Wang Laboratories had their own modifications that they did to standard Selectric Type I electric typewriters that allowed them to be automated. The automation was very complete, including the ability to set/clear tabs, and turn the unit on and off. The modifications involved making the cabinet "deeper", allowing room in the bottom of the machine for the solenoids and switches that provided the ability to actuate and report status. A "spacer" wraparound filled the gap between the upper cabinet and the base. The Model 601/701 was a standalone "deep" Selectric that would interface to Wang 600 or 700-series calculators. These were output-only devices. The Model 602/702 had further modifications which involved modifying the space mechanism so that spaces were "microspaces", and a stepper motor was connected to the platen to allow forward and reverse indexing in small steps, along with the same modifications made to the 601/701, which allowed the device to be used as a plotter, that could also do full formatted annotation and text output. Again, these were output-only devices. There was also the Model 611/711 I/O writer. This was a further modified Selectric Type I that had all of the modifications of the 601/701 Output Writers, but also allowed keypresses on the keyboard to be encoded into signals which could be communicated to the connected calculator, allowing fully interactive I/O for the calculator. Lastly, there was a "portable" version of the 601/701 and 602/702 Output Writers that provided a padded, shipping-proof carrying case that allowed the devices to be shipped around easily and safely. Some information on these can be found at the following links: http://pail.bensene.com/a-wang701.html http://pail.bensene.com/a-wang711.html http://pail.bensene.com/m-wang711.html http://pail.bensene.com/a-wang702.html I have an operational Wang 701 Output Writer, and a Wang 711 I/O Writer. Keeping these machines operational is a bit of a challenge, as they are quite temperamental keeping the linkages all in adjustment. My guess is that Wang service technicians spent a lot of time adjusting these instruments. They operate at a quoted maximum rate of 15 characters per second, but more practically, it's somewhere around 13 CPS driven by a Wang 720C calculator. I found a local guy who knows Selectrics inside and out, and had him do a complete service on the Selectric that makes up the 701 Output Writer, and he said that in "those days", he serviced a lot of the Wang-modified devices. He also said that Anderson-Jacobsen also had a similar (perhaps OEM'd from Wang) modified Selectric that could be used as a computer console or terminal. Rick Bensene The Old Calculator Web Museum http://oldcalculatormuseum.com Beavercreek, Oregon