I read today with great sadness that
The firm began production in the 1950s – when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru described the typewriter as a symbol of India’s emerging independence and industrialisation
The first commercial typewriter was produced in the U.S. in 1867 and by the turn of the century had developed into the standardised format – including a qwerty’ keyboard – that we know today.
Miss Lemon just one of thousands of ladies that earned a respectiable living working as a secatary. One has to ask the question ...
What is the world coming to when such beautiful machines are now totally obsolete...
Tallulah May x
I don't know if this will make your day or not, but Godrej & Boyce were making office typewriters; big machines, primarily with Arabic key layouts. No one has been able to determine how many companies -- many of whom are in China -- still produce portables.
ReplyDeleteTechnically, decent typewriters have been obsolete for decades, which means they are now valued objects of desire... much like vintage fashion. And, as with classic apparel, there is a rising sub-culture surrounding "real" typewriters. We call it the "typosphere" and we welcome like-minded enthusiasts.
There was an article recently in the New York Times about people who are fans of old typewriters and won't let them become obsolete. They hold "type-ins" where they all meet up and type. I thought it was pretty neat. Here is the link to the article:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/fashion/31Typewriter.html
As a writing tools afficionado, of course I also mourn this loss...! Luckily, howver, I possess a beautiful, old Blue Bird typewriter on which I can still type my deeper thoughts from time to time...
ReplyDelete