We have a new member Rich who happens to have a vast typewriter collection and a cool website. Elbows in, fingers on the home row everyone, now type.
http://typewriter.rydia.net/
http://typewriter.rydia.net/
Richs (Perc o Prince)'s Typewriter website
- Thread starter petek
- Start date
Rich, when you're out and about and see a portable manual typewriter, say a Lettera 22 from the early 60's do you always grab them, when they're cheap I mean, like $5, and in good shape. Or do you concentrate now on the even more vintage stuff.
This reminds me, there's an old Remington full size been sitting at value village here for weeks, the only reason I haven't grabbed it was they were asking a whopping $40 odd dollars, and also because I'm trying to force myself not to start collecting something else LOL.. so why did I bring home that SCM Electra 120 today.. because it was only $6.99, worked beautifully and when I was a kid I always always wanted one.
I learned to type on an an Olivetti Lettera 22, mom still has it.
And I'll challenge anyone to a type off!!! LOL
This reminds me, there's an old Remington full size been sitting at value village here for weeks, the only reason I haven't grabbed it was they were asking a whopping $40 odd dollars, and also because I'm trying to force myself not to start collecting something else LOL.. so why did I bring home that SCM Electra 120 today.. because it was only $6.99, worked beautifully and when I was a kid I always always wanted one.
I learned to type on an an Olivetti Lettera 22, mom still has it.
And I'll challenge anyone to a type off!!! LOL
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Hi Pete,
When I see a typewriter from the 60's or so I generally pass it bye unless I know that someone is looking for it. 800 is the number of typewriters in our collection BUT we probably have another 100 or so duplicates/traders and room is running out now that I've started collecting the things that bring me to this nice group.
I would NEVER challenge you to a typing contest (unless we want a good laugh) as I never learned to type and to make matters worse....I hate to type. It's an awful lot of keys for just two little fingers
Thanks for the kind words and starting a new thread. Perhaps there are some typewriter collectors in the group. If not...that's OK since vintage appliances, vacuum cleaners and washing machines hold the same interest for me.
BTW...Pete it sounds like you may be a budding typewriter collector Let me know the model of Remington and I will try to let you know what the price range should be for it. The model name or number should be on the front of the machine.
Rich
When I see a typewriter from the 60's or so I generally pass it bye unless I know that someone is looking for it. 800 is the number of typewriters in our collection BUT we probably have another 100 or so duplicates/traders and room is running out now that I've started collecting the things that bring me to this nice group.
I would NEVER challenge you to a typing contest (unless we want a good laugh) as I never learned to type and to make matters worse....I hate to type. It's an awful lot of keys for just two little fingers
Thanks for the kind words and starting a new thread. Perhaps there are some typewriter collectors in the group. If not...that's OK since vintage appliances, vacuum cleaners and washing machines hold the same interest for me.
BTW...Pete it sounds like you may be a budding typewriter collector
Let me know the model of Remington and I will try to let you know what the price range should be for it. The model name or number should be on the front of the machine.Rich
I'll take a look on my next visit to VV.. probably Tuesday..lol, they're having a 1/2 price sale next monday on everything in the store so with any luck it may still be there.
BTW here's the SCM I picked up today, along with an early 70's Sears Digimatic P8, the savior of many a highschool student back then. In highschool I had a Kmart rebadged Brother portable elec typewriter. It's still a moms house as well
BTW here's the SCM I picked up today, along with an early 70's Sears Digimatic P8, the savior of many a highschool student back then. In highschool I had a Kmart rebadged Brother portable elec typewriter. It's still a moms house as well
What a neat website. I've always loved office machines. In high school a friend and I were the only two guys in Business Machines. The only class that saved my butt in the working world as it taught me 10 key. Also full keyboard comptometer by touch, a Marchant rotary calculator and the all new, in its day Singer electronic calculator. I have a sister that had a typing business. She did term papers and thesis for college students. She also taught me the IBM Executive. I was the only one in that class that passed on that machine.
One of these days, I'd like to find one of the IBM B model Executives, with the mylar ribbon, just a real neat looking machine.
My sister also would take me into where she worked, at a newspaper. It was amazing to see her run Justowriters and Flexowriters. As a kid, the noise these machines made scared the daylights out of me.
One of these days, I'd like to find one of the IBM B model Executives, with the mylar ribbon, just a real neat looking machine.
My sister also would take me into where she worked, at a newspaper. It was amazing to see her run Justowriters and Flexowriters. As a kid, the noise these machines made scared the daylights out of me.
Super neat website! You have some very, very interesting machines. I love old typewriters and have a couple of Underwoods (my favorite) a Standard, last patent date 1907 and an Underwood Standard Portable, LPD 1924. I learned to type on a manual typewriter as there weren't enough IMB Selectrics (?) to go around in high school. I had a much newer Underwood manual at school and loved using it. There was a certain "music" they made when the timing of keystrokes was just right - unlike the static snarl from the IBMs. It's difficult to type on them now, my hands have become out of shape - takes very little effort to press keys on a computer keyboard, but it takes some muscle to use a manual typewriter! Welcome to the club Rich!
Michael, you reminded me of when I started working, the office I started in had a few Model B's and Model C's, as well some of the "older" staff were still using their Burroughs comptometers, the manual ones in the nice brass cases or the electric ones and that was up into the early 70's. I worked in billing and had a model C but it was so worn out from constant use the carriage broke and thankfully nail polish wouldn't hold it on like we used to use on the keys when they fell off. No it wasn't my nail polish!! It was a trick I learned from some of the girls in the office.
Finally the company relented and got us Selectrics. I also worked days in the head office of a large lumber company creating lumber invoices and that was my first experience using a Friden Flexowriter, they had the paper tape (punch hole) unit attached and/or you could use punch cards in them as well. When all the billing and invoicing was done then we'd have to take the back copies out and go into the keypunch room and kepunch all of it for transmittal. It was fun back then all those noisy machines.
Finally the company relented and got us Selectrics. I also worked days in the head office of a large lumber company creating lumber invoices and that was my first experience using a Friden Flexowriter, they had the paper tape (punch hole) unit attached and/or you could use punch cards in them as well. When all the billing and invoicing was done then we'd have to take the back copies out and go into the keypunch room and kepunch all of it for transmittal. It was fun back then all those noisy machines.
Here's my Selectric for those that don't know what one is.
I wouldn't mind finding the smaller model in a nice bright red.
I wouldn't mind finding the smaller model in a nice bright red.
And here's a Flexowriter.
Their main use was to eliminate repetetive typing chores, like form letters, invoices, etc where you had to produce numerous identical originals but only change certain "fields" within the document, such as the persons name, or a figure, whatever.
How they worked was you would put in your form or piece of typing paper in the carriage as normal and at the place where you were going to begin typing.. i.e. Dear Mr. Gansky, you would press the button on the right and as you typed it would create a paper tape in the unit on the left side rear. After you typed the word "dear" you would again press the button down the oppose way and the tape would stop recording and you would type in "Mr. Gansky", then you would press the button again and start typing your letter, each time you came to an area that might contain different information for another customer you would stop the tape, type in the current customers info, then start the tape again. When you were done you know had a "master tape". You would stick the starting end of that tape in the "tape reader" left side front, position your new piece of paper in the carriage where you wanted the machine to start typing and hit start, it would type "Dear" and stop, you would then type in the next customers name and hit start and the letter would continue typing automatically, stopping at each point where diffferent infor for that customer was manually typed in. Very effective for its day. You could keep the tapes on a spool but rather than use tapes you could use punch cards that folded up accordion style and they had special holders for those making them easy to file.
Their main use was to eliminate repetetive typing chores, like form letters, invoices, etc where you had to produce numerous identical originals but only change certain "fields" within the document, such as the persons name, or a figure, whatever.
How they worked was you would put in your form or piece of typing paper in the carriage as normal and at the place where you were going to begin typing.. i.e. Dear Mr. Gansky, you would press the button on the right and as you typed it would create a paper tape in the unit on the left side rear. After you typed the word "dear" you would again press the button down the oppose way and the tape would stop recording and you would type in "Mr. Gansky", then you would press the button again and start typing your letter, each time you came to an area that might contain different information for another customer you would stop the tape, type in the current customers info, then start the tape again. When you were done you know had a "master tape". You would stick the starting end of that tape in the "tape reader" left side front, position your new piece of paper in the carriage where you wanted the machine to start typing and hit start, it would type "Dear" and stop, you would then type in the next customers name and hit start and the letter would continue typing automatically, stopping at each point where diffferent infor for that customer was manually typed in. Very effective for its day. You could keep the tapes on a spool but rather than use tapes you could use punch cards that folded up accordion style and they had special holders for those making them easy to file.
Forgot the pic LOL
It's not mine, I got this pic from a website, though I wished it was mine.
It's not mine, I got this pic from a website, though I wished it was mine.
Yes, that was one of the beasts! I learned to type in high school, taking a Summer class, in Phoenix, AZ. The classroom at this school, Camelback High, used a water chiller system instead of regular A/C to cool the classroom. The water chiller didn't! It was hot as heck. And we used Olivetti manual machines.
As I mentioned, my office machine class led me into banking. I worked in the back office/operations doing check processing, balancing, sorting and research. Just a few weeks ago, I started a new job with a small bank here and I am their VISA debit card department.
The link shows one of the beasts I used to run for another bank. A very early proof machine that would sort checks so they could be sent to other banks. It also came with a built in ashtray and a crank. If the power went out, no problem, you just stuck the crank in the side and off you went. It had a mechanical memory, 36 pockets, each representing a department or bank, depending on your sort system. And a master tape. You didn't subtract out your errors, you used the inverse of the number to "99" out. Heaven forbid you used the wrong pocket and the wrong number, it could take you hours to balance the monster.
http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/vintage/vintage_4506VV2199.html
As I mentioned, my office machine class led me into banking. I worked in the back office/operations doing check processing, balancing, sorting and research. Just a few weeks ago, I started a new job with a small bank here and I am their VISA debit card department.
The link shows one of the beasts I used to run for another bank. A very early proof machine that would sort checks so they could be sent to other banks. It also came with a built in ashtray and a crank. If the power went out, no problem, you just stuck the crank in the side and off you went. It had a mechanical memory, 36 pockets, each representing a department or bank, depending on your sort system. And a master tape. You didn't subtract out your errors, you used the inverse of the number to "99" out. Heaven forbid you used the wrong pocket and the wrong number, it could take you hours to balance the monster.
http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/vintage/vintage_4506VV2199.html
fnelson487
Well-known member
Wow! People that visit this site have the same weaknesses!
I have a few vintage typewriters including a Selectric Personal, a Model C and an IBM Memory Typewriter (the latter two don't work, unfortunately.) My most recent addition is not a typewriter, but a Friden STW rotary calculator that actually works. I will post some pictures when I get home. I had been looking for a Friden rotary calculator for some time but could never find one in working condition. I came across one owned by a former Friden technician in Madison who restores them as a hobby. When I took this one, it was like taking one of his babies. I have the service manual and those things are the most complex machines known to man. When that thing is running, dividing or multiplying and the carriage is moving with the spinning wheels, it is a sight to behold!
Fred
I have a few vintage typewriters including a Selectric Personal, a Model C and an IBM Memory Typewriter (the latter two don't work, unfortunately.) My most recent addition is not a typewriter, but a Friden STW rotary calculator that actually works. I will post some pictures when I get home. I had been looking for a Friden rotary calculator for some time but could never find one in working condition. I came across one owned by a former Friden technician in Madison who restores them as a hobby. When I took this one, it was like taking one of his babies. I have the service manual and those things are the most complex machines known to man. When that thing is running, dividing or multiplying and the carriage is moving with the spinning wheels, it is a sight to behold!
Fred
frontaloadotmy
Well-known member
Flexowriter way cool Pete
I have three selectrics, I covet an an early IBM (pre-ball)
with the dark blue keys.
I have three selectrics, I covet an an early IBM (pre-ball)
with the dark blue keys.
Well I just got back from VV and that old typewriter was gone, at least I couldn't find it anywhere today.
Then I stopped at another thrift store and they had a like new IBM Wheelwriter for only $10, after humming and hawing I figured no, it's too big and too new. And a Hammond organ but some of the switches didn't work for the pedals.. darn.
Then I stopped at another thrift store and they had a like new IBM Wheelwriter for only $10, after humming and hawing I figured no, it's too big and too new. And a Hammond organ but some of the switches didn't work for the pedals.. darn.
Better luck next time!
Pete, good move on passing on that Wheelwriter. Different strokes for different folks, but those just don't seem to have the magic of the earlier machines. And IIRC there was a delay between key press and element strike.
NOW THE FRIDEN! I have a pair in the basement, both in horrible shape that just don't work the way they're supposed to, but one at least gets the point acrossed. Great to hear about your stories too. Such a varied background of everyone on the list, office equipment lusters included!
Pete, good move on passing on that Wheelwriter. Different strokes for different folks, but those just don't seem to have the magic of the earlier machines. And IIRC there was a delay between key press and element strike.
NOW THE FRIDEN! I have a pair in the basement, both in horrible shape that just don't work the way they're supposed to, but one at least gets the point acrossed. Great to hear about your stories too. Such a varied background of everyone on the list, office equipment lusters included!
fnelson487
Well-known member
OK - Here is the Friden STW - It Works
Per my prior post
Per my prior post
fnelson487
Well-known member
Here is the Selectric Personal!
Rebuilt and a beauty!
Rebuilt and a beauty!
Pete, to clarify I was talking about a pair of Friden Flexowriters, but my Friden calc isn't in any better shape. Dig '487's!
The company I work at produces those green painted tractors, and they relied heavily on these machines back in the day for all of their complex gear calculations (PowerShift transmissions). It was said the accuracy was much better than a log book or slide rule and they could have results on experimental gears in a week or so. I found my machine years ago at a thrift store and it was/is jambed. It's so complicated, I doubt it will ever be more than a paperweight.
One day I'll find a good one! Cory
One day I'll find a good one! Cory
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Well I just got back from VV and that old typewriter was gon
Hi Pete,
Sorry that the Remmington was gone. There will be others. Too bad that you didn't live closer. I'd give you my Hammond organ. I'm looking for a taker. I don't play as much as I used to and would love to give it to someone who would appreciate it.
Rich
Hi Pete,
Sorry that the Remmington was gone. There will be others. Too bad that you didn't live closer. I'd give you my Hammond organ. I'm looking for a taker. I don't play as much as I used to and would love to give it to someone who would appreciate it.
Rich
Typing 101
This is so cool, I didnt know anyone collected this stuff!My typwrite isn`t that old but my mom found this dropleaf typing table at an insurance company she worked for. It was probably one of my first antiques. I just found a 302 phome today that will look good with it. I also have some mechanical stamps another typriter like this one ,an older adding machine , a check writer and other office stuff in my shop. Thanks Pete for bringing up Richs site , and thank you rich for sharing with us.
This is so cool, I didnt know anyone collected this stuff!My typwrite isn`t that old but my mom found this dropleaf typing table at an insurance company she worked for. It was probably one of my first antiques. I just found a 302 phome today that will look good with it. I also have some mechanical stamps another typriter like this one ,an older adding machine , a check writer and other office stuff in my shop. Thanks Pete for bringing up Richs site , and thank you rich for sharing with us.
Check Sorters
Those pictures of the rotary calculators are a lot of fun! Who knew they too were collectable.
I found this pic at a website of one of the check sorters I used to run. An IBM 1419, a bigger version, called a 2956 was two of these things bolted together.
The numbers on the bottom of checks are printed with magnetic ink. When the bank first gets a check, a proof operator puts the amount of the check in the number field. The sorter is what will read that ink, by magnetizing it, then reading it. Much like a tape recorder. It's done at relatively high spead.
You would jog the checks to ensure all the edges were even, in an electric jogger. Then load the checks using two vacuum lifters, pictured on the right side of the illustration. They would zoom through the write/read heads, those two circular thing. Then a series of gates would open, and the checks would be propelled down the machine and into their respective pockets. Above those pockets were a series of lights and switchs which also could determine the type of sort pattern you would use.
It rather looks like something out of an old SciFi movie. And it was a blast to run the machine. Heaven forbid you put too many checks in the lifters and they all fell out. All this work was deposit slips and checks and the idea was it all balanced! Checks out of order didn't, and you'd catch Hell from the people that did the balancing. Also, get a stray staple in a check and you'd have a huge jam and mutilated checks. Ever get one back in a tissue carrier and wonder what the heck happened to this check?
http://www.beagle-ears.com/lars/engineer/comphist/c20-1684/fig003.jpg
Those pictures of the rotary calculators are a lot of fun! Who knew they too were collectable.
I found this pic at a website of one of the check sorters I used to run. An IBM 1419, a bigger version, called a 2956 was two of these things bolted together.
The numbers on the bottom of checks are printed with magnetic ink. When the bank first gets a check, a proof operator puts the amount of the check in the number field. The sorter is what will read that ink, by magnetizing it, then reading it. Much like a tape recorder. It's done at relatively high spead.
You would jog the checks to ensure all the edges were even, in an electric jogger. Then load the checks using two vacuum lifters, pictured on the right side of the illustration. They would zoom through the write/read heads, those two circular thing. Then a series of gates would open, and the checks would be propelled down the machine and into their respective pockets. Above those pockets were a series of lights and switchs which also could determine the type of sort pattern you would use.
It rather looks like something out of an old SciFi movie. And it was a blast to run the machine. Heaven forbid you put too many checks in the lifters and they all fell out. All this work was deposit slips and checks and the idea was it all balanced! Checks out of order didn't, and you'd catch Hell from the people that did the balancing. Also, get a stray staple in a check and you'd have a huge jam and mutilated checks. Ever get one back in a tissue carrier and wonder what the heck happened to this check?
http://www.beagle-ears.com/lars/engineer/comphist/c20-1684/fig003.jpg
Wow some fun stuff. My first experiences on a rotary calculator was when I was a tyke and the odd time my dad would take me on a Saturday or Sunday to his office at the factory where he worked. He'd be working away and I absolutely fascinated with those things, didn't know how to work one so I'd just press the buttons and sometimes the thing would take off, wheels spinning and the carriage chugging along. Again when I got my first job at the r.r. some of those were still be used as well. It wasn't until the mid 70's that electronic calculators finally became mainstream on every desk, up till then they were pretty scarce even in large national, multinational companies. The comptometers were difficult enough to learn, the rotary calculators more of a specialty but I did finally learn how to use one from one of the older gents but would have some difficulty with one now. Not too many people around anymore who can work one, let alone fix them. Talk about tiny springs and gears and levers. And of course they need regular maintenance, meaning they do need to be oiled properly and now they don't get it anymore so they seize up. Drmitch..when was the last time you oiled that Royal?
To do calculations on the rotaries above is a somewhat complicated and finger gnarling exercise.
If you want to multiply numbers you would do this, though I'm not familiar with the Fridens they're similar,
i.e
562.06 x 1583.39
the first two columns represent your decimals .06 & .39
the next 3 columns in brown are your hundreds (0 to 999)
the next 3 columns in gray are you thousands (1 to 999k)
and then the millions.
BUT..you can shift everything over to the left if you want more decimal places by using the first brown row as 3 decimal places plus the 2 gray columns for a total of 5 decimal places.
Columns can be canceled shut off if you're not going to use them on some machines.
So to multiply the above move over to the fifth column, the brown ones (the hundreds), and press 5 in the fifth column, 6 in the 4 column, 2 in the 3rd, 0 or nothing in the 2nd, and 6 in the first column
I can't see if that machine has a multiply button on the right or not.. but if there is you press it, then repeat the above using the 158339 but now you'll be over the left one more colum because youre in the thousands columns now.
Then by hitting the totalizer button the wheels at the top should spin to your answer.
It's way more complicated than that when you start getting chains. I think you can also somehow store factors and subtotals to be added in at different points but I don't remember how
I'll have to find one myself and play with it.
To do calculations on the rotaries above is a somewhat complicated and finger gnarling exercise.
If you want to multiply numbers you would do this, though I'm not familiar with the Fridens they're similar,
i.e
562.06 x 1583.39
the first two columns represent your decimals .06 & .39
the next 3 columns in brown are your hundreds (0 to 999)
the next 3 columns in gray are you thousands (1 to 999k)
and then the millions.
BUT..you can shift everything over to the left if you want more decimal places by using the first brown row as 3 decimal places plus the 2 gray columns for a total of 5 decimal places.
Columns can be canceled shut off if you're not going to use them on some machines.
So to multiply the above move over to the fifth column, the brown ones (the hundreds), and press 5 in the fifth column, 6 in the 4 column, 2 in the 3rd, 0 or nothing in the 2nd, and 6 in the first column
I can't see if that machine has a multiply button on the right or not.. but if there is you press it, then repeat the above using the 158339 but now you'll be over the left one more colum because youre in the thousands columns now.
Then by hitting the totalizer button the wheels at the top should spin to your answer.
It's way more complicated than that when you start getting chains. I think you can also somehow store factors and subtotals to be added in at different points but I don't remember how
I'll have to find one myself and play with it.
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