The magcard selectric was capable of a lot of basic word processing
functions as could the MT/ST before it. One function it was really
useful for was creating personalized form letters. The body of the
letter could be stored and personalizations filled in as it printed.
The MT/ST and magcard also had a model with a composer version of the
selectric connected. The composer version had an escapement mechanism
that could do proportional spacing, this mechanism was complicated and
from what OP technician told me tricky to adjust, and it didn't help
that customer using composers where very picky about the print quality
as composers where often use to prepare copy for printing. I have also
seen selectric mechanisms that used a lead screw to move the print head
which would be an easier way to implement proportional spacing. Watching
a video of an electronic composer typing suggests it may have used this
mechanism as the carriage motion looks smoother that what you get with
an escapement rack. There was also a version of magcard machine that
had a IBM Executive type bar typewriter attached, the Executive also did
proportional spacing. There was also a selectric called the "Memory
Typewriter" that could store documents on a wide loop of tape the was
inside a slightly enlarged selectic. The last version of the magcard
machines where equipped with a daisy wheel printer in place of a selectric.
Paul.
On 2020-01-03 7:51 a.m., Guy Dunphy via cctalk wrote:
Huh, that's a coincidence. Going through a recent bequeathment to the
Australian Computer Museum Society,
I'd just yesterday opened a box with manuals, some cards, and other bits for
the same system.
See pic, with manual cover illustration of the system.
It was IBM trying to produce a word processor and email, before the technology
was really up to it.
You typed onto paper, with backspacing and overtyping to get it right, then
saved to the mag card.
That could be read back and printed out, to get a clean copy. Then you could
snail mail the mag card
to someone with another machine. Or just post the printed letter I suppose, but
how old fashioned!
A lease document with the set shows that in 1981 the price was $5000 (AU). Or
leased over 48 months,
total rent of $6682.
My job now is to find out what happened to the actual machine, since the
contents list says it's
present, but it isn't.
Fun fact: according to the listing the modified selectric typewriter (heavy)
and the magcard 82 processor
(cabinet in the photo, supposedly about 50 Kg) are linked by a "non-plugged
cable". Brilliant.
Guy
At 10:46 AM 3/01/2020 +0100, you wrote:
A guy, in Europ, sells a box of IBM magnetic cards, used on IBM
"Compcarte" ( sorry, french "name" )
They seems in medium state, at least, but I think these are pretty
rare. So, if somebody is interested .....
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/gro%C3%9Frechner-wechseldatentr%C3%A4ger-magnetkarten/184107517064?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
