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Geekhack IC Thread
A clean, vivid blue monotone set, recreating the iconic look of the original 1961 Selectric typewriter.
This is a passion project of mine that I was disappointed I couldn’t make happen in MTNU last year. I’ve spent the past eight months slowly retooling it in the hopes that it will work out better in SA, since all of the needed legends already exist, and add nothing to the cost. So let’s try this again…
Inspiration
SA Selectresque is an IBM Selectric-esque design, based on the famous bright blue IBM Selectric I “NASA” colorway. Legend has it the colorful blue caps were discontinued because they were considered too fun for office workers. But now they’re back, in SA form!
There have been a lot of sets over the years inspired by the Selectric, but they’ve all been “Modern Selectric” variants, with icon mods, multicolor designs, and contemporary legend placement. This set isn’t meant as a rebuke of those, I just think there’s room for a more historically accurate Selectric reproduction alongside them.
Vendors: TBD (interested in carrying it? Contact piperaceae_ on Discord!)
Dates: TBD
Colors: Signature Plastics stock BGW blue and WFK white
Kitting and Pricing
Base MSRP price based on MOQs at 50, 75, and 100.
Base: $140-149
Numpad: $28-30
Bars: $15-19
Lost Keys: $11
Oops, All Interrobangs: TBD, probably around $10?
Kitting Notes
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Including UK ISO in the base actually lowers the base price versus leaving it out! The base includes some extras like stepped Ctrl, 1u and 2u Shift, and dual 1.5u OS mods. There’s also basic 40s support.
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The price of the standalone bars kit is about the same as the cost increase the base would see had the bars been rolled into there. Splitting it off saves money for anyone who doesn’t need it, while not really costing any more for folks who do.
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The “Lost Keys” is meant to be a cheap little bundle of stuff cut from the base to achieve this price point, along with a few other niceties. There’s normal versions of the weird 1, 6, and bracket keys; some alternates; an “Overstrike” text novelty; Spanish Ñ; and Qwertz Z/Y. Not comprehensive by any means, but hopefully something to make the set a bit more fun and useful for some folks.
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The lone row 1 interrobang in the base is in memory of a friend, to whom this set is dedicated. Folks on Discord asked for full interrobang XT columns. A fistful of interrobangs would have absolutely thrilled my friend, so I said what the heck; if it helps get this set made, let’s try it.
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There are questions about other kits in the feedback form. Want full 40’s, NorDe, or an accent row? Show vendors there’s a demand for it!
Board Renders
This is kind of a condensed version of the full IC on GeekHack, which amounts to a term paper in its thoroughness. So if you want to see more renders, hear more explanation about design stuff, and read how this addresses issues from the aborted MTNU run, be sure to check that out too.
Feedback Form
9 Likes
This is looking excellent, but do I have way too many blue sets ? Yes I do. I’d get it anyway I suppose… @Piperaceae you seem to have a thing for blue sets lol. How about some dark green (BRG, forest green, etc.) ? I got scammed by MKEU on GMK British Racing Green, I suppose I’m missing that, I’d def get something dark green-ish in SP SA profile…
1 Like
If the original Selectric wasn’t blue, I wouldn’t have gone that route again. There were black and grey Selectric caps, but both felt pretty dull compared to the bright blue, which is still the most sought-after and iconic colorway.
My upcoming designs are black/brown/cream/orange (SA Simulated Wood Grain), and orange/yellow/teal/lime green (DCS Tropica)! But those are quite a ways out still.
I also have long-term plans to try running a version of SA Havamal, which was a green and black set where the original runner ghosted with everyone’s money. Same stock colors, but I’d drop the runes and make it more dragon/snake-inspired instead, as SA Serpent. Since it’s not my design per se, I’d do it without any commission.
I’ve only done one real blue set before, Dasher Nights. (I’d consider Teletype more greenish.) And that was partially dictated by colors SP had onhand, since the goal of it was to use up resin stock in the event they couldn’t find a buyer.
3 Likes
Good Luck with the Interest Check!
2 Likes
Interrobangs‽ Bestill my heart! This is lovely.
2 Likes
Feedback for this set has been very positive, but not in numbers so far that would make running this feasible in its current state. So I’m pursuing a backup plan to ensure the set gets made in some form, given its personal importance to me.
This wouldn’t be historically accurate color-wise, but I’m giving thought to scaling the set back to the Selectric novelties, and doing a private run of them matched to Macrodata/Dasher as an unofficial add-on kit for that colorway.
The benefits would be:
- Signature Plastics already has the resin for BO and BBJ onhand from Macrodata R2. They’re stock colors, available to anyone. Both MDR and Dasher sold very well, so lots of people could use the add-on. And it would still be blue.
- I would only have to include the Selectric keys in the kit, which would make it cheap enough to buy out and run myself in a low quantity.
- It would benefit from the existing Macrodata kitting, including NorDe support.
- It would be cheap enough that I could even include some extras, like improved 40s support, 1u novelties for every row, and yes, interrobangs in alpha and mod colors.
This would be a very tiny run, just to get the set made. Beyond my own copy, I may make extras available as gifts, to the public at a steep discount, or maybe even find a way they could benefit charity as prizes or something. I intend to invest my own money to see this through, and don’t expect to recoup much, if any, of the cost.
Here’s the current concept kitting if I go do that route:
As you can see, the weird Selectric keys are there, plus some extra typewriter novelties, improved 40s coverage, and plenty of interrobangs. I’m including ISO “Return” and stepped “Lock” in the name of accuracy, since the original Selectric used those legends on those keys, as opposed to MDR’s “Enter” and “Caps.” (This is all subject to change based on SP’s quotes.)
6 Likes
I’m going to have my cake and eat it too, by seeing this project through in two ways.
In the short term, I’m moving ahead and buying out a small run of a Selectric novelty kit (with interrobangs) in Dasher/Dancer/Macrodata colors, as make an unofficial add-on kit for that colorway. That will let me get the set made in some fashion. I wanted to get this done quickly, due to the uncertainty over SP’s future now that their sale has fallen through.
In the longer term, I’ll leave the original IC as it is, and continue to collect feedback and interest on it. That way at some point, when SP’s future is more clear, I can potentially still try to run the set with its original color and kitting. But it won’t be quite as pressing then, since I’ll have that novelty kit made already.
6 Likes
With my private run now complete, Saber Keebs is running an updated IC form for the revised split-MOQ dual base kitting we’re looking at for the public GB.
Alphas:
40% Base:
60-75% Base:
Row 2 Pink Alert Accents:
3 Likes
But where are all the lovely interrobangs‽
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In all seriousness that kit was the highlight of the set, for me.
1 Like
I tried to incorporate as many as I could into the redesign! There’s a R3 one in each base, a R1 and R4 in the alphas, and an accent R2 in the alert kit.
3 Likes
I see that. I was hyped for the possibility of XT-style macro columns of interrobangs, but I understand the realities of MOQs.
1 Like
