[TastyManatees]

It wasn't difficult to create proportional type; the typewriter did that automatically. I'm a terrible typist, and I used one of these things.

Well, let's see if everyone else shares your assessment of the IBM Selectric Composer.

Here is a link explaining how it worked (with pictures).

O.K., so other than purchasing the most expensive typewriter on the market for the purpose of typing up notes to your personal files, all you have to do is:

1. Type a line.
2. Record the number and color of the typed line on the typewriter's ruler...separately and by hand.
3. Type the next line, repeat recording process, until done with entire document.
4. Re-type the entire document line-by-line, checking your notes to make sure that you properly set a dial to a unique number and color combination for each line.
5. Voila! You're done.

Well, that certainly doesn't seem like a giant pain in the posterior...

[Right Wing Professor]

Well, let's see if everyone else shares your assessment of the IBM Selectric Composer.

I was referring to the IBM Executive typewriter, not the IBM Selectric composer. Waste your own time all you want; don't waste mine.

[Cboldt]

In addition to the "Selectric Composer," the IBM Executive Model typewriters used proportional spacing. These predate the Selectric, do not have "the ball," and have a moving carriage.

I am looking for keyboard layouts for the IBM Executive, but doubt anything will turn up. I do have a few old (Royal) typewriters here, and they have a few "odd" characters on single kets, "Circle-C" "Circle-R" "Superscript TM" "1/2" "1/4" "3/4", from memory.

[ken in texas]

Your point is taken, but the bulk of that work was spent in creating justified output, that is, the text formed a nice smooth margin on the left and right. I never used that typewriter, but I would imagine that if one was not concerned with right-justifying the margin, you could merely type away.

[Cboldt]

In addition to the "Selectric Composer," the IBM Executive Model typewriters used proportional spacing. These predate the Selectric, do not have "the ball," and have a moving carriage.

I am looking for keyboard layouts for the IBM Executive ...

On the Executive, you could optionally have removable type-bars. This is somewhat like later Smith-Corona portables which have removable type-slugs on the two outermost type-bars, with corresponding changeable keytop caps. In this case, though, it's the whole type-bar.

http://www.geocities.com/wbd641/TypeManuals2.html

I'm now looking for type-bar and key options. The whole set of relevant superscripts would be "st" "nd" "rd" and "th." Remember, this typewriter DOES provide proportional spacing.