IBM APL type ball
physical object
Identifier
2023.9.205
Description
The 88-character typeball was originally released with the IBM Selectric typewriter in 1961. The 'golf ball' shaped device strikes an ink ribbon on a typewriter to create text, this particular ball is an APL character set. Type balls were easy to remove from a typewriter allowing a user to clear and repair a typewriter easily, in addition to switching between fonts.
Related Term
Paper Tape Typewriters (describes)
