The Tachotype (1935)

This weekend, I stumbled upon the sale of some typewriters and stenotype machines on a massive collectors meeting in Utrecht. I decided to leave the typewriters for what they were, and bought a stenotype machine: the Tachotype. I had no idea what it was or how it worked, but I was eager to find out at home. After some searching on the internet, I found out that the Tachotype was invented in 1935 by a Dutch stenotyper, Marius den Outer.

The Tachotype makes use of the fact that most syllables start with a consonant, followed by a vowel and end with another consonant. On the left side of the keyboard are the most used consonants, in the middle are the vowels and on the right side another set of consonants. You can type several letters at once, after which the line will go one space down, and a new syllable can be typed. Because Den Outer didn't want to make his keyboard too complicated, he left out some letters, like the "d". In order to type a "d", you have to type "tj". For an example, see Martin (1949), p. 422. The advantage of the Tachotype above other stenotypers is that you actually type real text, and not some kind of code.

It seems a complicated way to type fast, but apparently, it was worth it: In 1938, Den Outer improved the Tachotype and named it the Velotype. Than, in 1983, he made an electronic version, followed in 2001 by the Veyboard, which is a Tachotype-kind of keyboard, that can be plugged into any laptop with a USB connection. This is just one of the many machine shorthand systems currently used around the world.

In fact, the Veyboard is still often used at my work by speech-to-text-reporters to assist deaf colleagues during meetings. They type at speaking speed, only hindered by the excessive use of jargon and three letter abbreviations that are so common at my job. The deaf person sitting next to the velotyper can read the text real-time on the monitor of the computer to which the Veyboard is connected.

The owner of my Blickensderfer, part 2

Since I left my Blick Featherweight back in Spain, I was eager to buy a new one. So, when I saw a 1894 Blickensderfer 5 on Ebay with an early serial number, 3.910 (out of over 190.000), I couldn't resist.  I am planning to restore it, but don't know when.

The most interesting thing about this typewriter, is the business card of a Kansas City retail grocer, called A.H. Boand, that came with it. I wrote about it when I received the typewriter at home. Last week, I did some more research about the former owner of my Blickensderfer. I contacted a relative on www.findagrave.com and learned that:

"Adolph [Boand] was born in Switzerland and immigrated to the US with his family in 1870. He was a grocer in 1900 and 1910 census in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1920 he was a dealer for Weigh Masters. His father was born in Switzerland and his mother from Southern France.  French was their mother tongue."

The relative didn't have any more information, but wrote me she would ask around.

I also found the death certificate of A.H. Boand, according to which he died of "General Paralysis of the insane" in 1931. According to wikipedia, this is a "neuropsychiatric disorder affecting the brain and central nervous system, caused by syphilis infection". After I read that, I was happy to find out at the same page that "syphilis cannot be contracted through toilet seats, daily activities, hot tubs, or sharing eating utensils or clothing." I guess that includes indirect contact through an ancient typewriter. ;)

Of course, I don't know if mr. Boand bought the Blickenderfer new or second-hand, but fact is that in 1895, he was one of the founders and the treasurer of the Retail Grocers’ Association of Kansas City. That fits with the profile of somebody who was in the position to need and buy a portable typewriter at that time (1894).

I made a video of the Blickensderfer. You can see it by clicking here. Make sure you watch it in HD and full screen.

The Williams Typewriter Academy Model No 2 Foolscap

In my last post about the Williams Academy Typewriter, I pointed out that the address stamped on my machine corresponds with the address published in several post-1904 Williams advertisements. This means that the Williams Academy was probably made after 1904, and not in 1898, as previously mentioned on Will Davis' website.

Yesterday, I found an advertisement that was published regularly in the Irish Independent from April till May 1905. As far as I know, this is the only Williams advertisement that mentions the Academy model. The advertisement teaches us a lot about how this machine was marketed at the time (1905): 

"Six months ago we commenced selling our well-known WILLIAMS TYPEWRITER No. 2 at a discount of 40 per Cent from the established price. We not only reduced the price but added some new devices, thereby making the machine a little better than before. To distinguish from previous models we call it the Academy Model"

http://www.irishnewsarchive.com/

In the same advertisement, it is pointed out that the Academy model was on hire for 12 shilling and 6 dimes per month (roughly 50 dollars in todays US money). One year later, in 1906, a magazine called "The Shorthand World" placed a Williams advertisement according to which the company would "send a brand new latest model No 2 Williams Typewriter on two months trial at 12/6 per month". The Williams No. 2, however, was introduced in 1897, so it seems a bit weird to talk about it as if - nine years later - it was still the "brand new latest model". I think it is more probable that this advertisement was also about the Williams Academy.

I didn't find similar advertisements in old US papers, but on the internet, I found two pictures of the Williams Academy, made in USA: one on Flickr and the other one in the online Powerhouse Museum Collection.

Ah, and in case you wonder what is Foolscap: here is all you need to know.

Edit: I just received a copy of "Die Schreibmaschine und ihre Entwicklungsgeschichte", written by Ernst Martin (1949), and there it is (p. 129): "1904 erschien eine Neubearbeitung des Modells 2 zum preise von $ 65. Diese Maschine hatte jetzt die Verbesserungen des Modells 4, behielt indessen das dreireihige Tastenfeld bei." 

Fire in Hammond typewriter shop, 1925

Click on the picture to enlarge

7 December 1925, fire at Hammond typewriter shop, Rokin 38, Amsterdam, click on this text to enlarge

Article about the big fire, the day after

It seems a pity to throw such a typewriter through a shop window, but well, it saved his life!

Sperry Remington Idool vs. Remington Portable #2

The typecast below is written on a Sperry Remington Idool (1980) and a Remington Portable #2 (1928). I bought the Sperry last week for 3 euros and even got one week warranty on it.

Sperry Remington Idool (left) and Remington Portable #2 (right)

The currency used in the typecast (below) is guilder. The Sperry has a florin sign "ƒ", the Portable #2 with the German keyboard lay-out hasn't, so I used the "Fl"-alternative (it means the same).

Click to enlarge

Above the receipt of last week. Below the original warranty from 1980

Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, 9 september 1924

And the best for last: a really nice video of a Remington Portable typewriter:

typewriters anonymous from mike ambs on Vimeo.

Williams typecast

For this typecast I experimented with carbon paper - I've never used it before. I don't like the result too much. Anyone knows how to get the best out of carbon paper?

Click to enlarge

Williams typewriter and carbon paper

The owner of my Blickensderfer

Click on the image to enlarge and read

You can find anything on the web