On Tue, 3 Jun 2008, Bert Hyman wrote:

My wife has an old IBM Selectric II typewriter which she keeps in
running condition. She recently had it overhauled and it now smells just
like the old teletype machines I used at the MARS station at Ft.
Monmouth (K2USA/AA2USA) in the late 1960s.

Anybody know the type and brand(s) of lubricants that have that
characteristic odor?

Dab a little WD-40 behind your ear.

I thought the distinctive smell came from the ribbon.

Michael VE2BVW