Typewriter bucket list

Introduction

I have a typewriter collection which you can see to a large extent on TWDB. But a collector is never entirely satisfied, and there are several machines I’d love to find, if they are affordable and/or in restorable condition. Below is a list of such machines.¹

IBM Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter

I’d love to find the rare IBM Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter (MT/ST, also known as MT72 in Europe), which came out in 1964.²³⁴ It is a large machine, with a special desk and a large console, as you can see on the picture below.

Original IBM Mag Card typewriter

The first IBM Magnetic Card/Selectric Typewriter (MC/ST), which came out in 1969, seems to be quite rare. I am aware of a museum in Europe that has an instance (alongside an MT/ST). It had a different style of console compared to the newer and more stylish Mag Card/II console. In fact it looks more like the MT/ST, although possibly a little smaller.

Remington 11 adding and subtracting machine

I own a Remington Model-121 Vertical Adder, a Model-23 Bookkeeping Machine, and a Model-21 Vertical Adder. Missing from this small collection is the beautiful, and earlier, Remington 11 with Adding and Subtracting mechanism. This features the so-called “Wahl mechanism” in the front.

I know that a few of those are around, as I’ve seen them for sale a couple of times: once in Europe, and once in the US, but too far away from me. Hopefully one is waiting form me somewhere.

Remington 11 with Adding and Subtracting mechanism

Credit: National Museum of American History

VariTyper Model 160/660/720/1010/1030

I own a small collection of Varityper-branded machines, including some 1930s and 1940s models, and a beautiful Model 610F from the late 1950s or early 1960s. I’d love to find some of the missing models, such as the Model 660 or 1010, shown below, as well as models 160 and 720.

I have seen a few 1010 for sale, but in places too far for me, and proper shipping is a challenge. I think that the 1030 is a European model of the 1010. I am not sure that it was ever sold in the US.

I am also interested in completing my collection of Varityper shuttles (or fonts). Those are sometimes sold as “Hammond” shuttles, but they are typically not compatible with Hammond typewriters. They have a gray metal look, unlike the original black Hammond shuttles.

Hermes 10

The Hermes 10 is a typewriter which is the electric twin of the Hermes 3000. It is a beautiful machine, and I’d love to find one in good condition for a decent price.

Credit: Joe Van Cleave

Other machines of the IBM Mag Card family

I own the following “Mag Card/II family” machines:

The following machines would be nice to complete that collection:

Mag Card II
Mag Card Executive
Mag Card Composer

Bucket list items I have found

IBM MT/SC

FOUND: March 2024.

In March 2024, I stumbled on an extraordinary find: an IBM MT/SC system, complete with input station and output station. Read more about it in the following blog posts:

Remington 2

FOUND: May 2024.

In addition to owning a beautiful Remington 6 from 1902, which I restored myself, I was lucky to find, in May 2024, an early Remington 2 from 1885! It is missing the wooden roller and paper table (for which I acquired parts in September 2024). It will need restoration. For more, see my TWDB gallery and the photo album.

The Remington 3 and 5 are wide-carriage versions, and much rarer. The Remington 4 only did capital letters and 35,000 were made, approximately. Needless to say, I’d be happy to find one of those as well!

IBM Input/Output (I/O) Selectric Typewriter

FOUND: May 2025.

My IBM MT/SC includes a variant of an IBM I/O Selectric Typewriter, called the MT/SR. I’d love to find an actual I/O typewriter. These look like a regular Selectric, but with a fatter bottom containing extra hardware. Inside, there are contacts and solenoids that allow the machine to transmit information, and to act as a printer. These machines were connected to IBM MT/ST machines, or to a computer.