A clean, vivid blue monotone set, recreating the iconic look of the original 1961 Selectric typewriter.
History and Inspiration
Not my photos.
This is a passion project of mine that I was disappointed I couldn't make happen before. 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. So let's try this again...
SA Selectresque is an IBM Selectric-
esque design, based on the famous bright blue IBM Selectric I "NASA" colorway. The Selectric series of typewriters was extremely popular; by 1978, it accounted for 94% of the business market. Selectrics used interchangeable rotating typeballs instead of bars for each key, so they weren't prone to jamming if two keys were struck simultaneously.
The Selectric's keyboard was also used for IBM terminals of the era, such as the 2741. Those eventually evolved into the beamspring keyboards of the 1970's, with which the Selectric's caps were compatible. Its layout was the direct ancestor of that used by the later Model M, which became the standard US layout still used today.
Legend has it the colorful blue caps were discontinued because they were considered too fun for office workers. But now they're back, in pog 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.
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VendorsTBD. If you've a vendor and would be interested in carrying this set, reach out to me here, or message me (piperaceae_) on Discord. Also interested in collabs with artisan makers, deskmat designers, etc.
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DatesTBD. Shipping probably ~3 months after the GB ends.
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Maja by Vulcan
Werk One by Werk.Technica
ColorsDoubleshot ABS, in stock Signature Plastics BGW Blue and WFK White
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This is not the fanciest color card, but hopefully gives some idea as to the colors in comparison to other blue sets, including Modern and Motorsport Selectric.
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Kitting and PricingBase price is estimated based on MSRP at MOQs of 50, 75, and 100 units, and is subject to change. (Price drops above 100 units are less dramatic, and won't make as much of a difference.)
Base Kit~$140-149
Including UK ISO in the base actually
lowers its price! The base includes some extras like stepped Ctrl, 1u and 2u Shift, and dual 1.5u OS mods. There's also basic 40s support.
"Code" was the modifier used on the Selectric Composer, the only model to have a modifier key. It was also used on the Selectric's successor, the Wheelwriter.
I've left out non-homing F, J and 5 since this set doesn't have any alternate layout support. If you really need those, tell me in the feedback form. Past sets like Skyriter, Handarbeit, 8010, and Dualshot have left them out to reduce costs.
Numpad Kit~$28-30
Bars Kit~$15-19
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. Doing it this way saves money for anyone who doesn't need it, while not really costing any more for folks who do.
"The Lost Keys" Minikit~$10-11
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 [ ] 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.
"Oops! All Interrobangs‽" Kit~$7
The lone row 1 interrobang in the base is in memory of a friend, to whom this set is dedicated. Then 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.
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!
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Board Renders
Ingot TKL by TimeRelapse
Koyu by Rama Works
M0lly by TKC
V4nag0n by Trash Man
TKC1800 by TKC
Ikki68 by Wuque Studio
OGR2 by Alchemist Keyboards
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Legend SourcesMore
Most of the legends are pulled directly from the original Selectric. The section/paragraph and exponent keys come from the 96-character variant. "Exp" (express backspace) comes from the Selectric II and III.
The remaining non-Selectric legends come from the Wheelwriter, or other period electric typewriters.
I know the UK keys aren't remotely authentic. The real UK Selectric layout featured 18 different keys, mostly fraction symbols that ceased to be useful after the decimalization of the pound.
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A Word About MTNU Selectresque...More
For this to succeed, I need to address why MTNU Selectresque failed. And that's pretty much all on me.
First, the design required a lot of legends that didn't exist in MTNU, and would have been costly to create. ALL of these already exist in Signature Plastics's archive, meaning they add nothing to the price here.
Second, I was unfairly impatient with Jae, who was busy with other projects, since Selectresque was still months away when I got frustrated and canceled it. We're cool, and he's carried all of my sets since. In retrospect I should have been way more chill, disappointing as it was that a lot of what I wanted to do just wasn't feasible in MTNU.
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ThanksIn memory of Bat Duffy, noted interrobang enthusiast.
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Thank you to the folks in my Discord server, the SPKeyboards Discord's design ideas channel, and the Keyboard Designers Forum Discord. All of these spaces provided valuable input on the development of this set over the past eight months. Special thanks to MadMax13 for supporting me during this run and during the Teletype group buy, which is successfully wrapping up as I post this.
Thank you to Melissa at SP, whom I've pestered for quotes and legend lookups repeatedly.
I'd also like to thank everyone who supported the original MTNU version, especially Jae at ProtoTypist.
