Abstract: A character selection mechanism for a typewriter having a single type head with characters arranged in rows and columns thereon, which mechanism comprises, for either row selection and column selection similarly, a series of cams, a series of cam followers, a series of transmitting members, and an output member, as one set. The cams are fixed on a cam shaft which is rotated once in response to depressing of any one key. Each of the cam followers is rotated by each corresponding cam and is shifted, against a biasing force, by each corresponding transmitting member from a first position to a second position in response to depressing of the corresponding key. The cam follower engages the output member at the second position for controlling its operation based on the rotation of the cam shaft. The output member is connected to the type head via a connecting mechanism.