Remington Type-Writer

Source:  "History of Herkimer County, N.Y.," F. W. Beers & Co., New York, 1879, pages 164-168

In 1874 the Remingtons added the manufacture of type writers to their other branches of industry.  These were machines for printing, and, if necessary, making several copies at once.

When this machine came to the establishment it was in an imperfect state, and required several years of close study and patient experiment to bring it to its present degree of perfection, and make it an entirely practical thing.  One difficulty after another had to be surmounted, but skill, energy and perseverance triumphed, and the machine is a complete success.  Improvements are still being made, and doubtless important modifications will suggest themselves in the future; for it is difficult to reach perfection.  Among the late important improvements is a device which enables the operator to use capitals where they are required.  This was at first considered almost impossible.  One of the originators of the machine declared that it could not be done; but ingenuity and energy have accomplished this great desideratum.  Previous to this types of only one size were used, and the printed sheet had a disagreeable sameness in appearance.  The new device entirely obviates this, and gives the work a variety similar to that of an ordinary printed sheet.

The advantages of this machine are at once apparent.  From forty to sixty words per minute can be printed by an ordinary operator, and the work at that rate can be continued indefinitely.  An expert can accomplish much more than this.  In the legibility of the matter written or printed by this machine the advantages are equally great.  In type setting the number of errors will be much reduced, and in an extensive correspondence time will be saved and errors avoided by reading from printed sheets instead of illegibly written ones.

A member of a central New York firm that reports extensively for the courts states that in the single item of paper that firm saves annually $200 by the use of these machines.  There are about six thousand of these in use, and the demand for them is steadily and rapidly increasing.

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Last Updated: 1/23/01

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