68. The only device that could have produced the superscripted "th" in that period and proportional type in that timeframe would have been a Selectric Composer. This is not a typewriter but is used for special publication composing and cost some $4,000 then ($23,000 today) and was incredibly difficult to operate. The machine basically consisted of an IBM Selectric typewriter with a 3-1/2 ft. high upright case containing the magnetic tape reader reading long spools of magnetic tape in cartridges. It also needed a special IBM service person above and beyond repairing typewriters. It is not clear that the AirForce had even three units at that time and the TANG clearly did not. To suggest that Col Killian, who could barely type and even if he could, he would never have been able to operate one of these machines is absurd. The operating manual is here at http://www.ibmcomposer.org/docs/Electronic%20Composer%20Operating%20Instructions.pdf. This point is inaccurate. Do more homework. It has been covered extensively on FR. Look for references to an "IBM Executive".
IBM typewriter with proportional spacing was introduced in 1941.
IBM announces the Electromatic Model 04 electric typewriter, featuring the revolutionary concept of proportional spacing. By assigning varied rather than uniform spacing to different sized characters, the Type 4 recreated the appearance of a printed page, an effect that was further enhanced by a typewriter ribbon innovation that produced clearer, sharper words on the page. The proportional spacing feature became a staple of the IBM Executive series typewriters. http://www-1.ibm.com/ibm/history/history/year_1941.html
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
Re Post 17
You may be right but some of this has to do with equipment having a Times Roman type face which was apparently not available in many machines. Also a more true proportional spacing. I think the feeling is that only the Selectric Composer could have done it (if not MS Word). Actually, my head hurts from dealing with all this and a fresh set of eyes are needed.
Will an expert in this thread please take a look at this and suggest a satisfactory fix if/as needed. Then post here for others to review and comment.
Some of the links to look at are:
http://shapeofdays.typepad.com/
http://www.indcjournal.com/
http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/weblog.php
Perhaps we also need to add some links to this bullet.