Editing IBM Wheelwriter/Options

== VGA CRT Output for Wheelwriter 50 and 70 ==

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Wheelwriter-70-Series-2-Typewriter-6789-IBM-4707-E01-9-Monitor/111731782991

The Wheelwriter 50 and 70 have a tantalizingly interesting feature of a small CRT TV, provided for word processing. 

If the default CRT was lost or broken, don't fret: IBM standardized all their output formats with the PC, and you can plug in any VGA monitor in, [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/selectricownersclub/conversations/messages/571 as long as you pull out one pin from the cable.]

=== VGA Output for Lexmark Wheelwriters (5000) ===

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/35105687/aview/IBM1431810a.jpg

This is an example of such a card, for the Wheelwriter 5000.

=== IBM 5441 Options + Unknown Card 2 ===

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-WHEELWRITER-ELECTRIC-TYPEWRITER-5441-OPTIONS-BOARD-6746-6747-/281771345825?hash=item419ae187a1

This is an options card for the Wheelwriter 2 that has a puzzling battery powered attachment. What is that?

== Diskette Option ==

http://imgur.com/a/lQmNm

Probably need a Wheelwriter 15 or 2500, and maybe an LCD screen to use this.

=== AMPHENOL 617AJ200 37-pin Parallel Port ===

Unlike the PC Printer Option, which uses a run of the mill Centronics port, this device uses a puzzling 37-pin plug.

=== Compatible Floppy Drive ===

It looks like the Wheelwriter 30 (which uses a Diskette Option) can be loaded with a Floppy Drive, and this seller has a nice photo of installation instructions as well.

The Floppy Drive is guaranteed to be rare and expensive. Otherwise, DC-37 is a known PC I/O standard, and [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/selectricownersclub/conversations/messages/571 you can use any IBM XT and PS/2 External Floppy drive.] (The drives just $60... But they will work fine.) Maybe if I find another one at the scrapyard, I will try it out.

There's a [http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?14322-Cumulus-5-25-quot-External-Floppy-Drive 5.25" External Floppy Drive which uses the DC-37 port], and it plugs into a DC-37 port on the IBM PS/2.
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The Wheelwriter might be just a simple typewriter, but you can add some additional cards for amazing new features, such as Parallel Printer Support or Floppy Disk drive support.
-Unfortunately, these option cards are exceptionally rare, and if sold, expensive. Maybe we could buy up a few and reverse engineer the part, so that it can be emulated in an FPGA, or conducted in software over a Raspberry Pi or Arduino. That would be a great project for an electrical engineer's doctoral thesis.
 == VGA CRT Output for Wheelwriter 50 and 70 ==