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Wednesday, September 28, 2022

The Dial-a-Type Element for Montgomery Ward's Signature 511 & 511D Brother Typewriters

Behold the elusive Brother Dial-a-Type element! It was available as an extra feature on some JP-3 models but not commonly found because it was expensive. Adjusting for inflation, the attachment costs an additional $100 added to the $750 price of the typewriter. The fully featured Signature 510, 511, and the 511D were sold by Montgomery Ward from late 1960s to early 1970s. The latter was my very first typewriter, now I have the three typefaces, Pica, Elite, Script, and this element works on all of them. Will I ever type real mathematics on a typewriter? Probably not, lol, but it sure is neat!












These pictures make the dial-a-type element look huge! While it is larger than the other slugs, it's still quite a tiny little thing. I want to take it off to get a closer look, but I'm too scared that I might break it.









My boyfriend doesn't collect typewriters, but he is happily supportive of my obsessions. Fifty machines doesn't faze him at all. A couple of days ago he grabbed the two busted Signature 511 cases from my trash, "Let me try to fix them." He then worked some magic with a soldering iron. The scars could be covered with paint or stickers, but I like seeing the evidence of how much he loves me. The cases are perfectly solid again and will protect my beloved JP-3's from evil dust. Should I ask him to marry me?





If you want to see the dial-a-type element in action, head on over to Type Pals. Better yet, come join us and tell us about your typewriters too!

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8 comments:

  1. TedSeptember 28, 2022 at 5:13 PM

    Hey, those cases look fine - Nice fix! The case I had for my 511D was cracked too. they weren't very sturdy. :D

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    1. Mei TravisSeptember 28, 2022 at 10:50 PM

      Saved! I can't believe I was about to throw them away. The cases are only to keep out dust. These machines are way too heavy to be portable.

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  2. RobertGSeptember 29, 2022 at 2:20 AM

    That is a rare find, congratulations! It seems such a good way to add all those rarely-used characters to a keyboard - that it wasn't done more widely.
    Neat fix on the cases, they look 'experienced' with their sutures :-)

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    1. Mei TravisSeptember 29, 2022 at 9:13 AM

      Thanks, my boyfriend always amazes me with his handy work. Glad he caught them before I threw them away!

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  3. Richard PSeptember 30, 2022 at 7:02 PM

    Dial-a-Type is such a clever system!

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    1. Mei TravisOctober 4, 2022 at 11:23 AM

      Indeed! I just wish the were commonly installed back in the day.

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  4. LarryOctober 11, 2022 at 1:38 PM

    I want them all now too! I need the typewriter too. I was thinking I had a Montgomery Ward but I don’t see it in my list. I have a nice typewriter that has a big six six six on the front and I can’t remember what that is. It might be a Brother but I only saw electric Brothers on my list. I don’t use the six - - typewriter because it freaks me out a little. It actually works fantastically though and as good or better than any of them to me, or at least it did way back when I bought it. Also my skills and my feelings changed so anyway, I need to find it apparently. Thank you for showing this! I have more goals now!

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    1. Mei TravisFebruary 9, 2023 at 10:13 AM

      Remington 666 would freak me out a little too, but not enough to not type on one. :-D

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