Video review + Typing Sample: 1983 Sears (Brother) Correct-O-Ball Electric Typewriter

A rather alien specimen in my usual habitat of 100+ year old manual technology, I felt obliged to put this gifted golf-ball operated 80's machine in the spot-light. It's unobtainable ribbon will only last so long after all.
www.venneburgtypewriters.com

[@nnthayer]

"People say there's no appreciation for these, there's no collectability, that may be so. It's still a typewriter, I appreciate them all. Except for the Olivetti Linea 98." -Dirk Plante

[@nnthayer]

One benefit of having a moving carriage instead of a moving type element is that it cuts down on how bulky the entire machine has to be in order to accommodate larger-sized paper. Selectric IIs and IIIs were enormous. Anyway, nice typing demo - this typewriter is oddly handsome, with its sharp angles, faux woodgrain, and black plastic. Very 1980s.

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

I thought it was strangely appealing as well. I thank the automatic return for making the moving carriage less of a hindrance in adjunction with the golf-ball element. And yes, faux woodgrain brings this oddly nostalgic ambience I really like.

[@jkMontreal]

I put traditional ink ribbon (not the carbon one like the one that uses the Selectric) inside the cartridge and the typewriter works correctly. The only problem is that the deletion function obviously doesn't work anymore.

[@TheWaterbug101]

I wonder if the carbon cartridge could somehow be taken apart for manual reload?

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

It could, yes. It's actually very easily done. The trick is not breaking the aged plastic cartridge. I'm even tempted to experiment and put a cotton or nylon ribbon in there.

[@ThomasMatthew-s2y]

What a spectacular machine, aswell as a mechanical wonder that is the positioning of the golf ball previous to the satisfying strike and the second ping when you press return. Fantastic video. Do you have a Facit 1740? It's brazilian, and I would love to see your content covering this machine, as I have one reserved to my anme for use in my local library and was looking forward to getting one myself! Do you know if this particular one is obsolete? The one I use at the library was manufactured in 2009. It's a common mechanical typewriter.

[@mcbst2]

Nice., how do you put in and which key to correct.with the correctig tape? Thanks

[@js23-]

I know that there is a weird electronic version of these floating around, it uses a daisywheel like most from the era but still have a paper carriage. Also, the Olivetti single element typewriters were also sold under the Smith Corona Vantage models, all made in Scotland.

[@leoangeles-murillo5643]

1983 - Brother was behind in terms of Typewriter design as IBM was already introducing the Wheelwriter design if I am not mistaken. Nice compact Typewriter but with each return and the weight of the carriage. It moved the whole machine and one has to straighten up again. Good to see a correction feature. I never quite understood why even on Electronic Typewriters, WhiteOut was used when the machine has the correction feature. I found it annoying to see White Out residue on Electronic Typewriter platens. To get clean corrections, great bond paper has to be used with typewriters and not treated coated paper.

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

Grasping human nature, I can only anticipate it was merely laziness that led to Tipp-Ex being used instead of correction tape because it would be readily at hand, rather than the specified ribbon one would have to acquire.

[@jeffersonleonardo2]

I wish I knew more words in English to describe its beauty 😍

[@TheFlamingGamerYT]

Ooh, Sears. As in the Sears shop that used to exist but went bankrupt not too long ago? I’m looking at the logo just above the typewriter’s keys and it looks like the Sears logo, or at least an older version of it

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

Yes. The "Canadian" Simpson-Sears (eventually separated when Hudson's Bay acquired Simpson's.) The Sears in my town closed in 2018, which I believe was the year of mass liquidation when it went bankrupt.

[@TheFlamingGamerYT]

@@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121 I knew it. And yeah, I think 2018 was when Sears went bankrupt. I remember seeing the run down building whenever I would pass by the building to go to the mall or something. It was a sight to behold and to be reminded of the times I was in a Sears

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

@@TheFlamingGamerYT I miss Sears. It's a shame department stores like that went bust. Zellers, Eaton's, Woodward's, Woolworth's....

[@TheFlamingGamerYT]

@@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121 Yeah. I’ve heard that toys r us is back, but it’s at Macy’s. If only that treatment happened with Sears, like if it ended up just existing at another store, if that makes sense

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

@@TheFlamingGamerYT The Toys "R" Us store in my city never closed down. Not even during the bankruptcy. But from what I understand it was one of the only ones to remain open. Zellers reappeared as a pop-up store at Hudson's Bay, it seems.

[@ziggyboogydude1]

could you do a video just inspecting the internals on this? a friend of mine's having an issue where none of the keys type (spacing and return work) and i cant find a single maintenance manual anywhere

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

Sure. I'll have to dig it out so give me some time!

[@lucasio6360]

I recently purchased one of these machines and have been having the same issue. i wasnt able to find a manual but just by taking the bottom off it looks like the issue may be something with the electric motor not spinning the main drive belt.

[@jauregi2726]

what a beauty! ❤️

[@pcblah]

I wonder if you can 3D print the cartridges, although that would be allot of effort for a machine that's kind of eh.

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

You could hypothetically. But I concur.

[@tylerallison9735]

What kind of paper does this use and where can you get it?

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

This uses regular stock.

[@camping5757]

Will you upload a video about typing on IBM Selectric typewriters

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

If I can have the single Selectric I own to stop trying to return on it's own...probably.

[@jacobbeversdorf7088]

@@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121 this typewriter looks cool. I have so many IMB selectric typewriter golf balls.

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

@@jacobbeversdorf7088 None of which would fit on this Brother ironically.

[@jacobbeversdorf7088]

@@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121 what kind of ball would fit?

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

@@jacobbeversdorf7088 Brother specified.

[@MagnumLoadedTractor]

1983!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!wow

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

Such a shame all the cartridge machines are somewhat doomed because it's not profitable to make new cartridges for a small group of aficionados. Maybe 3D printing could rescue the machine if the carbon film is still available.

[@dr.typewriter-venneburgtyp121]

That might be the option to go. This ribbon can be retrofitted. I just have to find the right width carbon ribbon for it.

[@melquizedec]

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