founder	IBM
Fate	Discontinued, division spun off as Lexmark in 1991
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Electric typewriters, including Selectric I, Selectric II, Correcting Selectric II, Magnetic Tape/Card Selectric Typewriters, Selectric Composer, Electronic Selectric Composer
Parent	IBM

The IBM Selectric—a name derived from the combination of "selective" and "electric"—was an exceptionally popular series of electric typewriters introduced by IBM on July 31, 1961.

Instead of utilizing the conventional basket of typebars found in standard typewriters, the Selectric incorporated a chrome-coated plastic "element," often referred to as a "typeball" or "golf ball," which rotated and tilted to imprint characters onto the paper. This interchangeable typing element enabled users to change fonts within a single document, reviving a capability originally seen in earlier machines such as the Hammond Typewriter and Blickensderfer typewriter.

Another innovation of the Selectric was its replacement of the traditional horizontally sliding carriage with a roller (platen) that moved the paper vertically, while the typeball and ribbon assembly shifted horizontally. The mechanism relied on internal mechanical binary encoding combined with two mechanical digital-to-analog converters known as whiffletree linkages to select individual characters.

The three versions of the Selectric captured approximately 75 percent of the electric typewriter market in U.S. businesses. By its 25th year in 1986, more than 13 million units had been manufactured and sold.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, although large corporations in Europe and the United States largely controlled the established typewriter industry, IBM’s Selectric encountered mounting competition from electronic typewriters produced by Asian manufacturers such as Japan’s Brother Industries and Silver Seiko Ltd..

IBM gradually discontinued the Selectric product line following the launch of the IBM Wheelwriter in 1984 and subsequently divested its typewriter division to create Lexmark in 1991.

Original Selectric

Unveiled on July 31, 1961, the original Selectric was designed by American industrial designer Eliot Noyes. Noyes had previously crafted IBM’s inaugural corporate visual identity under Thomas J. Watson Jr., working alongside prominent figures like Paul Rand and Charles Eames. This effort is recognized as one of America’s first comprehensive corporate design programs.

Selectric II

Launched in 1971, the Selectric II replaced the original model (later referred to as Selectric I). While both used identical 88-character typing elements, several distinctions set them apart:

The Selectric II featured a Dual Pitch capability, allowing users to toggle between 10 and 12 characters per inch via a lever; conversely, the Selectric I maintained a fixed pitch. Corresponding elements were designed for each pitch—for instance, "Courier 72" represented the 10-pitch version of "Courier 12."
Dual-pitch models included a lever enabling characters to shift left by half a space for text centering or insertion—a feature absent from the original Selectric.
The design of the Selectric II was more angular compared to the rounded form of its predecessor.

Correcting Selectric II

In 1973, IBM released the Correcting Selectric II, which incorporated an internal correction mechanism aimed at minimizing dependence on external correction supplies such as tape or fluid. This model’s carriage held both the primary typing ribbon and two small spools dedicated to correction ribbon. A novel Correctable Film ribbon was introduced, delivering carbon-quality impressions with pigment formulated for easy removal.

Two types of correction tapes were offered: a transparent adhesive "Lift-Off" tape intended for use with the correctable film ribbon, and an opaque white "Cover-Up" tape compatible with other ribbon varieties. The correction tape could be replaced independently from the main typing ribbon.

A specialized correction key caused the carriage to backspace and engaged a mode where subsequent keystrokes applied correction tape without advancing the carriage. Typists manually rectified errors by retyping over mistakes using either lifting or covering methods. Since this machine lacked character memory, all corrections required manual input.

During manufacturing, a cam timing defect led to residual ink marks after erasing characters. Engineer Joe L. Vaughan suggested an adjustment to the cam mechanism that eliminated these marks without halting production; his contribution was formally acknowledged in 1974.

Selectric models equipped with data storage

IBM introduced the Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter (MT/ST) in 1964, followed by the Magnetic Card Selectric Typewriter (MC/ST) in 1969. The MC/ST was also offered in a "communicating" variant capable of emulating an IBM 2741 terminal or operating with its native Correspondence Code. These devices combined electronically controlled typing mechanisms with magnetic storage media—either tape or magnetic-coated cards—allowing users to record, edit, and playback typed content at speeds around 12 to 15 characters per second.

These systems rank among the earliest to provide fundamental word processing functions, utilizing components similar to those found in standard office Selectric machines.

In 1972, IBM launched the "Mag Card Executive," which introduced proportional spacing based on increments of 1/60", differing from previous Executive models. Unlike the "Selectric Composer," it lacked support for justified text. Some fonts developed for the Mag Card Executive were later adapted for the Model 50 electronic typewriter, which featured proportional spacing with 96-character elements.

The IBM Mag Card II Typewriter debuted in April 1973, offering electronic memory capable of storing up to 8,000 characters.

Additionally, IBM marketed the IBM 2495 tape reader compatible with IBM 360 mainframe systems, enabling documents created on MT/ST Selectrics to be transferred into mainframe data files.

Selectric Composer

In 1966, IBM unveiled the Selectric Composer, a premium Selectric variant designed for phototypesetting. It produced camera-ready, justified text using proportional fonts ranging from eight to fourteen points. Skilled operators could generate output virtually indistinguishable from professional Linotype or Monotype typesetting.

Characters were proportionally spaced between three and nine units wide, with unit sizes selectable among 1/72", 1/84", or 1/96". Tab stops were arranged at intervals of one-sixth inch. To enable backspacing over previously typed characters, spacing codes for recent entries were mechanically stored.

Similar to competitors like the Varityper, producing justified text involved typing each line twice: first to measure line length and spacing, then to apply justification adjustments. Although this process was slow and labor-intensive, it provided an affordable means of generating camera-ready copy on a desktop machine.

While Selectric Composer elements physically fit standard Selectrics, they were not interchangeable due to differing character layouts. Composer elements featured colored index arrows indicating type size and included identification codes specifying font, size, and variation (for example, "UN-11-B" denoted Univers 11-point bold). Adrian Frutiger adapted his Univers font specifically for this system.

Available font families encompassed Aldine Roman (similar to Bembo), Baskerville, Bodoni, Century (akin to Century Schoolbook), Classified News (resembling News Gothic), Copperplate Gothic, Journal Roman (comparable to Janson), Orator (a sans-serif optimized for legibility), Press Roman (similar to Times Roman) with Symbol sets, Pyramid (a slab-serif akin to Rockwell), Theme (a sans-serif featuring stroke contrast like Optima), Univers, and Ruling Font.

Each font required separate elements for italic and bold styles across up to three point sizes. Frequent element swapping during operation slowed productivity and caused some user dissatisfaction; these elements were delicate and not intended for heavy handling. Despite these challenges, the Composer provided small businesses access to professional typesetting capabilities at a more affordable price.

Italic and bold styles were selectively available among fonts; condensed and light variants were not offered. Unlike standard Selectrics where style changes required only a single element swap, the Composer often necessitated exchanging entire element sets based on font size and style.

In 1967, IBM released the "Magnetic Tape Selectric Composer," followed by the "Magnetic Card Selectric Composer" in 1978. The "Electronic Composer," introduced in 1975, featured approximately 5,000 characters of internal memory without external storage options. All these models shared the same printing mechanism but incorporated magnetic or internal storage that eliminated retyping justified text or manually setting justification parameters. Magnetic tapes or cards created on more economical MT/ST or MC/ST machines could be read by these Composers, enabling initial transcription and proofreading on lower-cost equipment with final high-quality output produced by the Composer.

For many years following its introduction, the Selectric Composer remained a well-regarded desk-sized cold type system accessible to small businesses and organizations. Due to its complexity, it was commonly leased along with service contracts. The Composer retained a dedicated user base until it was eventually supplanted by more affordable phototypesetting technologies and later by word processors and personal computers during the 1980s.

Electronic Selectric Composer

Debuting in January 1975 under IBM's office products division, the Electronic Selectric Composer was a direct impression composition machine equipped with memory capacity for up to 8,000 characters. It offered automatic text justification in a single keyboarding pass, enabled column printing in one output sequence, and provided versatile reformatting capabilities including options for justified, ragged right, flush left, or customized layouts. The system accommodated more than 125 interchangeable type heads ranging from 3 to 12 point sizes.

Selectric III

Launched in 1980, the Selectric III succeeded several earlier Selectric variants, some of which operated more as word processors or typesetting devices rather than conventional typewriters. During this period, IBM encountered growing competition from proportional-spacing electronic typewriters equipped with onboard memory—examples include Xerox’s 800 model utilizing Diablo’s daisywheel mechanism—and CRT-based machines developed by AES, Lexitron, Vydek, Wang, and Xerox. IBM itself had introduced CRT systems like the Office System/6 and IBM 5520, both paired with the innovative 6640 inkjet printer capable of printing 96 characters per second along with advanced paper handling features. Additionally, the Displaywriter was unveiled in June 1980, which IBM promoted as a departure from traditional Selectric designs.

In spite of evolving market dynamics, IBM capitalized on its extensive Selectric user base by releasing enhanced versions to retain existing customers.

The Selectric III incorporated a 96-character typing element compared to the earlier 88-character model. These newer elements are distinguished by yellow markings and a "96" label adjacent to the font name and pitch specification. The 96-character elements are mechanically incompatible with the 88-character ones and were offered in a more limited selection of fonts.

The majority of Selectric III units and related Electronic Typewriters came with keyboards supporting only 92 printable characters; access to the full 96-character keyboard was optional and necessitated smaller Return and Backspace keys—a modification that many users found less comfortable. Keytops on these models were larger and had a more squared shape compared to previous editions.

Certain Electronic Typewriter variants (original Model 50 along with later Models 65 and 85) supported 96-character elements featuring proportionally spaced type styles alongside standard fixed-pitch options of 10- and 12-pitch. Proportional spacing was measured in increments of 1/60 inch—characters at 10-pitch used six units while those at 12-pitch used five units—mirroring daisywheel machines capable of up to 15-pitch typing. These proportional fonts had appeared earlier on some 88-character elements designed for a less common MC/ST version known as the Mag Card Executive.

IBM Personal Typewriter

After the Selectric III, IBM introduced the IBM Personal Typewriter, a hybrid device combining the Selectric II’s correction tape and 88-character “golfball” type elements with the ribbon cartridge system from the Selectric III. It featured a fixed pitch of 12 characters per inch (either pica or elite elements) and was priced substantially lower than both the Selectric II and III models, aiming primarily at home users and consumer markets.

Eavesdropping

Between 1976 and 1984, Soviet operatives covertly installed surveillance devices on no fewer than 16 Selectric typewriters located at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and the Consulate in Leningrad. These bugs employed magnetometers to monitor the movement of internal metal bars, known as "latch interposers," within the typewriters, enabling the capture of keystrokes without detection. The gathered data was compressed and transmitted in short bursts. Both Selectric II and III models were targeted by these espionage methods.

Successor

IBM launched the IBM Wheelwriter in 1984 as the direct replacement for the Selectric series. This new model incorporated a detachable daisy wheel cartridge, integrated electronic memory, and improved word processing functionality.

Keyboard layout

The Selectric keyboard arranged underscore, hyphen, and single/double quote characters as paired symbols sharing dedicated keys—continuing a practice established on earlier electric typewriters such as IBM’s Model A. In contrast, traditional mechanical keyboards assigned these characters as shifted versions of numeral keys. This design enhanced the uniformity of typing force for smaller symbols.

This character pairing was officially recognized in the American Standards Association X4.14-1971 standard under the term typewriter pairing and was adopted exclusively in X4.23-1982. Additionally, the Selectric introduced a separate 1/! key, removing previous workarounds like substituting lowercase L or overstriking.

These layout features influenced subsequent devices including IBM’s Model D electric typewriter (1967), DEC’s VT52 terminal (1975), and the original IBM PC keyboard (1981). The typewriter-paired arrangement became widespread on many computer keyboards, notably IBM’s Model M (1985).

Nevertheless, many international keyboard layouts preserved bit-paired configurations—for instance, Shift+2 producing " on UK keyboards—a tradition that continues in Japanese keyboard designs.

Selectric mechanism

The Selectric’s internal mechanism drew inspiration from a toy typewriter produced by Marx Toys, whose rights IBM later acquired. Its element and carriage system bore similarities to the Teletype Model 26, featuring a rotating typing element traveling along a stationary platen.

Positioning of the typing element—or "ball"—relies on binary input translated through two mechanical digital-to-analog converters known as whiffletree linkages, termed "Rotate and Tilt Differentials" in IBM service documentation. Each character corresponds to a binary code divided into tilt and rotate components.

A motor drives a belt linked to a dual-section shaft: the left shaft segment controls tilt and rotation mechanisms, while the right segment manages spacing, backspacing, case shifting, and limits carrier speed. Spring clutches activate cams responsible for functions such as backspacing.

When a key is pressed, it depresses an interposer bar equipped with distinct lugs that represent the character's binary code. This interposer engages a clutch latch link that powers the cycle shaft to move selector bails. These bails determine character selection through a system of positive and negative logic latches. Certain keys trigger a low-velocity control cam to reduce striking force, thereby protecting paper quality.

Selector latches then actuate cams on the drive shaft which move whiffletree links that combine inputs to position the typing element by tilting and rotating it across four rows containing 22 characters each. The tilt and rotate motions are transmitted via taut metal tapes attached to pulleys that guide the element’s placement on the carrier.

The rotate pulley includes a spring-loaded mechanism allowing counter-clockwise motion balanced by a spiral spring that returns it clockwise. Case shifting is accomplished by rotating the element 180°, driven by the shift arm which tightens the rotate pulley cable.

Following each keystroke, all latches reset and the interposer returns to its resting position. If a key remains held down, immediate repetition is blocked until it is released.

IBM leveraged this intricate mechanism through maintenance contracts since Selectric machines required frequent lubrication and precise calibration. Repairs demanded specialized expertise and components, making service agreements an important revenue stream. Selectric models were offered with standard-, medium-, and wide-carriage options and came in colors such as red, blue, and neutral shades.

Inked and correction ribbons

In addition to the "typeball" mechanism, Selectric machines brought advancements in ribbon technology.

The initial Selectric and the non-correcting Selectric II models required users to choose between reusable cloth ribbons or single-use carbon film ribbons, but these two types were not interchangeable on the same device. IBM had previously implemented similar carbon film ribbons in its Executive series machines. A notable drawback of carbon film ribbons was the potential security risk, as the imprinted text on the ribbon could be deciphered.

The Correcting Selectric II introduced a novel ribbon cartridge design that housed both supply and take-up spools, simplifying ribbon replacement and enabling multiple ribbon varieties to be used on one machine. These broader ribbons allowed for a higher character density per inch, utilizing staggered vertical character positioning that advanced less than a full character width with each keystroke. Different ribbon types featured unique cartridge hole depths to regulate the proper ribbon feed rate.

At launch, three ribbon varieties were offered: traditional reusable cloth, carbon film (as used previously), and a new Correctable (carbon) Film ribbon. The Correctable Film incorporated a carbon-based pigment that did not permanently fix to paper, permitting neat corrections with adhesive Lift-Off tape. In contrast, other ribbons necessitated Cover-Up tape, which applied white ink over errors, making corrections more difficult on colored paper.

Shortly after introduction, the "Tech-3" ribbon emerged, effectively replacing cloth ribbons by delivering near-film quality at a cost comparable to cloth. Similar to cloth ribbons, Tech-3 advanced only fractional character widths per strike but produced multiple crisp impressions from each spot on its single-use ribbon. Overstriking characters on Tech-3 prevented reading typed content from the ribbon itself, maintaining document confidentiality akin to carbon film ribbons. Tech-3 required the same cover-up tape as other non-correctable ribbons.

To facilitate easy pairing, thumb wheels on ribbon cartridges and correction tape spools were color-coded: yellow indicated correctable film and Lift-Off tape; gray, pink, and blue signified cloth, carbon film, and Tech-3 respectively. Subsequently, an additional correctable film ribbon and matching lift-off tape marked in orange were introduced as a more economical option for everyday typing with slightly reduced quality compared to the yellow-coded set; both tapes remained interchangeable.

The adhesive Lift-Off tape occasionally harmed fragile paper surfaces; less adhesive variants were launched but received mixed feedback regarding ink removal performance. Some operators opted to use common adhesive tapes such as Scotch Tape as a substitute for lift-off purposes.

Colored ribbons like brown were available; however, the cartridge system did not support dual-color ribbons (e.g., black and red) that had been common on earlier typewriter models.

Type elements and fonts

The Selectric I and II models, along with most "Magnetic Card" and "Magnetic Tape" variants, utilized identical typing elements offered in a wide array of fonts including scientific symbols, OCR styles, cursive scripts, "Old English" (fraktur), and more than a dozen different alphabets. Israeli typographer Henri Friedlaender created the Hebrew font sets Hadar, Shalom, and Aviv specifically for Selectric machines. The Selectric III and "Electronic Typewriters" featured a new 96-character element.

IBM’s Selectric-based computer terminals—such as the IBM 1050 series and IBM 2741 models employing "PTTC/BCD" encoding—used distinct character codes. While their elements could physically fit interchangeably, their character layouts differed enough to prevent cross-compatibility with standard Selectrics. However, IBM 2741 units configured for "correspondence coding" did accept standard office Selectric elements. The IBM 1130 computer incorporated a Selectric mechanism as its console printer.

Two mechanical element release designs existed: earlier versions used a metal spring clip with wire wings for removal; later models replaced this with a plastic lever mounted on a metal axle that pried apart an internal spring clip prone to breaking. Eventually, this lever was redesigned entirely in plastic.

Font sizes were denoted by pitch—the number of characters per inch—instead of traditional point sizes; therefore, fonts at 12 pitch (12 characters per inch) were smaller than those at 10 pitch (10 characters per inch), approximately corresponding to 10pt and 12pt font sizes respectively.

Interchangeable typing elements available included:

Fonts with Small (12-pitch) Spacing

Elite 72
Auto Elite
Large Elite (12)
Prestige Elite 72
Prestige Elite 96*
Adjutant
Artisan
Contempo
Courier (12)
Courier Italic
Courier Italic 96*
Forms
Letter Gothic
Letter Gothic 96*
Light Italic
Olde English (10/12)*
Olde World
Oriental
Presidential Elite
Report 96 (12)*
Scribe
Scribe 96*
Script
Symbol

Fonts with Large (10-pitch) Spacing

Advocate
Boldface
Bold Courier (10)
Bookface Academic 72
Bookface Academic 96*
Business Script
Courier (10)
Courier 96 (10)
Delegate
Delegate 96*
Manifold 72
Olde English (10/12)*
OCR
Orator (a large sans-serif font, similar to Univers, designed for documents intended for oral presentation)
Orator 96*
Orator Presenter 96*
Pica 72
Pica 96*
Presidential Pica
Prestige Pica 72
Report 96 (10)*
Sunshine Orator
Symbol 96
Title
Title*

Fonts marked with an asterisk denote 96-character elements created specifically for the Selectric III.

Numerous fonts came with various subtypes. Early Selectric users often substituted the lowercase "l" for the digit "1," reflecting the absence of a dedicated "1" key on previous typewriters. The Selectric introduced a dedicated key for "1" and "!"—initially labeled with "[" and "]" on early elements—requiring continued use of earlier typographical habits. Subsequent elements incorporated proper numeral "1" and exclamation marks, occasionally relocating or removing square brackets or replacing the exclamation point with a degree symbol. IBM also provided custom-made elements for an additional charge; these could be identified by a gray plastic flip-up clip instead of the standard black one.

There were specialized type elements not featured in IBM's brochures but obtainable via part numbers, including one designed for the APL character set, primarily utilized with the IBM 2741 printing terminal and the IBM 1130 computer running APL\1130.

Features and Applications

The Selectric’s capability to interchange fonts combined with its crisp typography transformed desktop publishing, allowing typists to produce refined documents with ease. Later versions incorporated dual pitch options (10/12) alongside integrated correcting tape, further improving functionality.

Its facility to combine Latin characters with Greek letters and mathematical symbols made it especially useful for scientists preparing manuscripts containing formulas—a process that was otherwise demanding before the advent of TeX. Special type elements catered to Athabaskan languages, supporting bilingual educational resources in Navajo and Apache.

The machine employed a "Stroke Storage" mechanism that prevented jamming caused by pressing multiple keys simultaneously. When a key was struck, an interposer engaged a compensator tube containing metal balls, allowing only one interposer to activate at any moment. If two keys were pressed at once, both inputs were blocked; however, pressing keys milliseconds apart queued them sequentially. This design ensured characters printed in their proper sequence even under rapid or overlapping keystrokes.

Furthermore, certain keys such as the space bar, dash/underscore, index, backspace, and line feed featured automatic repetition when held down—a function known as "Typamatic."

Use as a computer terminal

Selectric mechanisms, recognized for their rapid typing speed of 14.8 characters per second, dependability, and superior print quality, were extensively adopted as computer terminals, supplanting older Teletype machines and conventional typebar devices. A prominent instance is the IBM 2741 terminal, which significantly contributed to the early stages of APL programming language development.

Although these units resembled Selectric typewriters in appearance, they functioned electromechanically rather than electronically. Instead of transmitting electrical signals, key presses activated clutches that powered the typing apparatus. The original Selectric design by IBM’s office equipment division was not intended for computer terminal applications. Modifications for such use involved integrating microswitches, solenoids, enhanced mechanical parts for sustained operation, and interface electronics.

Connecting Selectric devices to computers presented challenges due to strict timing requirements and mechanical idiosyncrasies. Precise coordination was essential for commands such as case shifting or carriage returns to prevent mechanism jams. The system employed a distinctive 7-bit Selectric code based on "tilt/rotate" instructions, incompatible with standard serial protocols and necessitating complex logic circuitry to interface with modems.

Despite these difficulties, commercial adaptations from firms like Wang and Tycom transformed Selectrics into reliable computer printers. Optimal performance was achieved at an uncommon data rate of 134.5 baud; using typical rates like 110 baud accelerated clutch wear due to excessive actuation.

The popularity of Selectric terminals prompted manufacturers including Digital Equipment Corporation to support the 134.5 baud interface standard for IBM 2741 devices. The 2741 utilized two seven-bit codes influencing font characteristics; host systems converted these into internal character sets such as ASCII or EBCDIC. Specialized hardware was engineered to drive Selectric printers at this specific speed.

One drawback was the Selectric’s limited ASCII coverage, offering only 88 printable characters despite efforts to extend it. Keyboard input was mechanically coupled with printing, resulting in instantaneous output described by IBM as "full duplex" (commonly known in the industry as "half-duplex"), which could cause confusion and duplicate characters if host echoing was enabled.

These terminals incorporated a host-controlled "keyboard lock" feature designed to disable input during busy intervals or printing operations, safeguarding the mechanism but occasionally surprising users without clear feedback. The IBM 2741 also included a "print inhibit" option allowing the typing element to operate silently, useful for concealing sensitive information like passwords.

From 1968 through 1980, printers based on Selectric technology provided an economical solution for high-quality computer output. A specialized market developed around adapting Selectric mechanisms for serial communication at lower costs compared to complete 2741 terminals.

Subsequent models such as the Selectric III introduced a 96-character typing element capable of full ASCII support with customization options; however, these arrived after daisy wheel printers like the Diablo 630 became dominant due to their superior speed and operational simplicity. Eventually, IBM phased out Selectrics in favor of daisy wheel-based "Wheelwriter" series.

Related devices such as the IBM 1050 series functioned as console printers for systems including the IBM 1130 and System/360, specifically engineered for computer environments with robust components and electrical interfaces that exceeded those found in office Selectrics or the IBM 2741 terminal.

In popular culture

At the 1964 New York World's Fair, the IBM Pavilion showcased a massive theater designed to resemble an oversized Selectric typing element, highlighting the innovative Selectric typewriters of that era.
Distinguished individuals known for using Selectric typewriters include Isaac Asimov, Hunter S. Thompson, David Sedaris, P. J. O'Rourke, Stephen J. Cannell—whose production logo depicted him typing on a Selectric—and Philip K. Dick.
The 1963 episode "The Case of the Elusive Element" from the Perry Mason series revolved around the interchangeable typing element of Selectric machines, complicating the process of tracing typed messages.
In the 1976 Columbo episode titled "Now You See Him," the victim’s used Selectric II carbon ribbon unveils the murderer’s motive.
The 1971 novel The Exorcist includes a scene where Father Dyer is depicted as “typing on his IBM Selectric.”
Gerry Anderson’s 1970 television series UFO opens with close-up shots of a device based on the Selectric typewriter.
Although introduced in 1971, Selectric II typewriters appear prominently on secretaries’ desks in the early- to mid-1960s setting of the TV drama Mad Men. Creator Matthew Weiner selected them for their visual appeal and production convenience.
In Philip Roth’s novel The Anatomy Lesson, Nathan Zuckerman criticizes the self-correcting Selectric II as “smug, puritanical, workmanlike” when compared to his vintage Olivetti portable typewriter.
The 2012 film Populaire, directed by Régis Roinsard, dramatizes the creation of the "golf ball" typing mechanism, which was marketed to American manufacturers with the slogan "America for business, France for love."
The television series Fringe features a fictional quantum-entangled typewriter from the Selectric 251 line, utilized by agents from an alternate universe.
Stephen King’s novels mention a beige IBM Selectric: it appears in his 1989 work The Dark Half and again in his 2021 novel Later.
From 1987 until 1999, an Italian news program called TG3 used a Selectric element ball as a primary graphic motif.

External links

Patents

: Design patent covering the external design of the IBM Selectric
: Utility patent for the "single element printing head" technology