They were unsuitable for typing, but could be used in a manual mode, not dependent on the magnetic card reader. And yes, I know the difference between kerning and proportional spacing. But it’s my recollection that the later IBM selectrics were good enough to tuck in W and A, and other combos. I don’t want to split hairs, but only point out that the simple argument about typewriters not kerning is not absolutely true. Remember, the Obots will pick any flaw in an argument to build their fortress around.
Typewriters do not kern. What you are talking about was a typesetter, not a typewriter. Typewriters can have a proportionally spaced font but they do not kern. Liberals can "pick" all they want but typewriters do not kern.