I lived through the transition at the departments of State and Defense as typewriters were replaced by MagCard machines and Wang word processors (“never confuse a Wang with technology” said one IT guru). This included demonstrating how the agonizing weeklong overtime layered process of preparing a briefing book for the Secretary of Defense could be done in 3 regular workdays by half the people. Of course, this was before they fully recognized the opportunity to endlessly replace “happy” with “glad” and then back again. I’ve long argued that the IBM Selectric III with the self correcting ribbon was the true high point in government word processing tech. Just enough labor saving capacity without over empowering the editors.
Apparently, ownership of typewriters was strictly controlled in Eastern Bloc countries.
Sadly manual typewriters were far too much like hard work; my favourite typewriter of all time was the last-generation of golf-ball. Great fun to use. Fin d'epoch.
I lived through the transition at the departments of State and Defense as typewriters were replaced by MagCard machines and Wang word processors (“never confuse a Wang with technology” said one IT guru). This included demonstrating how the agonizing weeklong overtime layered process of preparing a briefing book for the Secretary of Defense could be done in 3 regular workdays by half the people. Of course, this was before they fully recognized the opportunity to endlessly replace “happy” with “glad” and then back again. I’ve long argued that the IBM Selectric III with the self correcting ribbon was the true high point in government word processing tech. Just enough labor saving capacity without over empowering the editors.
There's a Substack to be written on this theme for sure, Luke. We can even suggest a name:
"The Analog"
Apparently, ownership of typewriters was strictly controlled in Eastern Bloc countries.
Sadly manual typewriters were far too much like hard work; my favourite typewriter of all time was the last-generation of golf-ball. Great fun to use. Fin d'epoch.
Yes, I think I knew that. The Lives of Others?
Just landed a Smith Corona for $8.95 USD at a thrift store aka charity shop. Can't wait to tune up and start writing.
BARGAIN!