Typewriters

More Features than Ever Before

Manual typewriters have been office fixtures since the late 19th century, but during the last 50 years, they have largely been replaced by electric and electronic typewriters as well as word processing computers and software programs.

Typewriters have evolved over the years from manual models to electric models to today's electronic models that rely on the same microchip technology as do personal computers.  A modern, electronic typewriter may look similar to a typewriter from 10 or 20 years ago:  same general look and feel, same type of keyboard, maybe even the same way to roll in the paper.  But go typewriter shopping today, and you will find an array of features that were unavailable in the past.  For example, typewriters today often include:

• LCD screens, usually showing up to two lines of text, so you can view and correct what you have typed before you actually put ink to paper.
• Spell-checkers that inform you of spelling errors on the fly.
• Auto-correct function that lets you lift off characters, words, or lines from your typed paper.
• Choices to change the font (what the type looks like) and the pitch (number of characters per inch).
• Preformat options that automatically put text in the right place on a form.
• Address card features that let you store names and addresses and then merge them into letters, forms, mailing labels, and envelopes.
• Automatic page numbering.
• Ability to handle features of multiple languages, such as accent marks.
• Automatic text features, such as centering, justifying paragraphs, bolding and italicizing text, and indenting the first line of paragraphs.
• Text editing functions that let you backspace, insert and delete text, move text from one place to another, and search and replace words in your document.
• Digital memory and removable storage media interfaces.

But I Just Want an Old-Fashioned Typewriter!

If you don't want a typewriter with all these features, you can still find old-style typewriters and supplies at websites such as MyTypewriter.com, which sells classic typewriters from throughout the 20th century.

For more information about today's electronic typewriters and the fascinating history of typewriters, visit these websites:

Typewriter Reference Websites

• Wikipedia - Typewriter - user-contributed encyclopedic article about the typewriter.
• Virtual Antique Typewriter Museum - established in 2001, this website features extensive information and imagery about the history and development of the manual typewriter.
• IBM Typewriter History (1949) - written in 1949, this article reviews the history of typewriters, with a focus on IBM electric typewriters through the 1940s.
• History of the Typewriter (1977) - written in 1977, this article reviews the history of typewriters in more detail, with an emphasis on IBM Selectric and memory typewriters.

Typewriter Dealers

• Typewriter Retailers - directory of typewriter retailers in the USA.

Typewriter Manufacturers and Suppliers

• Brother - Established in 1954, Brother offers portable typewriters, ranging from basic to memory versions, that are designed to thrive on busy workloads.
• Royal - Since 1904, Royal has offered affordable, dependable typewriters. To this day, the company continues to take this tradition very seriously.
• Smith Corona - In 1926, L. C. Smith merged with Corona Typewriter Company to form Smith-Corona, which became a major manufacturer of office typewriters and portable typewriters.
• Swintec - In 1986, this firm earned its first sole source typewriter contract with the United States Federal Government and has been heavily involved with government sales ever since.
• Typewriters - Since 1958, this firm has specialized in the sale of new and reconditioned typewriters for businesses around the world.

Typewriters - Typewriter Consumer Guide