Two typewriters were added to my collection this past week.
- Thread starter autowasherfreak
- Start date
In the late 1960's, Smith Corona did come out with a battery powered portable electric typewriter known as the Powerriter. In all my dealings with typewriters, I never came across one, just saw ads for it.
It had a rechargeable battery. Don't know how long the charge lasted or if it ran slower than a regular electric typewriter, due to the battery power.
Ron
It had a rechargeable battery. Don't know how long the charge lasted or if it ran slower than a regular electric typewriter, due to the battery power.
Ron
I love typewriters and it's very hard for me NOT to grab em when I see em especially when they're sitting there for the likes of $5 or such. Thinking back to how much they cost when they were new it's like wow,, I can now have one of each LOL
I'm not talking the old antique ones either just the ones from the 50's and 60's etc..like the SCM's etc.
Here's one I found last year I think.. a Hermes 3000, still as good as new and expensive when new. These were as I read it touted for the big office machine features like the tab controls along the top of the keyboard etc.
I'm not talking the old antique ones either just the ones from the 50's and 60's etc..like the SCM's etc.
Here's one I found last year I think.. a Hermes 3000, still as good as new and expensive when new. These were as I read it touted for the big office machine features like the tab controls along the top of the keyboard etc.
a Remington,, how can you not like em , so moderne
A similar Remington Travel Writer deluxe
This was a cool find I thought because in the case it had the dept i.d. for a nearby asylum or something.
Although not that special I suppose it's still neat to find things like this Olympia portable electric for a few bucks. This must have cost a fortune new yet there it was for a couple of bucks and it's like it was never used
I only have three typewriters...
My father's Underwood.
He worked for a coal mining company for nearly thirty years, working in the supply house. His job was to order and receive all of the supplies that the local mine needed. I have a photo in my reception room, of my father, sitting beside this machine.
It has been repainted over its many years, and takes pride of place in my "Go To Hell Room," otherwise known as my office.
My father's Underwood.
He worked for a coal mining company for nearly thirty years, working in the supply house. His job was to order and receive all of the supplies that the local mine needed. I have a photo in my reception room, of my father, sitting beside this machine.
It has been repainted over its many years, and takes pride of place in my "Go To Hell Room," otherwise known as my office.
whirlcool
Well-known member
I was discussing typewriters with a friend of ours the other night and we both agreed that we haven't seen any in any office for at least 10 years. Then he said that he had one he wants to get rid of. He said it was mine for the taking! I haven't seen it yet, but he said it's an Olympia Electric from the early 70's. He used it in school and for lite weight ad hoc typing ever since. I haven't seen it yet, but he said it operates and looks like new.
Are these units pretty good. I don't currently have a typewriter in my office and we thought it would be good for those small mailing label jobs, etc where you don't really need to start the computer up for.
I found a photo of that horrible typewriter I had in college! This one is a Royal, but mine was a Sears and was black & white in color. It appears that Sears typewriters were made by several different manufacturers. Ugh!
Are these units pretty good. I don't currently have a typewriter in my office and we thought it would be good for those small mailing label jobs, etc where you don't really need to start the computer up for.
I found a photo of that horrible typewriter I had in college! This one is a Royal, but mine was a Sears and was black & white in color. It appears that Sears typewriters were made by several different manufacturers. Ugh!
ptcruiser51
Well-known member
Joe/Chuffle
My Underwood is almost exactly the same! The only differences I can see is the keys are yellow on mine, and the ribbon color switch on mine is a rocker mounted just above the asterisk key. It took a lot of "pinky strength" to operate those shift keys!
My Underwood is almost exactly the same! The only differences I can see is the keys are yellow on mine, and the ribbon color switch on mine is a rocker mounted just above the asterisk key. It took a lot of "pinky strength" to operate those shift keys!
autowasherfreak
Well-known member
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- Jul 28, 2008
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- 3,637
Nice group of manuals. I have a Olympia SM9 portable manual that a dear friend gave me, but I can't use, my wimpy fingers don't have enough oomph to make a decent impression. I'm so used to electrics, electronics, and computers.
With all this talk about typewriters I decided to dig out my Sears electric (Smith Corona clone) that I got when I was in grade 9 (1973). The last time I used it would have been over 20 years ago at least. I thought for sure that the ribbon would be dried out but to my surprise I was still able to type with it.
Gary
Gary
Pic #2
lordkenmore
Well-known member
ribbon would be dried out but to my surprise I was still abl
I've noticed this too. It's a bit puzzling, because it seems like ribbons for my dot matrix printer would dry out and fade horribly. I remember one case when I bought a printer ribbon that had been presumably sitting on a shelf a long time. It was so dry that my old, worn ribbon actually had darker print!
I remember seeing a typewriter at a yard sale about ten years ago that had a piece of vintage typing in it. It was dated, and it was many, many, many years before. Unless someone was setting up a prop for the sale, it was, I guessed, something that had been started, but not finished before the person gave up on the typewriter. Person won a new electric in a sweepstakes, and decided to start from scratch?) Thus I assumed the typewriter had been out of service for years. Yet the ribbon still worked--lower down on the page in the machine, there was fresh typing people had added recently to test the machine. I think I added a few characters myself. While the ribbon wasn't great it still left a readable impression.
I've noticed this too. It's a bit puzzling, because it seems like ribbons for my dot matrix printer would dry out and fade horribly. I remember one case when I bought a printer ribbon that had been presumably sitting on a shelf a long time. It was so dry that my old, worn ribbon actually had darker print!
I remember seeing a typewriter at a yard sale about ten years ago that had a piece of vintage typing in it. It was dated, and it was many, many, many years before. Unless someone was setting up a prop for the sale, it was, I guessed, something that had been started, but not finished before the person gave up on the typewriter. Person won a new electric in a sweepstakes, and decided to start from scratch?) Thus I assumed the typewriter had been out of service for years. Yet the ribbon still worked--lower down on the page in the machine, there was fresh typing people had added recently to test the machine. I think I added a few characters myself. While the ribbon wasn't great it still left a readable impression.
whirlcool
Well-known member
That is a nice Sears electric. It looks in near mint condition. How long did you use if for and does it type nicely? (touch)
Yes it is in near mint condition. I used it all through high school and university so it has seen a lot of papers typed up on it! It still sounds as quiet and smooth as I remember. Everything works on it.
Gary
Gary
westingman123
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- Jun 24, 2009
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IBM Selectric II for me, please!
I learned to type on an Olympia manual (a behemoth), and after moving up in the class was allowed the Selectric I. But, joy of joys, in senior-high business class I discovered the Selectric II. After graduation, I worked at the Courts here in St. Louis County, and our brand-spanking new computer system had IBM keyboards. Oh, how I LOVE that click-clack sound.
My speed is always at its best on an IBM.
I still take notes in Gregg shorthand at work, the kids think I am WEIRD. I do believe they think I made up my own language.
I learned to type on an Olympia manual (a behemoth), and after moving up in the class was allowed the Selectric I. But, joy of joys, in senior-high business class I discovered the Selectric II. After graduation, I worked at the Courts here in St. Louis County, and our brand-spanking new computer system had IBM keyboards. Oh, how I LOVE that click-clack sound.
My speed is always at its best on an IBM.
I still take notes in Gregg shorthand at work, the kids think I am WEIRD. I do believe they think I made up my own language.
whirlcool
Well-known member
After reading this thread it's amazing at how many typewriter companies are no longer in business. SCM (Smith-Corona, Olympia, etc.) all went insolvent and folded.
I am surprised that Olympia folded. They had a great reputation, a lot of people love that German precision. They should have gone into the PC business, I bet they would have survived.
SCM did try the PC business, but stuck to word processing basics. But they ran out of money before they really got anywhere with it.
I am surprised that Olympia folded. They had a great reputation, a lot of people love that German precision. They should have gone into the PC business, I bet they would have survived.
SCM did try the PC business, but stuck to word processing basics. But they ran out of money before they really got anywhere with it.
Time I came clean!
While I never actively went looking for typewriters, it seemed they would always find me! Of course it helped that I was at an age where money from allowance and odd jobs intersected with the transition for many from typewriters to computers....seemed every garage sale had at least one. So without further adieu, here are a few, covered in dust, waiting to be pulled out of storage and cleaned up.
While I never actively went looking for typewriters, it seemed they would always find me! Of course it helped that I was at an age where money from allowance and odd jobs intersected with the transition for many from typewriters to computers....seemed every garage sale had at least one. So without further adieu, here are a few, covered in dust, waiting to be pulled out of storage and cleaned up.
A Model D Standard...
Note that this one uses the one-time-use large spooled carbon ribbon (on left)...
Now for something completely different....
This Model D (clean as a pin) uses a conventional cloth ribbon.... but notice what else is special about it?
This Model D (clean as a pin) uses a conventional cloth ribbon.... but notice what else is special about it?
Keeping with the IBM Theme....
The "Memory Typewriter 100". Appears that it started life as a 50 but was upgraded along the line. You select a document location on the dial on the right, tell the machine that you are going to type a document, then commence to typing. You can backspace and/or correct as you go and at each carriage return the typewriter records your keystrokes (if my memory serves...the manual is pretty thick!). I've got lots of docs stored in the machine (the mechanism uses a wide magnetic tape with read/write heads which are positioned by the dial). One can dial up and playback any document at will and the machine will type away merrily!
The "Memory Typewriter 100". Appears that it started life as a 50 but was upgraded along the line. You select a document location on the dial on the right, tell the machine that you are going to type a document, then commence to typing. You can backspace and/or correct as you go and at each carriage return the typewriter records your keystrokes (if my memory serves...the manual is pretty thick!). I've got lots of docs stored in the machine (the mechanism uses a wide magnetic tape with read/write heads which are positioned by the dial). One can dial up and playback any document at will and the machine will type away merrily!
Someone questioned whether Selectrics could be purchased...
While I'd love to know for sure, I have a couple small selectrics badged "Personal Typewriter" as you can see here. That would lead me to believe they were aimed more at the residential market rather than some models of this size badged Selectric or Selectric I.
While I'd love to know for sure, I have a couple small selectrics badged "Personal Typewriter" as you can see here. That would lead me to believe they were aimed more at the residential market rather than some models of this size badged Selectric or Selectric I.
A Model C....
With a glazed power roller. Neat styling though!
With a glazed power roller. Neat styling though!
The Remington 26
Don't let the appearance fool you- Yes, totally overbuilt, but the experience is best summed up as "finnicky".
Don't let the appearance fool you- Yes, totally overbuilt, but the experience is best summed up as "finnicky".
