When I first started working in my office, there was an old typewriter sitting atop some filing cabinets. After a few years, the filing cabinets were moved out, and the typewriter got shifted to the top of some lockers. And it’s been there ever since.
No, it’s not an antique or anything, but it’s probably older than me. I believe there was an even older one kicking around for a while, too, but it’s apparently found another home.
So I immediately thought of the old Underwood when I happened across a site called the Typewriter Database.
Essentially just a list of serial numbers for any of the 1,000 or so typewriter brands that have ever existed, the Typewriter Database is far from complete, but it’s still an invaluable resource for typewriter collectors. So, tell me about my (work’s) typewriter!
The Underwood Touch-master Five. But try as I might, I couldn’t find a serial number!
It was a heavy old bugger — and dusty and gross underneath. But no matter where I looked and peered, and what pieces I shifted around, I couldn’t find anything that even looked like a serial number.
Could it possibly have been on a sticker that had long-since fallen off?
Well, never fear, the Typewriter Database was able to at least narrow things down. According to their “Underwood” section (I can’t bookmark it directly, you have to follow the links) the Touch-master Five was only made in three years — 1961, 1962 and 1963. If I had a serial number, I could pinpoint the year exactly, but no dice.
That thing was heavy though — I’ll bet you could slap the carriage return with force, and it wouldn’t budge an inch.
As an aside, I note that the famed IBM Selectric was also introduced in 1961 — but my workplace decided to stick with the tried-and-true mechanical version. Is this a very early foreshadowing of a newspaper that failed to grasp changing technology?
Couldn’t find the serial number on my Remington Rand No. 5 Portable, narrowing it down to between 1932-1940. Which I already knew.
Will hunt with a q-tip in hand later. Anyone know a good cleaning service?
I’ve got an older electric at my parents’ house that I used to use, and I’ll give it a look-see later.
As for cleaning, you might be on your own for that one.
I wonder why the number 5 seemed to be so popular for typewriters.
I dig that website, although it does kind of feel like I should be watching a claymation commercial with that music.