This massive 14 ton typewriter really existed, and went through
several transformations and re-boots along the way. The 1st postcard
you see below is the one that got me started on the hunt for more info
about this forgotten relic. I inherited this Postcard from my Great
Aunt Peg, who attended the 1939 World's Fair and saw this beast
in action. The Underwood Company created it back in the teens,
as part of a traveling Advertising campaign. The typewriter and
its crew of Gals & Technicians went to Panama, San Francisco,
Atlantic City etc., before landing at the NYC World's Fair in
1939. This machine was a GIANT working model, that used
a female Model/Typist to dance upon the keys to write.
Special paper had to be made for this behemoth as well.
Sadly, with the scrap drives to build War Machines for WWII,
this oddball creation of a bygone era got melted down to
Serve her Country one last time...
Goll dang-it~! When somebody gonna invent a
TIME Machine sos I can go back for a visit~!
that thing could kill people if their arm or head was in the wrong place at the wrong time!
ReplyDeleteYeah~ it's called the DE-CAP key~!
ReplyDeleteI grew up typing my first stories, letters, words, and college papers on an Underwood Touch-Master and wish to Heaven I still had it. Nothing feels like writing like an Underwood. -- Mykal
ReplyDeleteCheck out my 1st post this week, Mykal~ all about the Hybrid Typewriters I make. I will keep my eye open for a touch-master while yard-sailing.
ReplyDeleteps: I still follow all your posts, but am refraining from commenting until June. I have been writing so much I think I'm gonna throw-up a screenplay~!
I did see that post, my friend. I was overwhelmed! You keep on writing and don't worry about commenting. I know you're out there. -- Mykal
ReplyDeletePS: It was a Underwood Touch-Master Five. See It Here!!
ReplyDeleteI can still feel the keys in my sleep!
Ah, she's a beaute that one ! The Touch-Master is a little old-school, a little new school, I like it. I have never owned that model, but currently own six different kinds of underwoods or olivetti-underwoods. my all-time favorite is the Olympia, which i'm typing on right now.
ReplyDeleteps: I think tomorrow I will treat myself and finally read that Judge Colt #4 you posted a while back ;~j
DeCAP key! ha ha!
ReplyDelete