IBM Wheelwriter
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Typewriters |
| Predecessor | IBM Selectric |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Successor | None |
| Headquarters | Lexington , United States |
| Products | Electronic typewriters |
| Parent | IBM (1984–1991), Lexmark International (1991–2001) |
The Wheelwriter series comprises electronic typewriters initially manufactured by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) from 1984 until 1991, and subsequently by Lexmark International (spun off from IBM) from 1991 through 2001. Utilizing interchangeable daisy wheel cartridges, the Wheelwriter produced crisp letterforms through an ink ribbon and impact print mechanism. The ability to swap cartridges allowed users to select from multiple typeface options. As IBM's inaugural daisy wheel typewriter, the Wheelwriter represented the technological zenith of its typewriter offerings and succeeded the popular IBM Selectric line upon its debut in 1984.
Features
Every Wheelwriter model includes electronic memory functioning as a data buffer, which supports capabilities such as algorithm-driven text centering, fundamental spell-checking, and word-level erasure via correction ribbons. Printing is available in monospaced fonts of 10, 12, or 15 pitch; with the exception of the Wheelwriter 3 and Actionwriter, all units support proportionally spaced print wheels.
Departing from the Selectric typewriters’ reliance on mainspring and escapement mechanisms, the Wheelwriter employs a microprocessor-controlled stepper motor to position the print head and uses a solenoid for striking the paper. This innovation minimized mechanical components, resulting in enhanced reliability and reduced maintenance compared to earlier models.
A variant known as the Wheelprinter excludes the keyboard and incorporates a parallel communication interface, enabling connection with various personal computer platforms, including IBM's own PC. The Wheelprinter achieves printing speeds of 25 characters per second.
Advanced models such as the Wheelwriter 1000 and 7000 introduced features like full-page memory for precise duplication and printhead positioning tailored for batch form completion—targeting educational, residential, and commercial sectors respectively.
History
Introduced in October 1984, the Wheelwriter debuted with two variants: the Wheelwriter 3 and Wheelwriter 5; concurrently, IBM launched the Wheelprinter. This marked IBM’s first entry into daisy wheel typewriters, replacing the highly successful IBM Selectric series. At that time, IBM continued production of Selectric III, Personal Typewriter, and two Electronic Typewriters (Models 85 and 95) for several months. All Wheelwriter units were produced by IBM’s Information Products division at its facility in Lexington, Kentucky.
Alongside the Wheelwriter line, IBM also released the Quietwriter, a thermal-transfer printing typewriter designed for environments sensitive to noise. Instead of impact printing on a ribbon, it used heat to transfer ink. Models included Quietwriter 7, 8, System/20, and System/40.
In 1985, IBM introduced the Actionwriter, a more affordable model targeting home users, small businesses, and educational institutions. Unlike other models, it was manufactured under contract by Triumph-Adler in West Germany. The Actionwriter was redesigned in 1988 as the Personal Wheelwriter, aligning its styling and functionality with the main Wheelwriter series. During this era, IBM also launched the Wheelwriter 10 Series II, 30, 50, and 70 Series II; notably, the latter three incorporated operator displays for text preview and editing.
Following IBM’s spin-off of its Information Products Corporation into Lexmark International in 1991, Lexmark retained manufacturing rights for the Wheelwriter series. Despite this change, Lexmark continued marketing these products under IBM branding through distribution agreements.
As personal computers became increasingly dominant in offices and homes, demand for typewriters diminished significantly. By 1993, although the typewriter market was valued at $350 million, it was experiencing an annual decline of approximately 17%. Lexmark stood out as the only manufacturer to grow revenues during this period. Incremental improvements were made to Wheelwriter models—for instance, the Wheelwriter 2000 featured a 32KB memory capacity along with automated formatting functions such as boldface, subscript and superscript text options, plus foreign language support.
By 1995 production was centralized on a single assembly line at Lexmark’s Lexington plant. In the late 1990s, the Wheelwriter remained among the final electronic typewriters produced domestically in the United States with Lexmark commanding a significant share of that market segment. Nonetheless, by 1999 typewriters had become an insignificant portion of Lexmark’s financial results.
Production of the Wheelwriter line ceased between late 2001 and early 2002.
As of 2023, despite being out of production for years, typewriters including models from the Wheelwriter series continue to be utilized by authors and businesses for tasks such as addressing envelopes and completing forms due to their practical convenience.
In popular culture
- Renowned author Joan Didion possessed a pair of Wheelwriter 5 typewriters, which were valued at $5,500 and $6,000 each as of 2022.