1 - TypewriterKing
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Offline - From: DeepInTheHeartO', Texas
- Registered: 17-2-2016
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How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
I know this is a strange topic to discuss, even among typewriter collectors. But it is certainly something to consider, especially if you've just bought a Friden Flexowriter for a song, lugged it home, only to find that your Danish Modern decor will not support this newly acquired what-seems-like-a-5-ton hunk of metal, plastic, and rubber. I know this scenario is more than a tad extreme, but when one buys a typewriter, one usually thinks about, or should think about, what it's going to take to get it loaded into the car (or truck), and what piece of furniture will hold it.
As a public service, I have weighed several machines in my collection on a bathroom scales (not the most accurate weighing device in the world, but it does "ballpark" the figure pretty well). Here is what I've found:
Most portable typewriters: Around 15 pounds
Intermediate typewriters (such as the Royal Ultronic and Smith-Corona Electric portables): Around 20-25 pounnds
Most Upright (or Desktop) Aluminum-cased typewriters: Around 30 pounds
Most Upright (or Desktop) Cast-iron-cased typewriters and IBM Selectric: Around 35 pounds.
Most Upright Old-Style Electric typewriters: Around 45 pounds.
Note that these are ballpark figures. Also, these were weighed in American pounds measurement, so you'll need to find a conversion table for Imperial or Metric measures. And then there are typewriters that are specially-built, such as those with long carriages, proportional spacing (IBM Executives, and others), or calculating equipment. All this can equal greater weight. The figures above reflect more ordinary machines. I am not sure what a Friden Flexowriter would weigh, but a 1972 IBM Executive with a 20" carriage once dressed out at 52 pounds, and a 1970 Olympia Electric upright tipped the scales at 58 pounds.
I know this all sounds a little bit weird to discuss, but again, the weight of typewriters is definitely well worth considering when you look at and buy them.
Underwood--Speeds the World's Bidness
- Uwe
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Re: How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
I weigh every machine and record it as part of its specs. Although a discussion of weight has real-world relevance when it comes to portable typewriters, I think the weight of a standard is probably less noteworthy because spent a good deal of their lives sitting in the same place. I've yet to have any machine cause a problem with what I was putting it on; even at 50 pounds (23 kg), it can't be much of a piece of furniture if it can't handle such a modest weight.
With respect to conversions, I didn't realize that an "American" pound differed from an Imperial pound, so I looked it up:
Wikipedia wrote:
According to a 1959 NIST publication, the United States pound differed from the international pound by approximately one part in 10 million. The difference is so insignificant that it can be ignored for almost all practical purposes.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- TypewriterKing
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- From: DeepInTheHeartO', Texas
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Re: How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
I almost forgot!! When I say Imperial, I mean weight referred to in "stone." My ignorance is showing a bit, please pardon me. I don't know if that is Imperial measurement, but I know Imperial measurement includes inches and yards, and pounds, which we use here stateside. What title do they give weight measured in "stone?" And just before I go, so my little list of weights can include more typewriters, can some of you weigh your machines to give the rest of us an idea of what to allow for when we shelve, table, or desk our new finds? I thank you for your help.
Underwood--Speeds the World's Bidness
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Thread Starter- TypewriterKing
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- From: DeepInTheHeartO', Texas
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Re: How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
Thanks, Uwe, for looking that up. I did some looking up just now myself, and found that "stone" is included in imperial measurement as well. Translated, it means 14 pounds. This would mean (I'm telling on myself now) that in Imperial measurement, I would weigh about 20 stone (I am a large man).
Underwood--Speeds the World's Bidness
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Thread Starter- beak
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- From: Qld Australia
- Registered: 24-3-2013
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Re: How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
A stone is just 14 lb.
It survives in the UK and some other places merely because it was once the shorthand way to give people's weight; 'He only weighed eight stone.'
Completely obsolete, of course, and rarely encountered anywhere now, replaced by the sanity of metric (SI) units.
Sincerely,
beak.
- TypewriterGuy
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- From: United States
- Registered: 24-4-2015
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Re: How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
Hehe, Ive gotta portable typewriter that has a "Standard" (Yeah right!) keyboard that weighs 3 pounds...
Its my Bennett.
Back from a long break.
Starting fresh with my favorite typer. A Royal Futura!
- Ampelmann
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Re: How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
Interesting measurements, TypewriterKing. It's nice to have some sort of ballpark figure. I think they all get heavier over time though! I made the mistake of thinking I could carry a wide carriage Remington Standard from the checkout at my local Salvation Army to my car a little while ago. I made it, but it hurt to use my right arm for a couple days after. Next time I'll just use the cart...
- Uwe
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Re: How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
...thinking I could carry a wide carriage Remington Standard from the checkout at my local Salvation Army to my car a little while ago. I made it, but it hurt to use my right arm for a couple days after. Next time I'll just use the cart...
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- KatLondon
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Re: How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
Beak, come to the UK! People still talk in stones, I'm reasonably sure. Certainly when the maternity clinic used to try to weigh me in kilos I never even pretended to know what they were on about. But my Polish lodger only knows kilos. And cm. Madness.
Surely quite a few of the heavier standards have carriages that you can remove? I can barely pick up my SG3 with its carriage in place; when I remove the carriage I realise that's the bit I can barely pick up. It may be destined to stay in m ore or less one place, but weight is a great thing to think about for getting the thing home...
And of course the ultra-portables are lighter, largely weighing around 9 lbs - though there's a wide variation even there. My most lightweight travel-writer experience so far has been the Consul, without case, wrapped in a canvas bag in my suitcase. And it's v reliable to take with and count on having a good experience.
- Uwe
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Re: How Much Does This Thing Weigh?!
I'm not suggesting anyone here is guilty of this, but most people I see carrying a standard don't do it correctly; they walk with the keyboard pressed into their stomach. If you turn the machine around so that the back of the carriage is against you instead, it's far easier to carry. Sure, the weight hasn't changed, but the balance point has, and it makes a difference. Someone I bought a machine from today horrified me with his technique, which was to flip the typewriter on to its back and carry it one handed by the keyboard frame. I almost didn't buy the machine after seeing that, but it was a model you don't come across too often and it had other issues anyway.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
