June 2019
From the collection of Peter Stuart
Manufacturer: IBM
Model: Model D Executive
Year: 1972
Color: Deep green, original
Typeface: Bold Face Italic
Nickname: None
Special thanks to: TheShy, Glen, Amanda, and Everett for the chain of events that enabled me to use all those music Corona typewriters.
From the collection of Peter Stuart
Manufacturer: IBM
Model: Model D Executive
Year: 1972
Color: Deep green, original
Typeface: Bold Face Italic
Nickname: None
Special thanks to: TheShy, Glen, Amanda, and Everett for the chain of events that enabled me to use all those music Corona typewriters.
“I am very lucky to have found this beautiful example of an IBM Model D Executive typewriter locally in Round Rock for a decent price of just $40! At first, it was in need of a major cleaning, but I was able to get that done by Paul Daniel down in San Antonio. In my opinion, this is among the best typewriters ever made, thanks to its high-quality construction, its Selectric-based keyboard, and its typeface options, which thanks to the Executives’ proportional spacing make them look almost printed. This particular specimen has Bold Face Italic, one of the rarer typeface examples—the only other Executive with this typeface I recall seeing was an eBay listing back in 2015 or so which was advertised as “not working”.
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However, this is not an easy machine to use. Because of the proportional spacing feature, different characters have different units of width, unlike in a regular typewriter. For example, most lowercase characters in the Bold Face Italic type are 3 units wide, while f, l, i, t, and j are 2 units, w is 4 units, and m is 5 units. This makes it a chore to backspace, since the backspace button is only one unit. (This is also why it has 2 spacebars: you use either one depending on how wide the preceding character is.) There are also several extra features such as touch control, a space expansion lever a la German machines, a carbon-copy adjustment lever, and a “no print” feature that supposedly prevents the typeslugs from striking the platen, but be mindful when using it since the ribbon still advances if you do. The ribbon is a long, thin strip of 5/16" carbon film that has a somewhat convoluted installation feature, which requires the machine to be switched on, and involves painstakingly threading it through a “pathway” to a ribbon takeup on the left side.
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I would most recommend an IBM Executive for writers who want to use a typewriter, but seek a professional appearance for their text.* Aside from the Model D, there are earlier editions of the IBM Executive from the late 1940s to the 1960s, called the Model 01, Model A, Model B, and Model C. The Model 01 has a late 1940s design reminiscent of the Underwood SS. The Models A and B have a bulbous 1950s design and a body made almost entirely of metal, which makes it hard to carry. The Model C is the exact same as the Model B but has a 1960s body design. Out of all these, however, I’d suggest the Model D edition, because it’s the lightest to carry and it has more user-friendly features.
Lastly, here are a couple of important tips if you want to find one for yourself: Since the Executives have typeslugs and not “golf balls” like the Selectrics, and there was no standard typeface option for them so you could pretty much order whatever you wanted on it, the typeface is random on each specimen so you have to look at the typeslugs if you’re looking for a specific one. Most importantly, all IBM Executive models aren’t commonly seen since they were usually discarded by businesses when they were replaced with newer options.
*Note that some typefaces are more professional-looking than others—for example, there’s one called “Doric” which is a wide sans-serif one that has a somewhat dated 1970s appearance, which I would not recommend for anything other than personal letters.” ~ Peter
Lastly, here are a couple of important tips if you want to find one for yourself: Since the Executives have typeslugs and not “golf balls” like the Selectrics, and there was no standard typeface option for them so you could pretty much order whatever you wanted on it, the typeface is random on each specimen so you have to look at the typeslugs if you’re looking for a specific one. Most importantly, all IBM Executive models aren’t commonly seen since they were usually discarded by businesses when they were replaced with newer options.
*Note that some typefaces are more professional-looking than others—for example, there’s one called “Doric” which is a wide sans-serif one that has a somewhat dated 1970s appearance, which I would not recommend for anything other than personal letters.” ~ Peter
