Until the dawn of the computer age, the constant clickety
clack of typewriter keys was part of the mid-century office landscape.
While the concept of a typewriter dates back to at least
1714, the Sholes & Glidden Type Writer, which began production in late 1873, was the first commercial typewriter to appear
on the American market (in 1874).
The first Sholes &
Glidden was very decorative with numerous painted flowers and decals. It looked
similar to a sewing machine, due partly to the fact that is was manufactured by
the sewing machine department of the Remington Arms Company.
The odd-looking
machine typed only in capital letters and introduced the world to the QWERTY keyboard which is still with us today. While Sholes & Glidden had limited success, its successor, the Remington, soon
became a dominant presence in the industry.
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| Antique 1906 Remington Standard, Bygrassdoll |
While basic typewriter functions remained the same throughout the years, the designs, colors and special features changed and grew with the times.
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| The Oliver Standard Visible Typewriter, Lucca Bales Vintage |
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| Olympia Progress typewriter with German keyboard, Anodyne & Ink |
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| Olivetti Lexon 80 typewriter, Artyfactz |
I'm sure these early typewriter companies could not have imagined that their machines would one day be stripped of their keys to make jewelry, collage art and scrapbooking projects!
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| Antique typewriter keys, The Old Time Junk Shop |
To start or add to a
typewriter collection, Etsy is a great source for finding these relics of a
(noisier) time gone by.
14 comments:
I am typing away! Keys and clicks to you, Bryan, a fabulous post!
Great blog post, Bryan...you are a wealth of information. What a treasure you are to our team :) I remember years ago, when I was 16, typing away on one of the old antique typewriters in the office of my Mom and Dad's store. What memories you have brought back for me :)
Fantastic! I love old typewriters. I have one that I am thinking about listing but haven't had the heart since I love it. It has a wonderful old case. Wow -- I sure do remember typing class in high school.
LOVE old typewriters! We have three sitting around the living room....thank you so much for the article Bryan :)
What a great history lesson post! I love these old typewriters! I wish I had room for them around my home!
You my friend are a Wonder! What a fabulous and insightful post! Thanks for sharing with all of us Bryan!
Great subject, I have a 1950s Smith Corona that I've been using to write my good ole' pen pal!
It's simply awesome and I imagine I'm drinking scotch and smoking cigarettes while I type.
Too bad I'm supposed to sell it :)
I also have an old typewriter that I've been pressured to sell but I love it too much! They're so fabulous :)
What a great post !!! I have my grandfather's typewriter (he was born in 1899- time to get it our and take a good look at it. Thanks Bryan!
Such beauties and great usable decor pieces for the vintage office. So much more appealing than the laptop. Wonderful post Bryan, thanks!
Fabulous post! I hadn't thought much about old typewriters until I started noticing the fabulous colors they came in. I tried pounding one not too long ago and gave up, but, oh, what wonderful decor items they are!
wonderful post and gorgeous finds!!
I love typing & the "old" typewriters! Both for decor & practicality. Great post!!
Bryan, this is awesome!!! What a wonderful and informative post!!:)
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