Linux on a 70's Typewriter | IBM Selectric II → Teletype Conversion

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

I found a IBM Selectric II typewriter in the trash (yes, really) and decided to convert it to connect to a computer. Managed to take a whole bunch of pictures and short videos, so I had to make a full video about it. It's not quite the same as an IO Selectric or IBM 2741 but you're probably not going to find one of those in the trash these days.

http://alnwlsn.com

My first attempt from a few months back:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6QCwgwftIE

Link to 3D files and firmware:
- https://github.com/alnwlsn/videos/tree/main/selectric

Scripts I made to use ChatGPT and browse the web:
- https://github.com/alnwlsn/scratchpad

Live Captions Linux application:
https://github.com/abb128/LiveCaptions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r09Hm2zd2lY

The Soviet's "Selectric Bug"
- https://www.cryptomuseum.com/covert/bugs/selectric/

A pile of other links that were sourced for this project. Many of these are either public domain or CC.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric?useskin=vector#/media/File:Michael_Holley_Computer_1978_NWCN.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric?useskin=vector#/media/File:IBM_Electronic_Selectric_Composer_with_accessories.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric?useskin=vector#/media/File:IBM_Magnetic_Tape-Selectric_Typewriter_in_use.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric?useskin=vector#/media/File:IBM_Selectric_II.jpg
- https://selectric.org/selectric/index.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_2741?useskin=vector#/media/File:IBM_2741_(I197205).png
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_2741?useskin=vector#/media/File:IBM_2741_Communications_Terminal.jpg
- https://www.curiousmarc.com/mechanical/ibm-selectric
- https://vintagecomputer.ca/escon-selectric-kit/
- https://blog.bruchez.name/posts/ibm-memory-typewriter/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone?useskin=vector#/media/File:AT&T_push_button_telephone_western_electric_model_2500_dmg_black.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprinter?useskin=vector#/media/File:Telex_machine_ASR-32.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprinter?useskin=vector#/media/File:Siemens_t37h_without_cover.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprinter?useskin=vector#/media/File:Telescrivente_CEP_-_Calcolatrice_Elettronica_Pisana.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprinter?useskin=vector#/media/File:Fernscheiber_01.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprinter?useskin=vector#/media/File:ASR-33_at_CHM.agr.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_System/360_Model_50#/media/File:IBM_system_360-50_console_-_MfK_Bern.jpg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeXT_Computer#/media/File:First_Web_Server.jpg
- https://line-mode.cern.ch
- https://hackaday.com/2023/04/11/ibm-selectric-typewriters-finally-get-diy-typeballs/
- http://info.cern.ch/LMBrowser.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUpl2FTgvUI
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW_jJjUarp0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0U_q_TZmAc
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_WfQoKRlxE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRCNenhcvpw
http://fixselectric.com/.wp-plugins/keyboard-adjustments.php
All further material that I personally produced for this project I hereby license as (CC BY-SA 4.0)