Loading new dual color ribbon in the cartridges

1053 HAS A DUAL PRINT COLOR FEATURE - RED AND BLACK

The 1053 is based on the original IBM Selectric typewriters which came in two versions, fabric and plastic ribbons. Selectrics also came in multiple platen widths, such as 11", 13" and 15". The model number reflects both of the choices, a 711 is a 11" width with mylar ribbon while the 725 is the 15" width and of course 715 is a mylar 15" model. 

The fabric ribbons fit in a small plastic case that snaps onto the top of the carrier. The standard typewriter Selectric has a lever on the carrier that chooses which part of the ribbon is used for typing. Once setting, stencil, does not lift the ribbon between type ball and paper. The other three settings determine whether the top third, middle, or bottom third of the ribbon is where the ball strikes. 

Typists could install a dual color ribbon cartridge and then manually select the top third or bottom third to pick which color they wanted for their typed characters. The 1053 added a mechanism with a ribbon color tape running to the carrier similarly to how the tilt and rotate tapes connect. 

Depending on the tension on the ribbon color tape, the carrier is either selecting the top third or the bottom third of the ribbon. A set of solenoids on the left lower side of the 1053 select between two tensions on the ribbon color tape. 

VERY HARD TO FIND THE DUAL COLOR FABRIC RIBBONS FOR SELECTRIC 72

I have not seen any new old stock in a while, although I own two of those cartridges. The ink is fairly dry so the print quality is not very good and will only get worse with age. There is a manufacturer in Germany producing replacement fabric ribbon for the Selectric 72 but each cartridge is quite expensive; the international shipping drives the total up to roughly $100 each. 

BOUGHT SOME NEWLY MADE DUAL COLOR FABRIC RIBBONS 

I found a supplier of new black/red ribbons on open round spools as used on many older typewriters. I will open the cartridges, remove the stale ribbon and reload it with the new ribbon to produce new stock for the 1130 systems. I saw a YouTube video where Duane Jensen (of the Phoenix Typewriter channel) reloaded a cartridge with fresh ribbon. In his case it was the monocolor black ribbon but the principal will be the same.