Established 1945
(covers machines manufactured up until about 1970)
ADLER:
GERMANY
The
Adlerwerke, previously known as Heinrich Kleyer, developed the Adler typewriter.
Kleyer had been employed by a machinery-importing organization in Hamburg, but
in 1879 he resigned his position and crossed the Atlantic. After finding
employment in several factories in America, he returned to Germany in 1880 and,
benefiting from the knowledge and experience he had gained, he set up his own
business, manufacturing bicycles in Frankfurt am Main.
He
was soon interesting himself in typewriter production and in 1896; he acquired
the patent of Kidder’s ‘Empire’ machine. By this time, Kleyer had turned
his works into a ‘limited liability company’ and the factory became known as
the Adlerwerke.
The
first typewriters he produced in 1898 were based on Kidder's invention of the
horizontal push, or forward thrust action, and bore the name ‘Empire’ after
the American, not the Canadian machine
of that name, but he was dissatisfied with its performance, and within two years had effected substantial improvements. The name ‘Empire’
was then dropped and ‘Adler’ substituted in its place, and every machine had
to pass a severe test for quality.
In
their early days, Adler typewriters were distributed and sold through bicycle
dealers. This frequently happened with other typewriters in other countries, but
in the case of Adler the connection could be clearly seen as their trade mark
included not only the Adler (i.e. ‘Eagle’)
but also a bicycle wheel. This is now incorporated in
a different position in the center.
The
company prospered: by about 1909 some 50,000 machines had left the Adler
factory, and the number had doubled by 1913. The price then of an Adler was 300
marks-about fifteen times the weekly wage of the ordinary workingman in Germany.
In
1913 a smaller machine, the ‘Klein-Adler’ was designed and produced. This
was a portable version of the Model 7 standard machine, and was supplied with a
case. It was sold in many countries, under different names: in Italy as the
Adler ‘Piccola’, in Spain as the ‘Adlerita’, and in France as the ‘Adlerette’.
During
World War I the Adler Works were compelled to switch their production to
articles more vital for the prosecution of the war, and among other things they
manufactured cable-winding motors, lorries, ambulances, and other special
vehicles.
The
production of typewriters resumed after the war, and by 1922 the annual
production had been stepped up to 32,000-a
record which was not excelled for sixteen years. This figure had been reached
just after disastrous inflation had hit Germany-a
time when people preferred to own goods rather than money. Prices rose to an
astronomically high figure and went on increasing, and deliveries of typewriters
were made on condition that goods were paid for on the day they were delivered.
The
trade depression in the early 1930s spread from America to Europe. Germany too
was seriously affected. The number of typewriter orders received by Adler fell
from 22,000 to 5,000 annually. Several million people were unemployed in Germany
at this time.
In
1931 the Adler ‘Standard’-Model 31-was
produced with segment shift. The depression was over, and the fortunes of the
company changed for the better again, and in 1939, 37,000 machines were
manufactured. War once again interfered with the output of typewriters, and the
productive capacity of Adler was shared between typewriters and other
instruments, such as teleprinters and telephonic components required by the
government. Worse was to follow. On March 20, 1944, an air raid destroyed the
whole assembly shop. By May 8, 1945 about four-fifths of the factory was
destroyed, with the result that production of Adler’s bicycles, motor car
components, and typewriters could be continued only on a much reduced scale.
After the war, in 1946, a new factory was built and
typewriter production resumed. Progress was rapid, and in quick succession Adler
produced the ‘Standard’, ‘Universal’, ‘Special’ and in 1952 the
Adler ‘Privat’, a small portable typewriter. In 1954 the first Adler
electric typewriter was shown at the Hanover Fair, and by this time, the company
had made up the losses of the war years, exporting to more than eighty countries
and re-establishing connections with Eastern Europe.
In
1956 the Company acquired the. production rights of the Adler ‘Tippa’. This
was one of the most popular small portable typewriters with a plastic outer
casing. It won a gold medal in Milan in 1960 and was classified in many areas of
the world as the best flat portable.
In
November 1957, Max Grundig, famous for radio and tape recorders, took over the
Triumph factory in Nuremberg, and Adler Joined forces with Triumph under his
direction and control.
In
1966 Triumph acquired most of the working capital of Adler, and by the end of
1968, it had 82 per cent of the shares, by which time both Adler and Triumph
were being sold in various parts of the world. They were identical machines
under two different names.
On
10 January 1969 Litton Industries acquired the share capital of both Triumph and
Adler.
Adler
no longer produced bicycles, motor cars, or aircraft; they are active only in
the office equipment field, with ever increasing success, enjoying a world-wide
reputation for the production of typewriters, electronic book-keeping machines,
electronic calculators, and sophisticated office machinery, as well as a
complete range of portable and electric portable typewriters.
Factories
are producing Adler typewriters in Germany and in Holland under the control of
Litton Industries. T.A.V. (Triumph Adler Vertrieb) Distribution, as they are now
known, have a world-wide representation and are producing and selling machines
internationally in ever increasing quantities.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching:1974
BROTHER TYPEWRITERS: JAPAN
With the story of the Brother typewriter, history is repeated! It will be remembered that the first Remington typewriter resembled the sewing-machines for which the company was already famous. Similarly, the Brother Company had begun life in the world of sewing-machines.
In
1908 Kanekichi Yasui left his job at the Japanese Army's arsenal to start his
own business-the Yasui Sewing Machine Company-in Nagoya, repairing sewing-machines and
making spare parts.
He
trained his eldest son, Masayoshi, to take over the business, and eventually in
1925, other sons entered the business, and the name of the company was changed
to YASUI.
By
this time, Masayoshi had not only gained valuable experience of repairing
sewing-machines but had studied at night school to acquire the basic knowledge
needed to become a machine manufacturer.
The
type of machine that Masayoshi had chiefly been dealing with was the chain
stitch machine used for the manufacture of straw hats, and it was this kind of
machine which he launched on the market in 1928 under the brand name of ‘Brother’.
All six brothers entered the business and the husbands of their four sisters
also joined.
A
shrewd business man, Masayoshi soon realized the
importance of diversifying, and he entered the field of manufacturing
woollen yarn knitting machines. In 1934 the firm's name was changed to Brother
Industries Limited.
During
World War II the firm was asked by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to manufacture
airplane engines. Having gained experience of this type of work, and having
noted, on a visit to the United States in 1950, the marked increase in the use of electrically operated equipment in American homes, Masayoshi set about producing electrical goods for
the Japanese market.
He
realized that the age of the treadle machine had gone, and one of the first
electrical items to be manufactured was an electric sewing machine. Further
diversification took place and in 1954 the firm took a close look at the
possibility of manufacturing typewriters.
The
typewriter had rapidly become an important item of office equipment in post-war
Japan and at that time, like the sewing-machine at the beginning of the century,
was completely monopolized by foreign capital.
The
typewriter is a more complex
precision machine than a sewing-machine, and it was some time before Masayoshi
felt confident of being able to manufacture a good, original model. Production
of typewriters began in 1961, and in 1966 work began on their Mizuho Typewriter
plant which was completed a year later.
Figures
for 1965 show that of the many different articles produced by Brother
Industries, the sewing-machine still leads the way and represents 43.67 per cent
of their total output; this is followed by 20.34 per cent for electric
appliances, 16.99 per cent for knitting machines, whilst typewriter production
represents a mere 12.77 per cent of their grand total.
Today
92 per cent of all Brother typewriters are earmarked for export.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching:1974
ERIKA-‘IDEAL’: DRESDEN, EAST GERMANY
In
1872, they obtained a license to manufacture ‘Singer’ sewing-machines and
sought first
to
capture the German market and then the export market. This was mainly Naumann’s
idea but apparently Seidel did not agree with this and considered the risk was
too great, so he left the business.
In 1887, the firm began diversifying and
started making bicycles, and in 1892 they manufactured instruments for measuring
the speed of locomotives. In the same year, the first steps were taken to
mass-produce typewriters. Their first typewriter, the ‘Ideal’ appeared in
1900 and was a semi-front-strike design. They were eminently successful with it
for it sold extremely well in world markets.
In
1913 an entirely new ‘Ideal’ typewriter was produced, this being a
front-stroke machine, but World War I was close at hand and when hostilities
began, the firm was soon making shell fuses, rifle barrels, and firing pins.
After
the end of World War I, they continued with their production of typewriters,
sewing-machines, and bicycles. The first three-bank ‘Erika’ portable was
also sold in various countries as the ‘Bijou’. It is said that the ‘Erika’
was named after Erika, Naumann's daughter. Production of the new standard
machine continued and later a very high quality four-bank portable was produced.
When
World War II started, the firm, which by then had produced a million
typewriters, had to use their factory almost exclusively for producing armaments
of various kinds, presumably similar to those manufactured during World War I.
Two large-scale air attacks were made on the factory, the second of which took
place right at the end of the war in April 1945, destroying about 75 per cent of
the production area.
Production
of typewriters was resumed immediately after the war and the firm concentrated
on the manufacture of portables. By 1948 the ‘Erika 8’ was in production, to
be followed by the ‘Erika 9’. Further improvements in the model came in 1952
with the ‘Erika 10’, and in 1954 with the ‘Erika 11’. In 1963 Models ‘10’ and ‘11’
were replaced by Models ‘14’ and ‘15’.
In
the middle of 1965, a completely new product of unit construction was developed.
This was the ‘30/40’. The whole assembly was rationalized and the factory
was reorganized with modern production assembly methods.
The latest models are the ‘33’ and ‘43’. Like all typewriters manufactured in the Eastern Zone of Europe, they are produced by the State and the workers participate in the profitability of the enterprise. The ‘Erika’ is marketed under its own name which is encouraged as it is a first class typewriter. In England, however, it is sold as the ‘Boot 33’ and ‘43’, and in other countries under different names.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching:1974
THE ‘FACIT’
ORGANIZATION, PREVIOUSLY ‘HALDA’: SWEDEN
Facit-Halda
Aktiebolag was founded in i887 by Mr. Henning Hammarlund. The Company was
originally called ‘Halda Fickursfabrik’ and dealt with the manufacture of
watches; this was mainly due to the fact that Mr. Hammarlund was a watchmaker by
profession.
Mr.
Hammarlund spent a great deal of time training and learning techniques in
various countries, including the United States of America. He found there was
not really very much scope in Sweden for watch making and soon became interested
in making typewriters.
In
1890, he wrote a small book entitled The
Typewriter in which he gave general guidance about the machines he was
manufacturing together with various models and patented inventions of the
Company. It also gave instructions in typing, which was very similar to the
basic method of ‘touch typing’ as it is taught today.
He
expanded the typewriter side of the business and eventually concentrated all his
efforts and capital on the manufacture of these machines, so that in 1938 Halda
were able to join with Facit AB-a
Swedish company with sales organizations all over the world and an international
reputation to uphold. With this group behind them, they had plenty of scope for
improving their machine and devising new methods.
One
of the chief designers at this time was Sigvaard Bernadotte.
In association with Bjorn he spent a great deal of time on research into
the problems of materials, heat treatment, surface treatment, and modern design.
Roughly
30 per cent of the Company's output is sold in Sweden and the remainder is
exported throughout the world by the sales organization of Facit.
With
the increase in production and entrance into the standard, electric, and
portable markets, additions and modifications were built onto the original
factory at Svangsta and two new factories were established at Brakne-Hoby in
1959 and Solvesborg in 1961.
The
Brakne-Hoby factory specializes in portable typewriters, leaving the Solvesborg
factory to concentrate on the improvement of light metal goods including the
casing for machines.
The
factories now employ approximately 1,600 people. Of these 1,400 actually work in
the factories and the rest are outworkers or women at home who do the equivalent
of fifty to sixty full-time workers’ jobs. There is a great deal of light work
which can be accomplished in this way. Facit-Halda takes advantage of this to
the full and its Planning Department has transport which takes the work to these
people and then collects it later.
The
Company also provides homes and social amenities for its workers. They have a
Community Centre established at Svangsta. A
training school is available as the Company is most progressive and desired a
general increase the level of knowledge of its workers. They train persons to
fill qualified positions and perform specialized tasks.
There
is a tradition in the Company that anyone who works hard and gains
qualifications in
the training school can reach the very top of his profession, even though he may
have started on the very lowest rung of the ladder.
The
first typewriter the Company produced was an experimental one in 1896. A great
deal of research and development followed this until their first typewriter was
ready for the market in 1914. However, war interrupted their programme and for a
while there was very little activity. In 1927 fresh capital was invested and
thus the Company was enabled to continue its programme, producing a new machine
in 1929 called the Halda-Norden. Most Facit-Halda typewriters use Ransmeyer
type.
They did not enter the field of portable typewriters until as late as 1947, but from these beginnings has grown the organization as it is today. As the Facit Concern, they form one of the leading Swedish companies with sales organizations in 140 centres in Sweden and 130 countries throughout the world. The factory at Svangsta is situated in the most beautiful surroundings.
Facit
is licensed for production in Poland under the name Lucznik.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching:1974
HERMES: SWITZERLAND
The
Hermes typewriter was produced by the firm of PAILLARD-A
firm which had begun life at the beginning of the nineteenth century by
manufacturing musical boxes in Sainte-Croix, which was then only a
tiny village, perched on the heights of the Jura mountains in
Switzerland.
The
industry started by Moise Paillard grew and became increasingly important under
the management of his descendants. In 1875
the first factory was built at Sainte-Croix. By the end of the century the
firm had begun to diversify, and shortly after the invention of the phonograph,
Paillard proceeded from musical boxes to sound-reproduction equipment, and as
time went on more and more sophisticated equipment left their factories-gramo-phones,
record-players, and radio receivers.
The
Paillard management first took an interest in typewriters in 1913, although
manufacture did not start until 1920. In that year, a new factory was built at
Yverdon, and this factory was soon used solely to produce the Hermes
typewriters. So successful were they that they had to extend their factory on
many occasions to cope with the demand for their machines.
It
is interesting to note that Paillard right at the outset had started research
into the model most difficult to develop-the
standard office typewriter. The first model he produced was devised from a model
shown by a French inventor, but important modifications were made, especially on
the carriage.
The
first Hermes typewriter never passed the prototype stage, but, incidentally, it
was the first in the world to be fitted with an automatic tabulator. ‘Hermes 2’
was launched commercially in 1923, but proved too expensive in its manufacture,
and it was soon outdated by the more advanced models of some of their
competitors. Consequently only 1,000 machines of this model were made.
The
‘Hermes 3’was launched in 1927, and in 1928 the ‘C’ (15-inch) carriage
was introduced, to be followed in
1930 by the ‘A’ (10-inch) carriage and
in 1932 the ‘D’ (18-inch) carriage. The ‘Hermes 4’ closely
resembling the ‘Hermes 3’, appeared in 1934.
In
1933 the company launched their first portable-the
‘Hermes 2000’, and with this machine they began to penetrate numerous
foreign markets.
Two
years later, in 1935, the ‘Hermes Baby’ was launched. It was invented by a
Mr. Prezioso, and had all the features of a really portable machine, weighing
less than 8 lb, and it was no higher than a big box of matches!
Between
then and the end of World War II the company introduced new models as follows:
1936 ‘Hermes Media’
1937 ‘Hermes 5’
1939 ‘Hermes 2000’
fitted with the first automatic margins
1940 ‘Hermes 2000
Jubilee’
1940 ‘Hermes Baby
Jubilee’
1943 ‘Hermes 6’
From
selling some 250 machines a year in 1926, Paillard increased their sales to1,100
in 1928, to 15,500 in 1935 and
more than 35,000 1936.
In
1938 Switzerland, thanks to Paillard, had become, with 42,000 machines, the
third typewriter exporting country, behind only the United States and Germany.
The Company continued to prosper after the war, and in 1948 they launched the ‘Hermes Ambassador’, a manual office typewriter, in which were found several revolutionary advantages, such as: incorporated notebook holder, automatic paper insertion and ejections electric return of carriage, and interline spacing.
Other
post-war dates of importance are:
1953: Launching
of the ‘Hermes 8’, a manual office typewriter which incorporated such
innovations as: vertical carriage rails, setting and clearance of tab stops by a
single lever, incorporated notebook holder.
1954:
Launching of a new model ‘Hermes Baby’, equipped
with a larger diameter platen
1958:
Launching of the ‘Hermes 3000’, introducing
numerous innovations including:
lightening margins visible in front of the sheet of paper (first typewriter in
the world with this system), a control board grouping all the service keys, an
integrated base plate and cover to facilitate handling and carrying.
1959: Launching
of the ‘Hermes Ambassador Electric’. The system driving the typebars differs
from the classical systems (fluted power shaft and roller power shaft).
The dual ribbon version (fabric and carbon) of this model constitutes an
innovation; a single selector knob enables switching from the carbon to the
fabric ribbon (single or twin-coloured), and vice-versa, depending on what type
of work has to be done.
1962
Construction of the factory at Sackingen, Germany, to manufacture ‘Hermes
Baby’ typewriters.
1964: Launching
of the ‘Hermes 9’ office manual typewriter. The typing system was specially
developed to give a light and rapid touch.
1965: Construction of the Santo Amaro factory
to manufacture ‘Hermes Baby’ typewriters.
1967:
The three millionth ‘Hermes Baby’ came off the
production line.
1968: Launching of the ‘Hermes 10 office
electric typewriter; of convenient size, yet incorporating all the advantages of
a bigger machine.
In
the 1930s the firm had also been manufacturing movie cameras-the
Bolex cameras, and after World War II, the success enjoyed by the Hermes
typewriter and the Bolex movie equipment persuaded the management to abandon
production of gramophones and radio sets and concentrate on the two principal
product lines. In 1970 Paillard signed an agreement with the Austrian group,
EUMIG, under which Eumig gradually took over the production of the Bolex
equipment.
Thus
today typewriters-and as in many other firms their ‘logical’
developments-calculators
and systems machines, constitute the essential activity of Paillard. The
machines are made in nine
factories, situated in Switzerland, France, and Germany; and sold under the
brand names, HERMES, JAPY, and PRECISA.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching:1974
IBM-INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS MACHINES: U.S.A.
In
1923 a Mr. Russell G. Thompson began work on improving an electrically driven
typewriter which had been designed by Mr. James F. Smathers of Kansas. Under the
aegis of the North-East Electric Company, good progress was made and a year
later, the production of electric typewriters was handed over to the North-East
Appliances Company Inc.
In
1929 the name was changed to Electromatic Typewriters Inc. This organization was
then completely separated from the North-East Electric Company, although the
Directors and shareholders of the two companies were more or less the same.
In
the same year the North-East Electric Company was sold to General Motors, but
the Electromatic Typewriters remained an independent Company until it merged in
1933 with the International Business Machines Corporation of Rochester, New,York.
At
that time, widespread usage of electric typewriters was not much more than a
dream in the minds of a few rather progressive businessmen. However,
Electromatic Typewriters had actually made a little money by manufacturing and
selling the new machine in the early years of the great depression, but the
Company lacked the necessary capital to develop and market the machine on a
large scale. Previous attempts by other companies to manufacture and sell
electric typewriters had all ended in disaster, and Electromatic and its thirty
employees (including four salesmen) would probably have been no exception but
for Mr. Thomas J. Watson who had the foresight to acquire this Company to form
IBM Electric Typewriter Division. He had left National Cash Registers in 1913
and a year later became President of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company
which dealt in Hollerith machines. The Company grew and expanded and in 1917
they entered the Canadian market under the name of International Business
Machines Co. Ltd. In 1919 the IBM Company had entered the European market and
sales had been very good.
IBM
then went about putting its development, production, and marketing know-how into
perfecting an electric typewriter which would soon start a complete revolution
in the typewriter industry.
In
1934 over a million dollars was invested in the new typewriter which was
re-designed without any of the operating deficiencies in the previous
Electromatic machine. IBM realized that the market had to be convinced that the
Electric was safe, reliable, and efficient. A customer engineering operation was
established to assure all Electromatic typewriter customers that their machines
would be kept in top running condition at all times.
With
this programme to support it, the IBM electric typewriter was introduced in 1935
and became the first commercially successful electric to be marketed in the
United States. The product line was rapidly expanded in the late thirties with
the addition of the Toll Biller, the Manifest Writer, and the Automatic
Formswriter, all of which greatly increased the application of the electric
typewriter to office procedures.
In
1941 the IBM organization announced a radical breakthrough in typewriter
technology. Ever since its invention, the typewriter had employed a
single-spacing principle which allowed the same letter space width for all
characters regardless of size. Inventors and manufacturers had struggled long
and hard to develop a simple low-friction carriage mechanism that would
single-space without jumping or sticking: by 1941 such a spacing device had been
perfected.
IBM
engineers spent years researching, developing, and perfecting a mechanism that
would measure each alphabetical character in units. In I944, they announced the
first IBM Executive typewriter with proportional spacing. This allowed from two
to five units of space per letter and produced material that simulated the
appearance of the printed page. After only eight years IBM had successfully
solved a problem which had baffled typewriter inventors and manufacturers for
nearly eighty years.
It
is said that the first of these Executive machines with proportional spacing was
presented to President Roosevelt, and his personal letters were typed on this
machine. One of these letters was sent to Mr. Churchill who replied that
although he realized their correspondence was very important, there was
absolutely no need to have it printed!
At
the conclusion of World War II, the Armistice documents were typed on an IBM
electric typewriter and, later, a similar machine was used to prepare the
original UN Charter in San Francisco.
During
the World War II years of 1941-45 IBM offered its entire facilities to the
American Government for the war effort. They accepted only a nominal one per cent profit on articles and produced naval and aircraft fire
control instruments, Browning automatic rifles, 30mm calibre carbines, director
and prediction units for 90mm anti-aircraft guns, bomb-sights, and aircraft
super-charger impellers.
In
i944 they produced their first large scale computer-the automatic sequence
controlled calculator-which was presented
to Harvard University.
It
was not until 1946 that normal activities of the Company were resumed and the
Executive typewriter was marketed. The
Company again invested heavily in typewriter product research and engineering.
This resulted in 1948, in the introduction of the completely new model ‘A’
Standard typewriter which remained the basis of the product line until 1954.
In
1950 two developments took place that were extremely important to the division’s
growth. The IBM introduced a completely electric Decimal Tabulation-an
invaluable addition to the Company’s typewriter’s capacity to function more
efficiently with statistical material. During the same year, the World Trade
Corporation, one of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, began the
manufacture of IBM typewriters, and has since made a major contribution to the
expansion and development of the electric typewriter by opening new markets in
countries throughout the free world.
The
production of typewriters in pastel colours and with changeable typebars began in
1952. Changeable typebars allowed the typist to replace standard typebars with
special symbol typebars when needed. Heavy investments in
research during the next two years resulted in the ‘Model B’ typewriter
‘in 1954. Although it was not a radical
departure from the ‘Model A’, it incorporated many new features including
cushioned carriage return, electric ribbon rewind, and multiple copy control.
Subsequently, typamatic keys were added to the ‘Model B’ typewriter. They
provided for automatic repeat action on carriage return, spacebar, backspace,
hyphen, and underscore keys.
In
October 1955 the Electric Typewriter Division was formally established as an
autonomous segment of the IBM corporate structure. The Division was completely
integrated, developing, manufacturing, and marketing its entire product line.
In
1957 the ‘in put out-put’ typewriter, which automatically typed computer
originated solutions at a rate of ten to twelve characters per second, was
introduced. This device is used to feed information into electronic calculators
and data processing systems through electronic impulses.
IBM’s
millionth electric typewriter left the factory in 1958, and
in the same year, the ‘632’ electronic typing calculator was
introduced which combined the simplicity of electric typewriter operation with
the speed and accuracy of electronic calculation. The machine opened a whole new
era in office automation to IBM.
Intensive
research and development led to the announcement in 1959 of the model ‘C’
electric typewriter which incorporated such features as personalized touch
control and a complete complement of typamatic keys.
In
the summer of 1961, the division announced a technological breakthrough which is
currently revolutionizing the typewriter industry. That was the introduction of
the IBM ‘Selectric’ typewriter. This new machine printed by means of a
single interchangeable sphere-shaped typing element bearing eighty-eight
alphabetic characters, numerals, and punctuation symbols. It had no type bars
and no movable carriage. The sphere-shaped single printing element, popularly
known as ‘Golf Ball’, was mounted on a small carrier which ran along a
cylindric metal bar while typing. Because the writing element moved and not the
paper-carrying unit, the need for a conventional carriage was eliminated. For
this reason, the ‘SELECTRIC’ typewriter required less space, vibration was
minimized and there was no carriage return jolt. Another important feature of
the new machine was the flexibility of type styles offered by the single element
typing principle.
IBM
manufactured many sophisticated items but in the field of typewriters, they have
confined their attention to electric machines and have never made either a
standard or portable typewriter.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching:1974
OLIVETTI TYPEWRITERS: ITALY/SPAIN
After
taking his degree in electrical engineering, Camillo Olivetti accompanied his
tutor, Galileo Ferraris, to the United States and there taught at Stanford
University, California, for two years, where he met Thomas Edison. On his return
to Italy, Camillo went into industry with his partners, Dino Gatta and Michele
Ferrero. Together, they established in 1896 a small electrical precision
instrument plant-the
first in Italy, at Ivrea, and called it C.G.S. The factory later transferred to
Milan and prospered, but Camillo left the Company and returned to Ivrea to
design and manufacture typewriters. In 1908 he formed the Ing. C. Olivetti
Company, and after a further trip to the United States to study techniques,
produced his first typewriter, the M1 in 1910.
The machine was of original design, with legible characters, a standard
keyboard, two-colour ribbon, decimal tabulator, and back spacer. It was
exhibited at the World Fair in Turin a year later and the Olivetti Company won
an order to supply 100 typewriters to the Italian Navy.
The
Company began to expand, and by 1913 was producing twenty-three typewriters a
week, and had branch offices in Milan, Rome, Naples, and Genoa.
During
World War I the Company produced munitions, rifles, and machine gun parts, and
was the only factory in the country producing anti-aircraft fuses and
aero-engine magnetos with synchronizing parts to enable aircraft to fire forward
through their propellers. During this time the production of typewriters was
reduced to a minimum.
After
the war, Olivetti returned to manufacturing typewriters, and in 1920 produced
the ‘M20’, which was shown at the Brussels Fair. In the same year Olivetti
commenced exporting to Argentina and Holland.
In
1926, the Company diversified and built the Officina Meccanica Olivetti factory
for the production of machine tools near the first factory. By this time, the
number of employees had reached 500 and annual production was 8,000 typewriters.
The Company was reorganized and able to survive the world depression in 1929,
with an annual production Of 13,0000 typewriters. The first allied foreign
Company, S.A. Hispano Olivetti, was founded in Barcelona in that year.
In
the middle of the 1920s the Olivetti Company first started welfare schemes for
the benefit of their employees to supplement the State Scheme. These were
pioneered by Camillo Olivetti, and extended by his son, Adriano. Accommodation,
nurseries, medical centres, summer camps for employees and their families,
training centres and schools, a library, farm centres, sports and recreational
facilities, were provided free.
Shorter working hours and longer vacations, child and marriage bonuses, and
leave with full pay during pregnancy, were all introduced by the Company as time
progressed.
In
1930 the ‘M 40’ was built, and mass-produced by 1931.
The first Olivetti portable, the ‘MP 1 followed in 1932, and in 1935 a
semi-standard typewriter, the Studio 42’ was created. By 1939 the Company was
exporting 7,400 standard machines and 7,375 portables annually.
During
World War 11, Olivetti continued to expand and developed their first adding
machine, the ‘MC 4S Summa in 1940, using pressure moulding, followed in 1941
by the ‘MC 4M Multisumma’.
In
1943 a National Liberation Committee was formed at the factory shortly before
the death in hospital of Camillo Olivetti. A year later the Commander of the
Partisans, Guglielmo Jervis, was shot and hanged by the Nazis, and in the same
year a Nazi plan to destroy the factory was foiled by the factory technicians.
A
plaque above the entrance to the factory commemorates those workers who died in
the Resistance.
Following
the war in 1946, calculating machines and adding machines were produced and
established Olivetti internationally in this field.
In
1947 British Olivetti Limited was established in London. They set up a factory
in Glasgow and, three years later, the Olivetti Corporation of America was
founded.
Landmarks
in Olivetti production in post-war years:
1947-The
‘M44’ replaced the ‘M40/3’.
1953-The
‘Lexicon 80’ typewriter went into production.
1955-The
‘Lexicon 80E’. This was Olivetti’s first electric typewriter to be
followed by the ‘84E’ in 1961.
1957-The
‘Graphika’, the only porportional spacing manual standard machine was
produced.
In
1959 Olivetti took over the Underwood Corporation of America and after a period
of rationalization, their machines became synonymous. In some parts of the world
they are marketed as Underwood but in other parts they are sold as Olivetti or
the Olivetti-Underwood Corporation.
Olivetti
assemble many products in South Africa and South America, and are represented in
almost every country. They owe their place in the office equipment world to
their founder, and to a far-sighted policy towards product development and staff
relationship. They are quite unique in both the advertising and presentation of
their products.
All
Olivetti typewriters are Group 10 front-strike design.
OLYMPIA INTERNATIONAL: GERMANY
The Olympia typewriter was first produced as the ‘MIGNON’ in 1903 and gradually improved upon until the ‘PLUROTYP’ was manufactured in 1933. This was the last production model of the indicator type machine. Altogether 350,000 Mignon typewriters were produced and sold. Originally, the Company was owned by A.E.G. of Germany (Allgemeine Elektrizitats-Gesellschaft).
This
company also
produced an ‘A.E.G.’ typewriter which was a conventional four-bank machine
designed in 1912 and ready for production in 1914. 1 However, with the outbreak
of war, the plans to produce it had to be deferred. It eventually reached the
market in 1921 and was known as the A.E.G. ‘Model 3’. The factory was
then moved from Berlin to Erfurt. From 1921 until 1933, the Mignon continued to
be produced and sold side by side with the A.E.G.
In
1930, the use of the brand name ‘OLYMPIA’ commenced and a year later,
production of a four-bank portable typewriter began in
1936 the company was renamed ‘OLYMPIA’.
In
1939 the first flat portable typewriter came on the market and was called the
‘PLANA’.
During
World War II the production of typewriters continued, but much of the factory
was given over to manufacturing war material. Immediately after the war, the
factory in Erfurt, now in the Eastern Zone of Germany, continued to produce the
‘Model 8’ Olympia and the ‘ELITE’ portable typewriter, and many of these
machines were sold in various parts of the world using the name of Olympia. The
true Olympia Company, however, had, by this time, opened a plant to produce
typewriters in Wilhelmshaven in the Western Zone of Germany. A dispute as to who
should use the name ‘Olympia’ was eventually resolved in favour of the
factory based in Wilhelmshaven. The old factory at Erfurt continued to produce
the ‘Model 8’, followed by other improved standard and portable machines,
but these were sold under the name of ’OPTIMA’ as they are today. The Optima
factory now produces electric and standard machines and not portables.
Olympia
went from strength to strength and are today one of the largest manufacturers of
typewriters in the world.
By
1953, the Olympia Standard machine, ‘S.G. 1’, was
in production and over 7,300 people were employed in the Wilhelmshaven
factory. By 1956 the number of people employed had increased to 10,400.
In
1957 a new
factory was opened in Leer to produce the flat machine. In 1959 ‘Olympia’
joined forces With BRUNSVIGA after introducing their first electric typewriters
known as the Olympia S.G.E.20/30’. By 1965 a million standard machines had
been exported to the U.S.A. and in 1966,
the 3 millionth flat portable was produced. By 1968, 2 million standard
machines had been sold.
From
1959 onwards, Olympia were also concerned with the production of adding and
calculating machines of various kinds and in 1968, began a close co-operation
with the Matsushita group (Osaka and Yokohama) for the development of electronic
calculators. The Company now produce adding machines
in Ireland and assemble typewriters in various parts of the world
including Toronto, Chile, Mexico City, and Yugoslavia. Products are exported to
136 different countries through nineteen affiliated companies and 117 main
agents. Olympia is a truly international organization with a vast and expanding
business potential of which typewriters are now only of.secondary importance.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching:1974
REMINGTON:
U.S.A.
In I978 the Remington ‘2’ was produced and this solved the very important problems remaining, as it could write in both small and capital letters. In the year 1882 the firm of Wyckoff, Seamans, and Benedict acquired the sole rights for the entire world, and in March 1886 they bought the typewriter business from E. Remington and removed it from its old factory in Ilion.
In 1892 the co-partnership had been turned into a Corporation.
The Remington Company with their familiar slogan, ‘to save time is to lengthen life’, placed on the market in the summer of 1894 their Model ‘No. 6’ where the bars were still supported on the old principle, but in 1908 they produced the Model ‘10’, a hanger bar machine, so that the writing was visible. It was a non-stencil switch machine, but this was followed very quickly by another Model ‘10’ with a stencil switch.
In 1897, the Remington Company turned down the rights of the Wagner Writing Machine which later became the Underwood.
In
1920 they produced a further Model ‘10’ with slotted segment and bars.
In 1922, the Company produced the Model ‘12’ which had segment and bars and was enclosed. This was followed by the Model ’16’ in I932.
Other models were:
Model No. ‘17’, an entirely new construction produced in 1941.
Remington ‘KMC’ 1946, with keyboard margin control.
The Super Riter Model ‘18’ 1953
Model ‘20’ International GJ, 1953 to1969 made entirely in the U.K.
Model ‘24D’, is now produced in Italy.
The first Remington electrics were produced in 1925, and there were only 2,500. There was then a large gap. The world was not ready for electrics.
Model’250’ Electric was produced in 1953.
Model ‘300’ Electric was produced in 1963.
Model ‘26’ Electric, which is the current machine, was first produced in 1970.
Noiseless machines were either produced by Remington or were the Remington machine made under license by Underwood. (For the history of the Noiseless Typewriter Co. They were based on Kidder’s principle, i.e. forward-strike, and the first machine was a cam model three-bank, manufactured in 1909. Then followed:
Model ’1’ in 1914.
Model ‘3’ in 1917.
Model ’5’ln 1925.
Model ‘6’ was produced ‘in 1926. It was the first noiseless machine to have four rows of keys.
Models ‘10’and ‘11’came between 1934-7.
The de-luxe model with variations of shape, colour, and finish commenced production ‘in 1949 and ceased production in 1969.
In addition to producing their own machines, Remington produced, for many other companies, an enormous variety of standard and portable machines bearing different names. They are still one of the world’s largest manufacturers of typewriters. Owing to the high cost of production, however, they now make their standard machine in Italy and Holland and distribute it throughout the world. Compact electric and portable typewriters are manufactured by Brother in Japan and exported to the U.S.A. and all over the world.
They are now a division of Sperry Rand and produce electric calculators, book-keeping machines, and other sophisticated equipment for commerce and industry.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching:1974
ROYAL
TYPEWRITERS: U.S.A.
In
the year 1906 Mr. E. B. Hess, a noted inventor, produced the first ‘Royal’
typewriter incorporating patents which he had secured in I902. The ‘Royal’
typewriter had three great assets: introduced a new idea into typewriter design,
it had the services of persevering determined designers, and lastly, it enjoyed
the unwavering financial support of Thomas Fortune Ryan and his associates.
Royal’s fundamental principles incorporate over 140 patents which are the property of the ‘Royal’ Company, and were ‘in the main secured by Mr. Hess.
When
‘Royal’ introduced Model 1 ‘in 1906, it was designed from the start for
the operator, and was a radical departure from previous standards. With its
touch which was both light and quick, it required little effort to operate and
the accelerating typebar action contributed to faster typing. It was a
front-stroke machine with segment, bars, and visible writing (the long carriage
version was known as the Model 3).
Through
its loyal financial backing, the Company was able to weather the first perilous
and uncertain years. The small single storey factory in Brooklyn spread to four
floors, and finally in 1908 was moved to Hartford in Connecticut where a large
source of skilled labour could be found.
In
1911, the ‘Royal’ Model 5 was introduced (the long carriage versions were
known as 6, 7, and 8). This new machine offered many mechanical improvements. It
had a two-colour ribbon and incorporated the first paper bail in any typewriter.
Model
10 was introduced ‘in 1914, and improved upon in about 1928. The ‘Q’ or
‘quiet’ model was introduced a little later, but this was unsuccessful and
was soon withdrawn. Shift freedom or new-style drop segment began, firstly with
the long carriage machines and later over the entire range.
In
1935 the ‘H’ model came on the market.
This was the same as the Model 10, but had a restyling of the top plate.
This was followed in 1936 by the ‘KHM’ which had introduced for the first
time a keyset tabulator.
In
1939 ‘Royal’ introduced the magic margin, and a new style top covered with
improved touch control. At that time the company held the coveted position of
the world’s number one typewriter manufacturer in volume, sales, and
outstanding features.
After
World War II, ‘Royal’s’ progress continued. Firstly with the ‘HH’
machine introduced -in 1954, and then the Model ‘FP’, three years later.
These were followed by Model 101 in 1963, the ‘MC’ series or ‘Empress’
introduced in 1965, and the Model 440 in 1966.
‘Royal’
produced an electric typewriter in 1950. In design it was deliberately kept as
near as possible to the ‘Royal’ Standard.
Between
1954 and 1956 the ‘RE’ model, designed as a co-ordinated element, was
developed. As the popularity of the electric typewriter increased, additional
models were introduced; the first of these was the ‘HE’ followed by the ‘EB’.
In
1962, production of the ‘Electress’ commenced. It is worthy of special
mention, because it was the first electric with an action created by a
mathematical formula produced on a computer. This computer design resulted in
the elimination of one-third of the operating parts of the conventional
electric, and made possible substantial cost reduction.
The
de-luxe version of this machine, with built-in carbon ribbon, was known as the
‘Emperor’.
In
1966, ‘Royal’ announced the Royal 660 and also the 550, which was a model
specially designed for schools.
Since
1950, Royal have introduced many variations of type styles and colour, though
the tendency today is to limit the number of these purely for economic reasons.
The
company introduced portable machines in 1926, and modern Royal portables are a
variation of the basic design; over 6 million of these have been sold. Today
Royal market both manual and electric versions.
For
economic reasons many Royal portables (identical with the ‘Imperial’
typewriter range) are manufactured in Japan and Portugal.
The
Visible Writing Machine Company no longer distribute Royal typewriters in the
U.K. All their assets and distribution organization have been taken over by the
Imperial Typewriter Company of Leicester, a Division of Litton Industries, to
avoid duplication. This policy is varied in different parts of the world.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching
THE
UNDERWOOD: U.S.A.
In
1895 Franz Xavier Wagner designed a typewriting machine which was the forerunner
of the Underwood typewriter. He had designed many other models previously.
Between
1893 and 1895 he worked and devised a new and radically improved machine and
was joined by Mr. W. F. Helmond in 1894.
Mr. Helmond assisted him in his selection of the different sizes and qualities
of steel most suitable for his purpose.
The
model they had produced was shown to John T. Underwood who at that time was a
manufacturer of carbon papers, inks, and typewriter ribbons, and who was very
cross because he had lost the Remington contract to supply these. Remington told
him they were going to make the ribbons themselves. Underwood recognized that
here, for the first time, a machine had been developed on which the typist could
see every letter as it was being typed. He saw the tremendous possibilities of
this important achievement and thus supported the scheme.
On
29 March 1895 the Wagner Typewriter Company was launched, and the original
typewriters were manufactured by Lambert and Edgar. However, Lambert and Edgar
made only 500 machines before the need to expand was so great that they found
new premises on. Hudson Street, New York City, and the Wagner Typewriter Company
began production themselves, later changing the name to the Underwood Typewriter
Company.
The
change to visible writing was a world-acclaimed accomplishment and sales
increased so far beyond expectations that in May 1898, the manufacturing plant
was moved to new premises at Bayonne, New Jersey. This plant had a weekly
production figure of 200 machines and this, it was thought, would be more than
enough to meet the sales demand. However,
in 1901, more space was
needed for the rapidly-expanding business and a new plant was established at
Hartford, Connecticut.
The firm had a much needed boost in 1900 when the American Government gave them a contract for 250 Underwood typewriters. These were for use in the Navy, and Underwood used this order as a vital point in their advertising at this time-especially as the visible writing machine was still in its infancy.
The
Hartford plant produced over 12,000 standard typewriters in the first year and
eventually increased to hundreds of thousands annually. By 1939, five million
Underwood machines had been produced and marketed 'in all parts of the world.
In
1926 Elliott Fisher and Sundstrand were brought together and they later merged
with the Underwood Typewriter Company. In 1933 the manufacture of Elliott Fisher
and Sundstrand products was consolidated 'in the works at Bridgeport,
Connecticut.
In
I936 the Underwood Elliott Fisher Company formally opened its General Research
Laboratory in Hartford. The purpose of establishing and maintaining this was to
serve the interests of the businessmen of America and abroad. Talented
engineers, scientists, chemists, technicians, machinists, and experienced
business machine experts were housed under one roof in order to refine and
develop their products, and to explore the possibilities of further expansion.
During
World War 11, Underwood concentrated chiefly on the manufacture of the U.S.
carbine calibre 30 M-1 producing 1,000,000 carbine barrels in
the first fifteen months. In all, 1,706,436 were made. They also made
Rate-of-Climb Indicators for the U.S. Air Forces, bomb fuses, anti-tank
components, and other ordnance items, as well as vital components in the B-29
and A-26 bomber programmes such as the automatic gun charger and writing devices
used in their fire control system.
On
22 March 1945 the name of the Company was changed to the Underwood Corporation.
In
order to secure much-needed financial development and integration of the
production line, an agreement for close cooperation was reached with Olivetti of
Italy in 1959. By 1960 Underwood had produced and sold over 12 million office
machines and vast numbers of portables.
Underwood
are now completely controlled by Olivetti and, for practical purposes, have lost
their identity, although Olivetti sometimes make use of the Underwood brand
name.
For
sixty-five years Underwood produced one of the best and most popular machines,
the design of which was fundamentally sound, and it varied only slightly
throughout its entire history. In fact all modem machines are basically of this
design.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching
WOODSTOCK
(R. C. ALLEN) TYPEWRITERS: U.S.A.
In
1907 Mr. R. W. Uhlrig who had previously produced the ‘Commercial Visible’
‘in i898, first manufactured the ‘Emerson’ typewriter.
In
1908 the offices were removed to Chicago, and in 1910 the business was purchased
by Mr. Roebuck of Sears, Roebuck, and Company, the famous Mail Order House.
Later, the factory was removed to Woodstock, Illinois.
The
limited speed of the machine, however, and certain weaknesses in attaching the
type to the bars caused the ‘Emerson’ to be withdrawn from the market.
By September 1914 the NO. 3
Woodstock took its place, its name derived from the town of Woodstock, Illinois,
where it was manufactured. The machine was a complete success from the
beginning, and it was never found necessary to withdraw any models. It was a
conventional two-coloured front-strike machine with four rows of keys, segment,
and bars.
The
‘Annell’ was introduced in 1914 and sold as a special mail-order line, but
this campaign was unsuccessful and the machine was withdrawn.
In
1915 the Woodstock No. 4 was produced. By this time all the executive offices
and the factory were housed in Woodstock. The machine was looked on as one of
the well-known standard American typewriters, and from 1917 onwards sales were
extended to every corner of the world. It is doubtful if any typewriter invaded
world markets so quickly or so successfully. The demand for Woodstock machines
was so huge that for some time the company had great difficulty in delivering on
time.
Many
gold medals were awarded at a contest held in Paris in 1922. The championship
was won on a Woodstock at a speed of 120 words per minute. It was said in 1923
that the development of the Woodstock, as a machine of growing importance in the
industry, was assured.
In 1925 the ‘Woodstock’
produced the first practical electric typewriter, the principle of which is the
basis of most other machines in use today. It had a motor adjustment,
electrically controlled stroke, and an electric carriage return. Relatively few
of these were sold as the machine was ahead of its time, and the world was not
ready for electric machines in quantity.
Their
typewriters were produced in large quantities for the American Government
throughout World War II continuously, whereas some typewriter factories ceased
production and produced armaments.
In
1950 for some reason, the name of the machine was changed to the ‘R. C. Allen’
and production of typewriters continued until 1967.
The
R. C. Allen Business Machines Inc. still exists, but they no longer manufacture
typewriters; thus a typewriter which had commenced production in 1907, ended in
1967, after sixty years of continuous production. Some millions of machines were
manufactured and used satisfactorily throughout the world.
"Century of the Typewriter" by Wilfred A. Beeching:1974
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