1933 IBM acquires the tools, patents and production facilities of Electromatic Typewriters, Inc., of Rochester, N.Y.
1934 IBM invests more than $1 million to redesign the Electromatic Typewriter, improve research facilities and establish service centers.
1935 The IBM Electric Typewriter, Model 01 (Improved), is introduced. Customer acceptance soon makes it the first successful electric typewriter in the United States.
1937 The Electromatic Typewriter Model 01 (Formsholder), Model 02 (Formswriter), Model 10 (Front Feed) and Model 01 (Carbon Ribbon Model) are announced.
1938 The Electromatic Typewriter Model 03 (Hektowriter) is announced.
1940 The Electromatic Typewriter Model 06 (Toll Biller) is announced.
1941 IBM announces proportional letter spacing.¹ However, the war effort delays product (Model 04) introduction until 1944. Also that year, the Electromatic Typewriter Model 08 (Auto. Formswriter) and Model 09 (Manifest) are announced.
1944 The IBM Electric Executive Typewriter, the first typewriter with proportional letter spacing, is introduced.
1944 The IBM Electric Typewriter Division moves from Rochester, N.Y. to Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
1946 The Chinese Typewriter and Model 04 Arabic Electric Typewriter are announced.
1947 The Model 07 Card Stencil Typewriter is announced.
1948 The IBM Model A Standard Electric Typewriter, which gives the typist a new feeling of comfort and control, is announced. Carriage return, back space, tabulator and shift are operated with a finger tip touch. A "multiple-copy control" ensures legible carbon copies and stencils. Also announced is the Electric Typewriter Executive Model A.² It is available with either proportional or standard spacing. The Model A remains the staple of IBM's typewriter product line until 1954.
1948 The Automatic Line Selector Models 01 and 06 are announced.
1949 The Carbon Ribbon Typewriter Model 1 is announced.
1950 The Model A Electric Formswriter is announced. Also introduced are partial carriage return and left hand palm tab.
1951 IBM rolls out the Model A Decimal Tabulation Typewriter, offering electric tabulation for statistical typing.³
1952 Changeable typebars are announced.
1952 IBM begins manufacturing typewriters in pastel colors.
1953 The Model A (Model 3) Toll Biller Typewriter debuts.
1953 The Models 1 & 6 Electric Typewriter - right hand palm tab and Model 6 Electric Pinfeed Formswriter are introduced.
1954 IBM introduces in March the IBM Model B Standard Typewriter and the IBM Model B Executive Typewriter. Both machines feature cushioned carriage, electric ribbon rewind, changeable typebars, multiple copy control and pastel colors.
1954 The Typedesk and form line selector are announced in May.
1955 The Electric Typewriter Division moves from Poughkeepsie to Kingston, N.Y., making it the first IBM division to have its own manufacturing, development, sales and service organization.
1956 The Model B Electric Typewriter (Input-Output) is announced.
1956 IBM breaks ground for a new typewriter manufacturing facility in Lexington, Ky.
1957 IBM begins to manufacture typewriter ribbons and carbon paper in Lexington.
1958 The IBM Electric Typewriter Division celebrates its 25th anniversary and delivers -- in Lexington -- its one-millionth IBM typewriter.
1958 The IBM 632 Electronic Typing Calculator with card output is announced.
1959 In January the IBM Model C Typewriter and the IBM Model C Executive Typewriter with 28 new features introduce more productivity enhancements, including personal touch control. A quarter million Model Cs are sold within the first 19 months.
1959 The Model C Hektowriter is announced in July.
1960 The IBM 632 Electronic Typing Calculator with paper tape output is announced.
1961 The IBM Selectric Typewriter is unveiled in July. This product replaces typebars and the moving carriage with a spherical printing element.
1964 To indicate more accurately the scope of its product line, the Electric Typewriter Division changes its name in August to the Office Products Division (OPD).
1964 The IBM Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter is announced. The MT/ST is capable of producing error-free typing at speeds of 150 words per minute (wpm).
1966 The IBM Selectric Composer and Magnetic Tape Selectric Composer are introduced.
1967 IBM introduces in April the Model D Executive Typewriter and the IBM Model D Standard Typewriter, the last IBM typebar typewriters. In all, the Model D incorporates some 250 improvements over the Model C at the time of its introduction.
1967 The IBM Paper Tape Selectric Composer is announced in May.
1967 A second OPD plant is opened in Austin, Tex. The 200,000 square foot facility occupies 400 acres.
1968 The IBM Braille (Model D) Typewriter becomes the first powered Braille writing machine available for individual use. Its keyboard is almost identical to that of a standard typewriter.
1969 IBM announces the Mag Card Selectric Typewriter.
