On 1/3/20 12:50 PM, Paul Berger via cctalk wrote: > The magcard selectric was capable of a lot of basic word processing > functions as could the MT/ST before it. One function it was really > useful for was creating personalized form letters. The body of the > letter could be stored and personalizations filled in as it printed. > The MT/ST and magcard also had a model with a composer version of the > selectric connected. The composer version had an escapement mechanism > that could do proportional spacing, this mechanism was complicated and > from what OP technician told me tricky to adjust, and it didn't help > that customer using composers where very picky about the print quality > as composers where often use to prepare copy for printing. I have also > seen selectric mechanisms that used a lead screw to move the print head > which would be an easier way to implement proportional spacing. Watching > a video of an electronic composer typing suggests it may have used this > mechanism as the carriage motion looks smoother that what you get with > an escapement rack. There was also a version of magcard machine that > had a IBM Executive type bar typewriter attached, the Executive also did > proportional spacing. There was also a selectric called the "Memory > Typewriter" that could store documents on a wide loop of tape the was > inside a slightly enlarged selectic. The last version of the magcard > machines where equipped with a daisy wheel printer in place of a selectric.
I used a Model B Executive for a few years as my office typewriter. Superb text quality; good enough for publication. They were available in several type styles and sizes. Can easily be distinguished by the split space bar. There also was a version of the tape station for the MT/ST that could be used as a S/370 peripheral. Probably not very common. --Chuck