Historical Computer Language Technologial Find!

Vintage IBM Selectric Typewriter Ball 988 -- APL (A Programming Language) Characters -- With Original Plastic Case.

A key development in the ability to use (computer) APL effectively, before the widespread use of CRT terminals, was the development of a special IBM Selectric typewriter interchangeable typeball with all the special APL characters on it. This was used on paper printing terminal workstations using the Selectric typewriter and typeball mechanism.  Keycaps could be placed over the normal keys to show which APL characters would be entered and typed when that key was struck. For the first time, a programmer could actually type in and see real APL characters and not be forced to use awkward English keyword representations of them.  These special APL Selectric typeballs, 987 and 988, were designed in late 1964, although no APL computer system was available to use them.

This particular ball is stamped 988.  Comes in the original clear and blue plastic case with an inventory number of 1130 labelled on the top.

Great addition to an existing collection or as a stand alone piece of technology history!

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