Showcase (12) : Olympia Traveller Deluxe S

Olympia is one of my favourite makes of typewriter and i have a few in my collection, the Traveller Deluxe S being added to the collection this year. The typewriter was probably made in the late 1970s.

As with my other Olympias, this machine works well and looks good - well apart from the drops. The typewriter is covered in hardened drops of a white substance, which i think may be years of tippex drips! Like all of the best typewriters, this machine has probably had a long and productive life and is still going strong. It had a new ribbon fitted a couple of months ago. 

The Christmas loot

Merry Christmas to all visitors! This year i got two more vintage calculators for my collection rather than the typewriter fest last year (but it's been a while - at least a couple of months - since i got a new typewriter so i must fix that in early 2024!) The new calculators are a really neat looking National Semiconductor 750 Novus and a Busicom 1210PD. 

Now the latter brand, Busicom, is notable. In one of their earlier machines they asked Intel for a chip for the mathematical calculations. The chip Intel produced was the 4004 which can be argued to be the forerunner of the CPUs used in PCs through to this very day... 

Both machines work, the 750 Novus has some pleasing red LED numbers. The Busicom printer works though it needs a new ribbon, a project for 2024 if i can source a new ribbon.

GPO 746/8746 dialphone

In the past, the General Post Office had a near monopoly (apart from one town) of the British telephone system. Subscribers to the service had to rent a handset from the GPO.

Most of these telephones used a dial to enter the number (some people still say "dial" with reference to entering telephone numbers to this day). The telephone most people will think of when they think about diaphones will be the GPO 706 and later versions. We have two GPO 746s (or rather 8746s as we will explain below) in our retro office equipment collection.

The 746 was introduced in 1967 as an improvement on the 706L. The main external difference was an improvement in how the telephone could be carried, as it had an integral cradel for the receiver. This meant you could more easily carry the telephone around with you when you wanted to look cool like a 1970s detective. It also improved how the handset rested on top of the telephone.

The 746 also had a built-in regulator which could not be removed as it could with the 706L. This regulator was used to vary the current flowing through the receiver and transmitter. This could avoid problems for subscribers who were too close to a telephone exchange - too strong a current could make things too loud - and could also reduce interference from strong radio signals. The regulator was an add-on component to earlier telephones but built into the main circuit board of the 746.

The 746 was available in a range of colours, we have red and brown examples. We did used to have black and grey ones too but they seem to have gone to the telephone graveyard in the sky. The 746 remained available for a long time, later examples could be modified to use the New Plan plug and socket (which is still used by BT - who took over from the GPO - and other telephone companies to this day). These telephones were called 8746, both of our telephones are so modified. 

BT lost their monopoly over handsets in the 1980s. Subscribers were free to buy their own handsets and plug them in. The 8746 could still be used though, indeed i continued to use mine well into the 2000s.

Commodore 796M

The 796M was one of Commodore's low cost calculators which were very common in the second half of the 1970s. The 796M was made in 1976 and is very similar to the 776M which we have already covered here. The principal difference is that the 796M is black not beige! 

Apart from that there isn't much difference. The 796M has the same basic four arithmetic functions, plus percentages and memory. Whatever numbers you handle on it will be displayed in a red LED display. Unfortunately, despite the calculator turning on (when fitted with a battery) it can display numbers but cannot manipulate them due to some digital decay in the CPU i assume. 

Selling typewriters in 1990

Another selection of typewriters for sale, this time from the Littlewoods catalogue for the Winter of 1990 and 1991. This time two manual and two electric machines were on sale. The Smith Corona XL 1500 looks very similar to my XE1630. The Maritsa looks a nice machine, i must see if i can get one in 2024...

Mysterious keys (8) : !

In this series as well as examining keys which typewriters have and computers do not we also look at the opposite. We have already established that many typewriters, usually small portable ones, did not have a key for the number 1. Therefore, as it is common for the exclamation mark to share the number 1 on computer keyboards, it should be no surprise that many typewriters also did not have a way to type !

So, how could angry letter writers of their day make their points without liberal use of the exclamation mark? Well there was a clever way to cheat. Unlike on computer screens, on a typewriter multiple characters can be printed in the same location. So to create a ! you simply type a full stop . then backspace then type a dash '.

Typefaces

In HTML there is the TT tag which displays text using the "teletype font", though some assume this also means typewriter. It is sometimes assumed that typewriter "fonts" or typefaces are all the same, or very similar in any case. Something like the Courier New font used in this blog.

In fact every manufacturer tended to have their own typeface, even individual typewriter models could have a unique typeface. Below are a few examples from some of the machines in my collection. They are all pretty similar (except maybe the Tippa's) but all were different in size, width and strength.

More on the Lettera

I have had the Olivetti Lettera 32 for a while now so how is the typewriter like? It is a fine machine that works pretty well with just the occasional slow return by a typebar, the typing is pretty clear and crisp though there isn't a lot of excitement i.e. noise. Aesthetically i am not a big fan of it, though it is the most 60s/70s colour you can imagine, but there are uglier machines in the collection so i can live with that. 

Boots 224

There are two Boots branded typewriters in the collection, so why not a Boots calculator as well? The Boots 224 Memory is a nice late 1970s machine with a square root and percentage functions to go along with the basic four arithmetric functions. As the name implies, the calculator has memory too and works fine, numbers displayed using an eight digit VFD display. This is in fact a rebranded Casio Memory B-1.

Typing on a Tippa

Another typing video.

Comparing print calculators

Recently my Mum bought a new calculator with a printer built-in (a Casio HR-8RCE to be exact). I thought it would be interesting to compare it with my Silver-Reed 1250PD which i restored back to full printing order earlier in the year.

Obviously, the first thing to notice is the size difference. While the Casio is a neat little battery powered machine not much bigger than a printer-less calculator, the Silver-Reed is a mains powered behemoth. The keypad of the Casio doesn't have much give compared to the Silver-Reed, i think the latter would be a more comfortable machine to use all day.

The Casio has an LCD display while the Silver-Reed has green glowing VFD (so you can do your accounts in the dark, unless there is a power cut of course). Although the Casio's printer is adequate, the small size does mean the digits are a little thin. The print quality of the Silver-Reed is a little better, and it has red ink for negative figures.

Both are fine machines though which do their jobs well. But i am sure you all know which one i prefer.

Why i like typewriters (4) : The sound

Typewriters are a feast for the senses, including hearing of course. The sound you can make as you are pounding away on your Olympia creating your magnificent octopus will be epic. Modern computer keyboards tend not to have much in the way of good sound, what does typing on a Macbook Air sound like? A butterfly fluttering it's wings.

It wasn't always like that of course, old skool computer keyboards like the keyboard on the Volker-Craig VC404 terminal were louder than God. My Mac mini has a loud-ish Tecknet mechanical keyboard which just about does the job. Though if you want to type as loudly as the Lord intended well you know the answer...

A museum find

Today i visited the West Midlands Police Museum (which is well worth a visit) and you can see my photographs here. One notable exhibit was this Adler typewriter. A fine old machine which no doubt was used to type many a crime report over the years. The tab bar at the top is an interesting feature.

Samsung Secal 800N

This delightful looking calculator is one of the machines which was added to the collection last month. The Samsung Secal 800N is a mid-1970s model, probably built around 1975 or 1976. The calculator has a dedicated calculation chip. it supports the four main arithmetric functions plus percentages and square roots. It also supports negative numbers.

Despite looking in good nick, the calculator did not turn on when batteries were fitted. This is a shame as i'm sure the Vacuum Fluorescent Display would have looked superb. 

More on the SF Deluxe

Now that we have had the Olympia SF Deluxe for a few weeks what is it like as a typewriter. In fact it is a very good typewriter, though as my other Olympias have genuinely all been decent machines this is not really a surprise. It types pretty well though could do with a new ribbon. It isn't that loud (a shame) but typing doesn't cause any head jams so i have to say this machine is a hit.

Typing on a Hermes 305

Time for another video.

Manuals (4) : Atlas Portable special

My Atlas Portable came with it's original manual so i thought it would be nice to take a few pictures of some of the pages.

Showcase (11) : Smith-Corona GT

The Italian design firm Ghia are well-known for their car designs, especially for deluxe models in the Ford range in latter days, but did you know they also once designed a typewriter too? The nice but somewhat curious Smith-Corona GT has Ghia (and thus automotive like) styling. This is a typewriter with go faster stripes and pieces of rubber on the trim including the carriage return lever! When you open the case (which carries the Ghia badge like a proud owner's Ford Grenada Ghia) you get the smell of rubber!

Although a rather plasticky machine from the mid 1970s, the typewriter works pretty well, the Q key sticks when used but other than that there are not any other problems to report and i have been using it recently for my touch typing practice. The ribbon was recently changed, this was a much more fiddly (and inky finger dirty) job than usual. 

Green LEDs

I have bought quite a few calculators lately but when i saw this Commodore 798D on eBay i knew i had space for one more. It has a lovely green LED display which makes it stands out from my other working Commodores with their red LEDs. The calculator, built in 1976, is like new and seems to work perfectly.

The workshop opens

The new dedicated typewriter "workshop" has opened! Up until now i have had to use the dining table to explore the typewriters in the collection, which is also my desk when working from home! A dedicated space for the typewriters will make everything much easier. Maybe i can make a start on trying to fix some of the broken machines in the collection...

USB Typewriter

Typewriters are, of course, much more fun to type on. Imagine if you could use a typewriter to input into a computer? Well indeed you can! This company modifies typewriters so they provide an output to computers and tablets. I'm in two minds about it, i like the idea of using a typewriter with your computer though as we have seen with the Mysterious keys series the difference in keyboard layouts between typewriters and computers must surely cause some issues? 

However, i don't really like to cross the streams. Personally i feel that if you want LOUD typing on your computer then get a Tecknet X705 (or similar) mechanical keyboard. Though if you do go down this conversion route then have fun, thats what this is all about after all!

Olympia

Our other new typewriter is this early 1960s Olympia SF Deluxe. The typewriter looks to work fine (and has the fine looks of a typical Olympia) though a more thorough evaluation will be carried out in the coming weeks.

Olivetti

The first of two additions to the typewriter collection is this Olivetti Lettera 32. I've wanted an Olivetti for some time, it fills one of the gaps in the collecton. The typewriter is a little worn but works perfectly well.

A job lot of calculation machines

My birthday is upcoming and i decided to spend my birthday money the best way possible, on retro office equipment! Two typewriters are pending, hopefully arriving in the next couple of days, but yesterday i received a job lot of sixteen old calculators! Some are a little more modern (though still firmly from the 1980s) than i prefer as i generally go for pre-LCD display machines but there are some interesting machines here (and only one real duplicate) which will be further explored in the months to come.

Rockwell 24RD-II

From 1976 is this attractive calculator with a very tasteful brown and orange colour scheme for the keys. The calculator was powered by a Rockwell A5901CA CPU. This gave the 24RD-II square root and percentage functions as well as the basic four arithmetric functions. 

Whatever function you use, the numbers are shown on an eight and a half digit vacuum fluorescent display. The calculator supported negative numbers and has the extra half digit to display the sign if negative.

Typing in the movies (1) : Cipher Bureau

In this new series we look at some interesting appearances by typewriters in old movies.

A few months ago we discussed the specialist Musicwriter which was a typewriter to create musical notation. In the rather good 1939 spy drama Cipher Bureau we see one (or similar anyway) in action! The film deals with a U.S. government department tasked with cracking enemy agent codes (which the film covers in quite interesting detail).

The key part of the film however is when the enemy agents switch to an ingenious new code which uses musical notes, the spy master planning to send his message over the radio in a live concert! The code breakers are onto this though, they listen to the concert and transcribe the music into notation using the Musicwriter (how realistic this is i don't know, i can't play a note!) 

Thanks to the Musicwriter the enemy spy ring is foiled, the U.S. is safe and everyone goes home happily for tea. Typewriters save the world, again.

Image from movie

When the Soviets hacked the West's typewriters

Electronic communication can easily be hacked and eavesdropped on, it happens all of the time either on the target computer itself or via communication links. Typewriters of course can't be hacked... well actually they can and were during the Cold War! 

The Soviet Union developed a sophisticated listening device which were fitted inside IBM Selectric typewriters at the US embassy in Moscow and consulate in Leningrad. The listening device was almost undetectable when fitted and measured the movements of the print ball in the typewriter using magnetometers before sending it's findings via radio. The Soviets were therefore able to know, with a decent amount of accuracy and a little bit of statistical analysis, what had been typed on the machine.

The Americans discovered the device after being tipped off by the French who has discovered a similar device in a teleprinter. They began an audit of all of the office equipment in the embassy, they had also discovered a mysterious antennae hidden inside the embassy but didn't know what was it was for until they discovered the typewriter devices (and therefore were able to put 2 and 2 together). 

The devices were found in seventeen Selectrics. This was a sophisticated bugging device though did rely on physical access to the typewriters to fit the device and depended on a specific design feature of the Selectric, this bug would not work on a standard mechanical typewriter.

Why i like typewriters (3) : The smell

As well as the physical presence and appeals to the touch, a typewriter can win over another of your senses too, the sense of smell. Typewriters can smell amazing, well thats if you think the smell of ink and lubricant oil mixed with decades of dust smells amazing. I do of course, but then again i also like the smell of garlic and Deep Heat. My Macbook doesn't really smell of anything at all but to be honest that is a good thing. 

Not all typewriters smell good though, i've never found the smell of the Erika type that appealing, they must use a different kind of lubricant in East Germany.

Typing on the SR100

Time for another typing video, this time on one of this year's additions to the collection.

Atlas

The latest typewriter to join the collection is the Atlas (Nippo) Portable. This is one of the oldest typewriters in the collection which dates from the 1960s. It is also our second German language typeset machine. It works pretty well and is in decent condition apart from the carriage return handle which has been broken in the past and glued back together, though it does work fine!

Touch typing (2) : Electric boogaloo

Way back in April i began lesson 2 of my touch typing course, and somehow i am still on it! For various reasons including holidays, other things to do and typewriter issues (the Royal 200 proved to be unsuitable so i had to switch to the Smith-Corona GT) i got behind but i think i am ready to complete this lesson and finally move onto the next!

Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)

Along the bottom of a cheque is printed a number of funky space age looking numbers representing the account number, sort code and cheque number. In fact this is an early method of computer character recognition (dating back to the 1950s) which banks used to automatically sort cheques. The numbers are printed using ink loaded with iron oxide. When the cheque is passed through the reading machine, these numbers are magnetised. The numbers are then passed under a small electric coil, a voltage signal is induced by the magnetised characters [1]. The computer is programmed to recognise these signals and therefore can read the numbers and perform any relevant operations such as sorting cheques by sort code or account number. This process is known as Magnetic ink character recognition or MICR.

Obviously you need a special font for this, so that each magnetised character returns a different and unique signal. These fonts are known as MICR fonts and two are in general use worldwide. In the UK and US the font used (those space age numbers) is E13B. This font only includes the ten numerals and a few special characters, it does not have any alphanumeric characters. The other common MICR font CMC7 does include a full alphabet though is not read in quite the same way as E13B. 

The full character set for E13B is shown below.

[1] Barry Wilkinson & David Horrocks, Computer Peripherals (2nd Edition) (Edward Arnold, 1987) p. 216

Typewriter number 26

The twenty sixth typewriter has joined the collection! From the 1960s we have an Atlas (Nippo) Portable which seems to be working though we haven't had chance to properly look at the machine yet. It is one of the older machines in the collection.

Showcase (10) : Boots PT800

Boots is a major British retailer who sell toiletries, cosmetics and the like. They also once sold items such as records (i got my first LPs from them!) More importantly they sold Boots branded typewriters throughout the 1960s to 1980s as well. The typewriters were built by established typewriter manufacturers and given a Boots badge. There are two Boots typewriters in the collection, one is an Erika made Model 42 from the late 1960s and the later Seiko built PT800.

This is a standard Seiko typewriter of the late 1970s. Externally the typewriter is in very good condition, it is nice and clean and has had a new ribbon fitted recently though there are some problems with operation. At times it can be very stiff and the carriage hardly moves, at other times it moves all too quickly and fast! These problems may be can be ironed out with a bit of typing hopefully. 

Having visited a Boots store recently i can sadly report that they no longer sell typewriters which is a shame.