Index Visible
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CONTENTS Editor’s Notes ...................... 2 Index Visible ....................... 3 Empire/Colby Papers ........... 4 Burroughs & Moon-Hopkins ................ 8 So Long, Smith Corona? .. 10 Gallery Notes .................... 11 Advertisements ................. 11 Color Gallery .................... 12 No. 32 ---- September, 1995 Index Visible This Index Visible Typewriter is the first of its kind yet discovered. It was recently acquired by Dennis Clark, who supplied the photo. Full Story on page 3. ETCetera #32 / September, 1995 / 1 bers. Occasionally, I will get some tunity a while back, with the appear- promises of volunteer help, such as an ance of one of his Olivers in Bram ETCetera offer to write an article, or to send some Stoker’s Dracula, directed by Francis material. Then I find myself placed in Ford Coppola. Richard was even hired Magazine of the Early the role of Resident Nag, trying to get on as “typewriter wrangler,” which Typewriter Collectors people to do what they say they will do. means he had to be on set to tweak the Association It is not a pleasant role, since I am machine just in case it didn’t work always asking for someone to do some- perfectly. Sept., 1995 thing for nothing. But then, I remem- I may get my own piece of Holly- ber what I am getting paid for all this, wood typewriter fame later this year. In No. 32 and I feel a little better. early August, I received a call from the prop people working on the upcoming Editor ††† remake of Lolita, with Jeremy Irons in Darryl Rehr the role of Humbert Humbert. 2591 Military Ave. Sometimes you go back through The Lolita people, it seems, had Los Angeles, CA 90064 literature you’ve read before, and you secured a Remington Noisless portable (310)477-5229 feel really stupid! A couple issues back for the production, but it was damaged FAX (310)268-8420 someone wrote with the surprising (to in shipment to location in North Caro- E-mail [email protected] me, at least) revelation that Ernst lina. The production contacted me to Martin never existed, but was the see if I could provide a replacement. I German Summaries pseudonym of Johannes Meyer. Meyer/ happened to have a couple of these Reinmar Wochinz Martin, if you don’t know, was author machines on hand, so I shipped them Roetzergasse 10/7 of the encyclopedic work “Die Schreib- off with an agreement to rent them A-1170 Vienna maschine,” the largest typewriter his- with the promise of their return along AUSTRIA tory in any language. with a production still showing the star I do have a copy of this book, and of the movie at the keyboard. When- ISSN 1062-9645 I’d like to use my lack of German as an ever it comes through, you'll see the ©1995 by The Early Typewriter excuse, but can I? The forward of the picture here in ETCetera. Collectors Association new edition starts with this phrase: Published four times per year in “Als Johannes Meyer (Pseudonym Ernst ††† March, June, Sept. & Dec. Martin)...” $20/yr North America The British, along with the rest of us, $25/yr overseas ††† went ga-ga when Christies in London sold Ian Fleming’s typewriter to Pierce Speaking of German, I’m sorry to Brosnan for over $80,000. The Times EDITOR’S NOTES say that Siegfried Snyder, of Syracuse, newspaper used the occasion to write a A little note of thanks for those of New York, is no longer able to do our feature article on longtime ETC mem- you who write in to give me a little pat translations for readers of that lan- ber Bernard Williams of Burton-on- on the back occasionally. There are guage. Instead, Reinmar Wochinz, of Trent. Bernard’s advice on what’s col- times, after all, when there’s a strong Austria, will take over for the time lectible and what’s not: “If it looks like temptation to write: “This is thelast being. We will experiment by using a a typewriter from ten yards away, I issue of ETCetera…” and be done with computer program to do rough “first don’t want it.” Bernard is always pleased it. draft” translations, with Reinmar fine- to show his collection to anyone Putting out a magazine for fellow tuning them. Thanks to Siegfried for interesed, if you give him a little no- collectors is far from easy, but I basi- his past work. Thanks to Reinmar for tice. If you’re going to be in England, cally do it because I enjoy doing it. his future work. call him at 01283-656858. Financially, this is strictly a break-even ††† operation… or less. I do receive a ††† modest benefit by virtue of the “high WHO’S FINDING WHAT?–I’d like profile” afforded to the editor of a We frequently like to share stories to put more photos in ETCetera of collector’s magazine, but if this were all about sighting of vintage machines in good machines recently found in the there was to it, ETCetera would have movies and on TV. How, often, though, collector’s network. Have you found ended long ago. do we get a chance to see one of our something good recently? If so, please If I had one wish, it would be for a own machines on the silver screen? send a photo and any details about how greater participation from ETC mem- Richard Dickerson got that oppor- you pulled in your treasure. 2 / ETCetera #32 / September, 1995 Index Visible Top view of the Index Visible. Photo supplied by Dennis Clark. In July, a number of collectors assembled for a get- shorten the length of the cord. At the left side of the together in Delaware, where Tom Russo hosted the group keyboard are two levers, one of which is for caps, and at the site where he keeps his extensive collection. One of one for figs., these slightly offset a “V” at the lower end the highlights of the meeting was Dennis Clark’s display of of the type cylinder that, in turn, allows for the his newly-acquired Index Visible Typewriter. alignment of the type font. When pointing to a key top, The Index Visible, dating from 1900, has been known the fine braided wire is pulled, which turns the type to collectors only through old ads and trade literature. The cylinder. There is a very fine clock-like spring below the Clark machine is the first example to be uncovered. Here type cylinder and alignment wheel, which causes the is Dennis’ description: type to return to a resting position or move back to the next position. “The Index Visible is for the most part an index “The platen is a wooden cylinder. At each end there typewriter in operation. There is a type cylinder, similar is a wooden ribbon spool, small in diameter. They to a Blick or Commercial Visible. The type rocks would not hold a large amount of ribbon. The ribbon forward to make contact with the paper and platen. A is stationary and moves with the platen. There are two leather loop attached to one end of a finely braided felt rollers to the left and right of the print point, to keep wire, is used to hold one finger of the right hand. The the ribbon supplied with ink. There is also a spring- finger is moved to the proper keytop, then the finger is loaded idler (felt roller) to keep the ribbon taught after used to depress the key (letter or figure) that is wanted. the type cylinder rocks forward and then back to a All key tops in one row are attached to a support bar, resting position. The rubber feet look very much like of which there are three. The entire row of keys is ones used on the Commercial Visible.” depressed at the same time. At the right side of the keyboard there is a spring-loaded lever with a pulley The last detail tends to confirm the statement by Mares around which the wire is wrapped. The lever is pulled that the Index Visible was the second product of the to the left (toward the keyboard) which allows for the company that made the Commercial Visible. forward movement of the type cylinder, which will ETCetera #32 / September, 1995 / 3 The Colby Typewriter Papers Part 1:The ‘Empire’ Revealed By Alexander “Sandy” Sellers LEFT: Charles Carrol Colby. ABOVE: illustration of early Wellington from company letterhead. RIGHT: Wellington Parker Kidder Sandy Sellers has special interest in machines of Canadian It is clear that within the Colby collection lies a truly connection: Barr, Jackson, Horton, Bradford, Oliver, and most unique historical and human record of typewriter develop- recently, the Empire typewriter. This article is adapted from one ment in the late 19th-early 20th Century. At least 30 years published in the May issue of the Stanstead Historical Society in the adolescence of the typewriter industry is captured in Journal, and presented informally at a gathering of collectors at the yards of catalogued and uncatalogued business papers Tom Russo’s in July. Subtitles for Parts 2, 3 and 4 are projected of C. C. Colby and his son Charles William Colby.The to be “The Adler Revealed”, “Empire Technical Details and sheer volume, integrity and continuity of the collection Variants” and “The Kidder-Colby Connection” with respect to development of the Empire and Noiseless typewriters is unmatched by any other collection of primary Cradled in the hills at the northern Vermont/Quebec documents in this technology domain. The only similar border lies the Stanstead Historical Society Museum.