Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Jul 2, 2014 14:41:09 GMT -5
When is the last time you had to use one and can you still remember how to operate them? I had to dig mine out today, it still works but the ink is dried up and there isn't more to change it out.
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Jul 2, 2014 14:46:05 GMT -5
IBM Selectric. Best. Typewriter. EVER!
Have you checked online to see if ink can still be purchased for your particular typewriter?
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souldoubt
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Post by souldoubt on Jul 2, 2014 14:48:46 GMT -5
I had to use one a few months back at work. The IRS wants you to do a lot of filing via their e-filing system however when you have an outside provider that files certain things for you and you have to do an amendment it can get trickier. After ordering the required 'free' forms from the IRS the only way to complete them is to buy software or use a typewriter. What we had to amend was something completely out of our control and related to a court ruling. Luckily I ordered a few extra forms because it took me a bit to get the hang of using a typewriter again.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Jul 2, 2014 14:49:47 GMT -5
It's been decades. I have my oldest brother's manual typewriter - it types Italics it's in a green case can't remember the maker (it's probably circa the early 70's) I didn't learn to type until I was in HS late 70's. I typed up alot of my own papers on it as well as another brother's college papers. I loved that it's "font" was Italics. I liked the way the keys felt when typing, I liked the clacking it made when typing. It was fun to use. I doubt I could find a ribbon for it, now. I use to use the electric typewriters at the Jr. College in the "typing room" next to the Library sometimes when I was in HS and then at the JR college. I did purchased a portable electric typewrier when I was in Jr. College but I hated it (I hated the noise it made, the way the keys felt, the whole thing. Just hated it.) I gave away the portable electric typewriter years ago. Can't seem to part with the old manual one though. I never had to use an electric typewriter as part of a job - I pretty much went right to using a computer keyboard (the old TRASH-80's ) ADDED: had to google and my 'beloved' typewriter is a Smith Corona - the SCM portable looks to be the model.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Jul 2, 2014 15:00:10 GMT -5
busymom, it's not my typewriter, it belongs to the office. It's been in a drawer for years, not much reason to use it. Boss needed a long disclaimer on something and couldn't make it short enough to fit in the spaces I have in the computerized form.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2014 15:19:18 GMT -5
I used mine until maybe the early 2000s to address envelopes. Then I gave it to my aunt to use. It was an "electronic" typewriter and had lift-off tape that literally lifted the mistyped letter off the page. But you had to be careful not to remove the page before proofing it.
You could also change the fonts by changing the character wheel. I think Selectrics did this, too.
I typed two copies of my 78-page thesis on it back in 1984 and a lot of papers. We got our first computer in 1985 . . . well, not counting the Radio Shack that we played around with. It had no printer and backed up to a cassette recorder. The first computer we really used was a Leading Edge, and you had to use DOS commands. I loved that thing. It was virtually indestructible for 10 years.
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flamingo
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Post by flamingo on Jul 2, 2014 15:26:25 GMT -5
The only time I've used a typewriter was at my first job. An admin handed me a sheet of labels to use for updating the files. I couldn't figure out which template to use in Word or how this sheet of only 5 labels was supposed to fit in the printer. The entire office laughed at me because I didn't know I had to type the info using the typewriter. I had been at this job for like 2 weeks at that point, I was so embarrassed. I was only 22 at the time, as well. Had it happened to me today, I could have laughed with everyone. As it was, I almost quit I was so embarrassed.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jul 2, 2014 16:39:10 GMT -5
Probably close to 20 yrs ago. I used one in college and even it was one of those word processor things where I could see one line on a tiny screen and then when I hit enter it would type on the page. I remember thinking it was so wonderful because I could read a line and make corrections before it would type so I didn't have to use that stupid correction tape anymore. We had a computer lab on campus and I used that sometimes but preferred to type up my papers in my dorm room.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Jul 2, 2014 16:46:11 GMT -5
Last used a typewriter when WordPerfect 5.1 came out Oh so long ago. But I could use an electric typewriter if I had to, I think!!
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Jul 2, 2014 16:58:26 GMT -5
Last used a typewriter when WordPerfect 5.1 came out Oh so long ago. But I could use an electric typewriter if I had to, I think!! I LOVED WordPerfect! Stupid Bill Gates and his Microsoft crapola! Well said
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teen persuasion
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Post by teen persuasion on Jul 2, 2014 19:14:55 GMT -5
I haven't personally used the typewriter in a few weeks, but my boss was busy typing up spine labels on it today. Spine labels and memorial book plates are the main things we use it for, small one-off jobs.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Jul 2, 2014 20:12:11 GMT -5
My last job had 2 Selectric to type bids. We would get bid forms to bid jobs and no way to fill them out on a computer. It was mostly rows of amounts not words, trying to get the numbers on the right lines and in straight rows was hard and the estimators didn't give you the number until the last minute.
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msventoux
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Post by msventoux on Jul 2, 2014 20:54:45 GMT -5
We have an electronic typewriter at work that we use to quickly make labels or more rarely to complete government forms if necessary.
I haven't used an actual typewriter since I was a kid. We had a really old manual one in our attic that I drug out so I could learn to type. My parents were too cheap to buy a computer and I knew later in life I would need to know how to type, so I taught myself on it.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Jul 3, 2014 6:32:33 GMT -5
We had a typewriter in the attic for years that we would drag out to type something from time to time, until maybe ten years ago. We did have a computer but every now and then it couldn't print or what we needed to print on we didn't have the ability to easily do it on so we would just type it. It was also a newer version that had the word processor. So it was easy to fix things without having to white out mistakes.
I also loved wordperfect and Lotus 123!! they were sooooo easy. Excell still makes me stabby sometimes.
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cael
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Post by cael on Jul 3, 2014 7:23:34 GMT -5
I use one at work several times a week to address envelopes, because I'm too lazy to get an envelope, put it in the printer and figure out how to print to it. I WISH I had one of those clunky old fashioned ones, I love those.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Jul 3, 2014 8:24:41 GMT -5
I also liked Lotus 123... Excel sucks monkeys! I started learning on Lotus 123 back when I was like 12/13 years old working for my dad. I LOVED that program. I've gotten proficient at Excel but I still miss Lotus some days.
Last time I used a typewriter was in 2012 to type up 1099's. After that I FINALLY convinced them (my mother) to let me buy the laser jet forms that come with the handy little disc. Now I keep buying the same brand and they automatically upload all the data from the previous year so I just have to edit and add/delete as necessary. Now it takes about 30 minutes to do 1099's. Versus the hours it would take on the typewriter.
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Nazgul Girl
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Post by Nazgul Girl on Jul 3, 2014 8:49:30 GMT -5
I could still use a typewriter if I had to, I think. At least, I could still use a typewriter if someone either promised me great risk or great reward. ( Clunk, clunk, backspace, backspace, oh darn, erase mis-strike, etc. ) Those being either a gun or a way to make a lot of money.
Interestingly, modest typewriters which work are selling on ebay for around $ 40 - $ 60 (college type ), and somebody sells ribbons which are guaranteed to work for about $ 3.99 for many models. Somebody out there still likes typewriters, and I guess for people doing without electricity, one would be nice to have.
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Nazgul Girl
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Post by Nazgul Girl on Jul 3, 2014 8:55:06 GMT -5
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Jul 3, 2014 9:03:26 GMT -5
That reminded me of the typewriter my parents used to have, it had the handle for returning the page though. I learned to type on an electric typewriter in HS and that's probably the last time I used one regularly. Computers were starting to be everywhere by the time I got out of HS. Now the class is called Keyboarding. or something like that....
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Jul 3, 2014 9:05:20 GMT -5
Damn, I spent many a year back in my Navy days in front of one of those. I was looking forward to seeing an "old friend" but the link took me to this wall of everything I don't need offers. Have no desire to fight through all of it to find the typewriter.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Jul 3, 2014 9:11:26 GMT -5
I last used one in college, 1986. Actually it was probably only Freshman and Sophomore years when I had to take English classes, so 1983.
When I was in college I worked for a professor who had a very obscure professional journal and he had one of the early PC based word processing programs using Wordstar program, that we used to produce the journal. So that was 1984-84. Actually our printer was a printer/typewriter combo. When you printed from the computer it would go to the typewriter and it would print out using a typewriter ball.
None of my kids in college even needed a printer. They submit all their work electronically.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Jul 3, 2014 9:28:23 GMT -5
... Actually our printer was a printer/typewriter combo. When you printed from the computer it would go to the typewriter and it would print out using a typewriter ball. ... The ship I was on had something like that but it was a punch card you created that allowed you to "type" a form letter. The Captain decided that we should send such a letter to every ship in the Pacific Fleet talking about the wonders of serving on a Reserve Minesweeper. I had to type a name and address then tie up my typewriter for about ten minutes while that ball twisted and turned. I was in a tiny little two person office and the sound would drive me crazy.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Jul 3, 2014 9:55:39 GMT -5
We have two IBM electronic typewriters at the office, which we use for typing auto ID cards and occasionally other forms. One of them was a memory typewriter, but the memory quit working a couple of years ago. It turns out the memory was supplied by AAA batteries, which leaked all over their holder.
We still have an Underwood manual typewriter somewhere in our back room.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Jul 3, 2014 12:46:40 GMT -5
Can't remember the last time I used a typewriter.
We have a couple of ancient ones here at home from the 40s. Number 9 from the Oliver Typewriter Co, and the other is a Wood Stock. Both are dust covered and have very dried up ribbons.
First computer use was in the late 80s so it was before then.
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Nazgul Girl
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Post by Nazgul Girl on Jul 3, 2014 15:08:05 GMT -5
Damn, I spent many a year back in my Navy days in front of one of those. I was looking forward to seeing an "old friend" but the link took me to this wall of everything I don't need offers. Have no desire to fight through all of it to find the typewriter. Sorry, billsonboard, I tried the link and it took me to the blue IBM Selectric. Did you scroll down ?
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Jul 3, 2014 15:33:22 GMT -5
Damn, I spent many a year back in my Navy days in front of one of those. I was looking forward to seeing an "old friend" but the link took me to this wall of everything I don't need offers. Have no desire to fight through all of it to find the typewriter. Sorry, billsonboard, I tried the link and it took me to the blue IBM Selectric. Did you scroll down ? I am on a tablet which might be the problem. Your message did motivate me to go back and I did find it. Thanks for that. Also found a collection of the different font balls. Wow how things have changed.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Jul 3, 2014 15:40:49 GMT -5
The industry I'm in still has some governmental agencies which require forms to be submitted type-written (on a certain color paper even!).
We have two functioning typewriters on my office floor and several more in my company. The last time I've personally typed something is about a decade ago.
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Jul 3, 2014 16:12:11 GMT -5
Lord I haven't used one in a looonnnnngggg time! I remember typing on old clunky manual typewriters in HS back in the '60's. My first job as an Admin I had a Mag Card reader (or something like that) that I used to do sales proposals on for our salesmen (no women sales people back then). There was a kind of floppy disk looking thing shaped like a keypunch card into the slot and typed - whatever you typed appeared on a small screen and you could print to a printer.
We also used IBM Selectric typewriters for small jobs like envelopes, one page letters, etc.
I loved when I got my first computer and used WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3. I remember when I had to switch to Microsoft Office and hated it but I did eventually get used to it.
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teen persuasion
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Post by teen persuasion on Jul 3, 2014 18:19:02 GMT -5
I last used one in college, 1986. Actually it was probably only Freshman and Sophomore years when I had to take English classes, so 1983. When I was in college I worked for a professor who had a very obscure professional journal and he had one of the early PC based word processing programs using Wordstar program, that we used to produce the journal. So that was 1984-84. Actually our printer was a printer/typewriter combo. When you printed from the computer it would go to the typewriter and it would print out using a typewriter ball. None of my kids in college even needed a printer. They submit all their work electronically. I never used a typewriter in college, everything was typed on computers. The office I worked in on campus didn't have a typewriter; the crusty old secretary typed things on this dinosaur of a word processor (I don't think the term had been invented when this thing was new). It used giant 10" floppies, had a screen the same size as a sheet of paper (that was a good idea) and had no OS. She had to press buttons to 'read' and 'write', and find the tracks files were stored on. Occasionally the display would collapse to a single vertical line, and she would freak out, complain about all the saved files she'd have to retype on the new computer, and call the service guy. I realized that the cathode ray gun in the back was getting stuck, so it didn't sweep left to right, so I was tempted to just give it a good whack on the side to free it, but it seemed stupid. Finally I just did it, and it worked! Of course, after that I was the only one who could do it - I apparently had the magic touch. I also remember using an early desktop publishing software to create a newsletter for a writer's group. I had to take the floppy of Word files to the professor's lab to access the SW. Every time I found an error in an article file I had to exit, load Word, fix it, exit, and reload the publishing SW. This was just before Windows came out. All of my major classes' projects were turned in electronically, and that was late 80's. Of course I was a computer science major.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2014 10:27:23 GMT -5
Can't remember the last time I used a typewriter.
We have a couple of ancient ones here at home from the 40s. Number 9 from the Oliver Typewriter Co, and the other is a Wood Stock. Both are dust covered and have very dried up ribbons.
First computer use was in the late 80s so it was before then. aren't you in declutter mode? there are 2 things you can get rid of :-)
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