If you’re at all familiar with mechanical typewriters, you know that changing the font isn’t really an option. That changed with the emergence of some of the most popular electric typewriters, the IBM Selectrics. These are notable for being driven by a typing ball which can be easily swapped out. Voila, new font! Many models, like my IBM Selectric II even support pitch of both 10 and 12, with different balls, of course.
When I had my Selectric professionally tuned up a couple months ago, I started my ball collection by buying a Script ball from the repair shop. I’ve since expanded to Etsy and eBay to expand what is starting to become a funny collection.
I’m particularly interested in the fact that it wasn’t just IBM creating balls, I have a pair of GP Technologies balls that are specifically labeled “Aetna” which leads me to believe they were fonts used within said insurance company. They Aetna Elite and Aetna Gothic are nice fonts though!
The variety of containers for storing the balls has also been notable. The GP Technologies balls came new (unsealed!) in little transparent ball containers that have a cap, and a couple of the IBM ones had the red holders, which are probably my favorite aesthetically. I may even 3D print some additional ones for my homeless type balls when I have the time for that project.
The third step in this collection process has been ordering modern fonts. Modern fonts? Indeed! There has been work done on creating 3D printer files of type balls with more modern and distinctive fonts, which lead me to the for Austin Selectric Rescue where the owner prints various balls. I swiftly made a purchase and eagerly awaited the delivery, which happened while I was traveling for work.
Unbeknownst to me, I was one of the first people to order and there was a small snafu with the printing of the balls. On the bright side, that means I now have some spare type balls that I can use for art projects. Plus, as one of the first orders he tossed in a couple extras that also weren’t suitable for use, but will make some fun projects.
But it did mean I had to wait a few days for replacements. It was OK though, when I returned from aforementioned work trip I discovered my Selectric wouldn’t power on. Oh, no! I had nearly resigned to taking it back to the repair shop (25 minutes away!) when I instead decided to scour reddit and was pleasantly surprised by a 9 year old post that solved my problem. In my case, it was the switch in the back right corner needed to be nudged, and removing the case is quite simple.
The balls I ordered were:
- Vogue – a classic art deco typeface, because I like art deco
- Comic Mono – a monospace version of Comic Sans, because it’s funny to do that to my poor typewriter
- Papyrus – it’s… the Papyrus font we all know and love, or hate? It’s distinctive, and familiar as a modern font, so that’s fun
There are several others in the shop, including some other classic typewriter fonts. Your Selectric can really get a new life masquerading as all kinds of old mechanical typewriters!
Then I was able to try out the new type balls! They work great.
Folks have commented that they won’t last as long as the originals and some efforts are under way to get some metal 3D printers involved, but typewriters are a hobby of mine, and I have 5 of them, so none of them are getting daily use. Plus, I now have 9 type balls, and so they’re only used very, very occasionally for small projects.
My next project will be making a cloth cover for my Selectric, because dust is the enemy of typewriters. I’m not particularly adept at using a sewing machine, but I do have one and I think it might be fun to try.