Two typewriters were added to my collection this past week.

[petek]

I have a few oldies around.. here's the first portable electric typewriter on the market. I found this at a junk store a year or two ago.. debuted in 1956 or 57 iirc.
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[passatdoc]

Re: ß vs ss. In Swiss German, they never had the ß and have always used ss only. ß is pronounced like our s, whereas a single s in German is pronounced like our z. No words begin with ß, it's always found at the end of syllables.

In college, we were allowed to type ss in lieu of ß, but on written exams, you had to use ß and not ss, otherwise it was a deduction for a spelling error.

In the past fifteen years, Germany enacted what is known as "die Neue Rechtschreibung", or "new correct spelling". Some of this addressed the issue of borrowed words (often IT words) creeping into German, in terms of assigning them a gender---masculine, neutral, or feminine---as well as a proper plural form, as there are six ways to make pleurals in German. Another aspect of Rechtschreibung addressed the use of ß. Basically, ß following a short vowel is now written ss, while ß following a long vowel remains unchanged. Examples:

tap (beer tap): formerly "Faß", now "Fass"

close (verb) : still schließen

In German, long and short vowels mean the length of time that the vowel is spoken. "Fass" is very quick, while schlließen is pronounced "schleeeeee-sen" (you hold the e sound).

I wonder if some of the crusade against the ß developed in the early 90s, before most Germans were using personal computers. The existence of an additional character not found in other countries might have hindered their competitiveness in terms of making typewriters or early keyboards. Nowadays, with everyone on computers, it doesn't matter since there are easy alternative ways to make the additional characters.

The method I use is to go into Windows Control panel and change the keyboard from "US" layout to "US International" layout. To make ß, it's alt + s. To umlaut a vowel, you type a quotation mark and then the vowel. If you DON'T want an umlaut and wish to insert a quotation mark, you hit the space bar which overrides the umlaut and leaves it as a quotatition mark. The same process with the apostrophe key will accent vowels for Spanish or French, and alt + ? or ! will mark those marks upside down, as is used in Spanish at the start of a sentence ending with a question or exclamation mark. Likewise, alt + w makes å used in Swedish, alt + z makes the æ of Danish and Norwegian, and alt + , makes the ç of French.

 

[tolivac]

TYPEWRITERS!!!So cool! At the agency where I worked-when I first started working there-they had typewriters set up for all of the languages!So neat.Now computers-how humdrum.and computer keyboards are HORRIBLE to me to type on.Like trying to type on a toy!The radio station where I worked before had two IBM typewriters to keep transmitter logs-IBM Executives I beleive-one was green,the other blue.The green one was for the AM transmitter logs-and after sign off-the phaser "J" plugs were put in the typewriter roll for the night to protect the system from lightening.And the station mouse liked to build his nest in them.One time while typing-the mouse jumpted out of the keybasket almost in my face!Now at the transmitter site-not a single REAL typwriter in sight-just one of those things that is just a printer with a keyboard.Hate those.

 

[lordkenmore]

"A typewriter is a typewriter, ok?"

Even with good designs, that might not have been true. I recall noticing variations between typewriter designs. (That is, the way the typewriter functioned, not just issues of key layout.) I adapted, but I can see where some might not have adapted so happily.

I remember reading an article written in the typewriter era in which the author commented that his wife was also a writer. And, apparently, they had different typewriters from different companies. He could not stand using his wife's machine, and vice versa.

 

[rp2813]

I've seen fonts that mimic old-school manual typewriting, right down to the dirty-keys-against-cloth-ribbon effect.  I guess the random nature of floating capitals would require an actual program to look realistic.

 

[lordkenmore]

Foreign language accents on computer keyboards

The "Windows International" keyboard sounds like what Apple does (or did in the Classic MacOS). There were differences, I assume, but the idea sounds similar. (Probably Apple is where Microsoft got the idea from.) I'm not 100% sure about Apple now, but it SEEMS to me when I had a roommate with a Mac, I noticed that Mac still had the Option key access to special characters. Incidentally, at least in the old days, one didn't have to specify an "International" keyboard on the Mac. Those accents were always available. An authentic native layout would probably be better for those using a language heavily, but for light use the Mac or Windows system is nice way of giving special accents and other characters without having to do heavy rearranging of layout.

I have no idea what happens on the computer I have now, which runs Linux. I'm sure easy access to special accents, etc is possible. But it's not something I've worried about, since I seldom use special accents and characters. For that, various workarounds like utility software that allows one to select a special accent or character, and then copy that to the clipboard to move it to whatever program one is working with is fine.

[this post was last edited: 8/25/2011-03:25]

 

[lordkenmore]

Software that promises to recreate the typewriter experience on one's computer. I have no experience with it, but it's at least an interesting idea:

http://www.nolad.com/vt/index.php

 

[passatdoc]

The old ANSI or ASCI system allowed one to hold the alt key and type a four digit code to make foreign characters. I believe this was around even in the DOS days and apparently the system still works, but it seems rather cumbersome to have to make five keystrokes for one character. The US-International keyboard setting allows one to make all Western/Central European characters with two keystrokes maximum.

Visiting European friends who borrow my computer find it cumbersome to use, but conversely European friends who live here (and who know the US keyboard by heart) find it very convenient to use when writing in their native language.

There is surprisingly little information on this special keyboard option. I learned of its existence when I purchased a German word processing program (with German spell and grammar check) intended for use in USA. It was in an appendix of optional settings.

I found an article about it (see link below) from Microsoft. I have several patients who are foreign language teachers (high school or college level) who didn't know about it until they heard it from me. However, even this Microsoft article fails to list the characters that can be made with the alt key, such as Alt + S = ß and Alt + w = å. The Alt functions work only with the RIGHT hand Alt key, not the left one.

How to use the United States-International keyboard layout in Windows 11 - Microsoft Support

Describes how to add an International keyboard to Windows 11.

support.microsoft.com

 

[kevin313]

I never surrendered my typewriter. Here is the one that sits at my side in my office...I use it regularly. The sound of the keys hitting the platen is music to my ears! Many of the young students here have never heard a typewriter in action...amazing! Well, college is a place to learn!

 

[whirlcool]

Typewriter programs.

Back in the 80's there was a program on the shareware market called PC-Print. You type a line of text and then press enter. That line of text would be sent to the printer. It was great for typing mailing labels, etc as you didn't have to set margins, just align the label in the printer (dot matrix, of course)where you want to print to start and away you went. But it didn't work for laser printers.

To make special characters all you need is an ANSI chart. (See Link).

As far as my high school typewriter gift went, I didn't want to sound ungracious but the thing never worked right. Sometimes the space bar wouldn't move the carriage forward a space, sometimes one hit of the spacebar would give you two spaces. And if you tried typing more than 20 wpm the keys would jam up. And some of my professors wouldn't allow white out or correction tape on your reports. Also the keys had almost no movement to them at all. And the backspace, spacebar and shift lock since they were manual had a very long travel. If you did use correction fluid they may lower the paper by one grade point. That machine made for a very bizarre typing experience. Most of the time I spent more time trying to get the damn thing to work right than writing the paper itself.

ASCII Table - ASCII Character Codes, HTML, Octal, Hex, Decimal

Ascii character table - What is ascii - Complete tables including hex, octal, html, decimal conversions

www.asciitable.com

 

[ironrite]

Forgot This One

I talked to my sister this morning. At 70, she's in the midst of learning In Design after years of working with Pagemaker on her MAC. From her first typing business, she now publishes two magazines in the Phoenix area.

I asked if she bought or leased her IBM machines. She said they were purchased from either auctions or other business connections she had. We then talked a bit about machines she had, the Flexiwriter, Varityper and the beast for the link below, the IBM Composer. I had forgotten that one. More for typesetting that typing, but what an interesting machine. I have seen them pop up from time to time in thrift stores.

Pete, wonderful Smith Corona electric. My oldest sister got one of those when she graduated from high school and she still has it tucked away.

ibmcomposer.org

This domain may be for sale!

ibmcomposer.org

 

[lordkenmore]

"Many of the young students here have never heard a typewriter in action...amazing!"

It isn't just typewriters--it's also older computers. I saw a teacher I had in high school. He continued teaching up to last year, and he commented to me that he still used an Apple II series machine in class sometimes. (There some special thing it did that it did more easily for him than anything modern.) He told me had students saying: "Wow! That's older than me!" My former teacher commented: "Yes! It's even older than most of the teachers here now!"

I always like seeing old technology still used. Part of it is that I like an era when things were built to last. Then, sometimes, older archaic methods actually work better. Until very recently, I never--and I mean never--used a computer system for printing envelopes, for example. The idea was tempting--particularly at Christmas. But until fairly recently, every printer I had that allegedly could print envelopes did such a poor job of it (particularly with paper jams) it was just so much easier to use a typewriter.

 

[passatdoc]

My 1972 Smith Corona Coronet 10 was less of a dice roll. We already had a Smith Corona Electra that my mother used, and the Coronet was similar size, just a decade newer. In other words, I knew what I was getting myself into. Mom had a home office and her machine stayed there, while I kept mine on my bedroom desk.

The machine performed well for 25 years. During college, I used to have it serviced/maintained once a year by a repair shop near the school. The cost of servicing included storage of the machine over the summer, so you'd pick it up when you returned to school in the fall. This kept it safe, plus it gave the repair shop time to repair a large number of machines at a leisurely pace over the summer. The cost was like $25-35, which was not inconsiderable for that era. By third year of med school, I didn't have term papers to write anymore so the typewriter received lighter use. I did use it to type letters, however.

Sometimes the type bars needed adjusting and a few letters would imprint lighter than desired, but this was usually fixed with the annual maintenance.

 

[lordkenmore]

$25-$35 doesn't sound that bad. If the inflation calculator I used is right, it would be under $200. While that's not pocket change, I have to assume that servicing a typewriter involves more than a couple of drops of oil. Good luck getting any sort of complicated service work/repair done now for $200.

I'm now wondering--how often did typewriters need service? Was annual servicing for a college student necessary, or was it a case of "better be safe, and make sure a tool I need will be reliable next year?"

From my memory, I think my parents had their typewriter serviced about the time I was in fourth grade. This was the last time, and it was about the time my mother started doing some typing of newsletters. Thus, I think having everything work nicely was important. That typewriter saw regular use for several years--my mother did newsletters monthly for a couple of years, and my father used it a lot for letters and sometimes for work he brought home.

From my memory, the typewriter still worked and had readable type a year or two after I graduated from high school.(I should go digging and see if I can find any samples to refresh my memory on this point.) Although it probably wasn't perfect, and it didn't have to be perfect for the use it was getting then.

 

[passatdoc]

I went to college in New England and was from San Diego. Self-storage units did not exist (to my knowledge) at the time. There was unsecured storage in the basement of dorms, but "valuables" such as stereos and typewriters routinely disappeared, thanks to the janitors who pilfered from the storage rooms. Given that the $30 or so covered secure summer storage, it sure beat lugging the machine home on the airplane every year.

After sophomore year, I was able to use the storage rooms in my fraternity. I still wouldn't have felt safe leaving a tv or stereo or fridge or typewriter there, so I paid the maintenance fee and at least it was safe, plus it got serviced. I think once every two or three years would have sufficed, but....

Once in med school, I had an apt or shared a house and storage at that point was secure. In addition, after second year of school, I had little need to submit typed term papers. So the machine was relegated to writing letters mostly. It followed me back to California and remained my chief letter-writing tool until I acquired my first computer c. 1995. After that it languished and at some point I gave it to a charity thrift store. But I got 23 good years of service from it.

 

[cadman]

That blue Coronet sure brings back memories. That machine, in blue, with a manual return was my fathers typewriter he used in college. In grade school I wore that thing out typing just about everything I could get my hands on. Of course this was hunt and peck which meant learning touch typing was that much more difficult for me.

Conversely, my mom's typewriter was an SCM manual in a similar color- I remember her telling me she specifically did NOT want an electric in college because it meant she could type up papers outside while laying in the sun.

Anyone remember the SCM typewriter scene in the (awful) movie 'Who's Harry Crumb'?

 

[perc-o-prince]

"A typewriter is a typewriter, ok?"

Not so, grasshopper!

http://typewriter.rydia.net

 

[mrcleanjeans]

Turqouise Beauty

I have this 1960s Remington manual typewriter for sale,call me at 414-758-6457 if interested. Thanks, David

 

[runematic]

Excellent collection, Rich/Chuck.  I just watched a Remington go for $15 at a local auction last week.  IT STILL HAD IT'S ORIGINAL WOODEN CRATE (it looked like a Remington Ammo box).  That seemed like a good deal but I was there for other things. 

I have an early typewriter upstairs that I wouldn't mind parting with.  I'll get a pic later and post it.

 

[lordkenmore]

"I remember her telling me she specifically did NOT want an electric in college because it meant she could type up papers outside while laying in the sun."

That was one huge advantage of manual typewriters. Electrics were pretty much limited to where one had an outlet. I suppose one could sit outside, and string 7 extension cords back to the dorm room. But something that doesn't need power is much more practical.

I'm now wondering something--was there ever a battery operated electric typewriter?

Manuals were quite acceptable. I used one through high school, and never had complaints. Some people thought I was crazy--everyone used at least electric, and electronic typewriters were coming around. But my manual was cheap--$5 yard sale. New wasn't exactly cheap. Plus new typewriters seemed cheap and not as well made as my old manual. Finally, I can't say if I'd have thought of this or considered it important, but computers were around. Not cheap, but it could be argued that for X dollars more, one could have a stripped down home system that could do more than a typewriter. That argument would not have been totally lost on me--as much as I liked typewriters, I'd have preferred word processing for school work. I hated writing papers that required a first draft, a second draft, and then a final draft. Typing once, with editing, really did sound like the way to go.