A Selectric printer...

[Paul Berger]

On 2015-11-22 9:20 AM, Mike Ross wrote:
> I have an I/O Selectric device which is badged as, and was originally, an
> IBM 2970 Reservation Terminal.
>
> For better or worse, it was one of those bought up in the late 1970s by a
> company called 'Western I/O", based out of Scottsdale Arizona. They
> converted them for home use. One version used a Motorola 6800 to make a
> nifty-sounding terminal with selectable baud rates etc. I appear to have
> the 'other' version; a cheap and nasty printer-only conversion with some
> form of parallel port.
>
> Anybody else got one? Docs about them? Parts? Schematics? I'd like to get
> hold of one of the 'proper' terminal conversion versions... Must be some
> squirreled away in garages!
>
> Alternatively, any doc on the original 2970? There's an incredible dearth
> of information about what we're once very common devices...
Did you get the whole machine typewriter and control unit or just the 
typewriter?  If you got the control unit the manuals may be inside.  The 
typewriter part of it is just a modified office selectric with solenoids 
to do the selection and operate the functions and then a whole bunch of 
open strap contacts for feedback and also to sense what is typed on the 
keyboard.  One of the first problems you may encounter is the motor belt 
is likely rotten and would be a challenge to change if you have never 
been inside a selectric, especially with all the extra stuff hung off it 
on an I/O.  The reservation terminals I worked on nearly 40 years ago 
where connected to a telegraph line. 75 baud with about a 150V DC 
swing.  Pictures?

Paul.