Bought on auction: IBM Wheelwriter

[Wingsley]

Recently, our family bought a used IBM Wheelwriter Series 2 Model 30 typewriter off of G.S.A. Auctions (federal gov't surplus). Our winning bid was only $10. The machine was used by an F.A.A. office in Ohio. We asked our Ohio relatives to transport it to us when they come here for vacation so we did not have to drive to Ohio to pick it up.

According to the nomenclature on a manufacturing label inside the typing lid, the machine was built on 23 Aug 1990. As you can see from the photos provided, this Wheelwriter looks to be in good shape (the F.A.A. office reported it to be in working order) but it is a little dirty and did not come with any owner's manual or other accessories; just the power cord and the unit itself.

We want to get it cleaned up and use it for basic tasks that might be faster on a typewriter than on a computer/printer and/or mobile device. (quickly addressing envelopes, filling out some simple forms, typing out checks, etc.)

This leads to questions:

1: Where do we find an owner's manual for this specific model? (The nomenclature is confusing; do we look for a Model 30 or a Wheelwriter II???)

2: What is the best way to clean the machine, inside and out?

3: Does anyone service these machines anymore? If so, how do we find them?

Here are some photos:

 

[yaxomoxay]

fantastic purchase!

 

[Wingsley]

I finally found an owner's manual on the UserManual Wiki. I just googled the model name and the nomenclature is the same. Ta-da!

It's also over 100 pages long, so I have some reading to do.

I also used my smartphone to look up some out-of-town businesses. I found a couple of people, 25-65 miles away, who service these machines, if that becomes necessary.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Recently, our family bought a used IBM Wheelwriter Series 2 Model 30 typewriter off of G.S.A. Auctions (federal gov't surplus). Our winning bid was only $10. The machine was used by an F.A.A. office in Ohio. We asked our Ohio relatives to transport it to us when they come here for vacation so we did not have to drive to Ohio to pick it up.

According to the nomenclature on a manufacturing label inside the typing lid, the machine was built on 23 Aug 1990. As you can see from the photos provided, this Wheelwriter looks to be in good shape (the F.A.A. office reported it to be in working order) but it is a little dirty and did not come with any owner's manual or other accessories; just the power cord and the unit itself.

We want to get it cleaned up and use it for basic tasks that might be faster on a typewriter than on a computer/printer and/or mobile device. (quickly addressing envelopes, filling out some simple forms, typing out checks, etc.)

This leads to questions:

1: Where do we find an owner's manual for this specific model? (The nomenclature is confusing; do we look for a Model 30 or a Wheelwriter II???)

2: What is the best way to clean the machine, inside and out?

3: Does anyone service these machines anymore? If so, how do we find them?

Here are some photos:


View attachment 856398 View attachment 856399

My mother adored her electric IBM golfball typewriter , and considered it utterly reliable and reassuringly indestructible; indeed, in my undergrad days, the secretaries in the faculty held the IBM golfball in similarly high esteem.

Enjoy your purchase.

 

[rwh63]

i just grabbed one of these from my town dump (it’s a 70). did some cosmetic cleaning. has the floppy board. when i turn the power on, in a few seconds the ribbon cartridge does a reset, but it doesn't do anything else. no response from touching any key. i was hoping to list on ebay, and would like it to be fully functioning.

anyone with any ideas??

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I wish I would still have one of my old typewriters, specially with dressing a personal check.

 

[maflynn]

dressing a personal check.

People still write checks?

 

[Herdfan]

People still write checks?

Mostly from my business account. Probably 30-40 month.

But I use blank check stock and a program called Check Builder Pro. So I can write a personal one from it as well if I need to. Just had to write one yesterday so the offspring could renew her passport.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

People still write checks?

My wife and I write checks every now and then. For example, last week I had a contractor installing a new HRV in my house, so when the work was done I asked him if he preferred cash, credit card, or a check, and he chose the latter. A lot of contractors also accept wire money transfers from one account to another, and checks as well, but not cash. There is a certain amount of money taken out from the recipient when accepting credit cards.

 

[rwh63]

getting off topic people!

 

[AlaskaMoose]

getting off topic people!

If you read the original post, you will notice the things he wants to do with the typewriter, which includes writing checks .

 

[ucfgrad93]

I still write checks on occasion.

I learned to type on one of those golf ball typewriters in the 7th grade. Hated trying to line up the paper so the lines of type came out level.

Congrats on your purchase OP.