I credit my love for typewriter to Mr. Meyer who was the typing teacher during my school days.
In those days you have to be able to type 100 words per minute without mistakes.
Today we call our little collection the Grandmothers of Computers.
Similar models used by Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck and Tennessee Williams
Typewriters are such a cool collectible and you'd be hard pressed to not to find an antique or vintage typewriter displayed in even a modest collection.
The collection started when we were given a Remington.
In the early years of De Oude Huize Yard Bed and Breakfast we thought it would be wonderful to display the typewriters in the guests rooms. Needless to say they were taking a lot of abuse and we had to remove it.
These American made machines were among the most popular and widely produced typewriters in history started production in 1878.
The shift key is an example of an early feature in the typewriter business, created by Remington, that has stuck around even to this day on computer keyboards! The Remington Portable first appeared in the market in 1920. It was the first portable to use a 4-bank standard keyboard as well as other principal features of the office machines.
The Remington Portable has a unique method of raising the type bars to a printing position by means of a lever on the right side of the typewriter.
We received our Remington from Hannes and Tina Jordaan. They knew that it look cool, but were not sure what to do with it.
We then move over to the L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriter Inc.
Manufactured in New York in 1924 by Corona Typewriter Company.
In 1926, Corona merged with L.C. Smith to become or the familiar Smith Corona.
Next in line is the
Remington Rem-ette
It is the Travel Typewriter and
manufactured round 1942.
This little lady was given to us
by Annatjie Kuhn and is still complete in the travel case.
It is in an beautiful vintage case all complete.
Hermes Baby of the 1950's
What is there not to love about a typewriter called Baby?
Never mind all the references you find to Hemingway/ Steinbeck/ insert-famous-author having used this typewriter, but the name alone, and the beautifully-rendered logo, is enough to get this machine a second look.
A look at this machine's profile shows how flat it is - truly an ultra-portable, traveling typewriter. In its case, it is barely 40cm high and 10cm wide - its narrow profile and compact body means that it is never too large to take home. There is gull-wing that covers the ribbons.
It has and industrial look. The Baby was reputed to be the typewriter of choice for Ernest Hemingway.
Swiss made. Marked: HERMES MADE IN SWITZERLAND BY paillard s.a. YVERDON.
Olivetti Underwood Studio
44 (circa 1965)
This one has a sad story
On a bright and sunny day a lady came into our establishment with a little red case.
She asked us to hold the typewriter – you know like in a pawn shop
She needs R400 and will return the next week with the money and collect the typewriter.
Needless to say she never returned.
After about six months we opened the case and find that the top lid was missing.
Made by the Italian company Olivetti in
their Barcelona, Spain plant. The Studio 44 was the favorite typewriter of
American playwright Tennessee Williams. The architect Marcello Nizzoli designed
it and was introduced in 1952
This one shows the following
Made in Italy and assembled in South Africa
Thanks for visiting our collection of typewriters
Till next time
Sandra
