Pete E. wrote:

...but they are there from time to time and they sound like they have new platens.

I worked with a sound engineer in a recording studio a few years ago to capture the sounds of five different typewriters. This was post-production work for a film, and we placed great emphasis on accuracy, which meant that I supplied the exact same models as were used in the film.

Five microphones were used to record each machine while I typed. The sum of these microphones was blended and edited to create the exact sound that was required for each typewriter scene in the film. This included massaging speed to match the on-screen action. 

Conversely, having worked on-set for a television production that involved a number of typewriters, the sound created by those machines as they were being used by the actors was never recorded. The sound crew was completely focused on the actors and their dialogue. 

The typewriter sounds you hear in film and television are unlikely created by the machines you're seeing on screen. Such sounds are normally added in post, and I don't know how many sound engineers go to the length of using matching models during this process. I suspect most use a more generic approach and edit the sound files to achieve the effect required for the scene.

Long story short, the sound of new platens you heard is most likely not authentic, and more likely the result of editing to achieve a desired effect.


On-set filming of close-up typing action: A stand-in (a proficient typist was actually used) types in place of the actor, and note the absence of any sound recording equipment. The stand-in was casted on the basis of the similarity of her hands to the actor's. An amusing side note is that we had to stabilize the table with additional stands and sandbags to reduce the shake created by the Selectric.

Another British TV series we have been watching is "The Hour" running on Acorn TV.

Follows the development of a TV production company for the BBC in the UK in the mid-to-late 1950's.

During an episode or two centering around the Suez Canal Crisis in 1956-57, the anchor of the TV show is seen typing with a plastic Hermes Media 3 that was not made until the early 1970's.

A couple of Olivetti's from the late 1960's also make appearances.

But in the main new room, they do have several 1940's to 1950's desk-top Royal hard at work.

But no such issues with old cars and vintage clothing and set decor which is period-correct.

Prop master must have been exhausted after doing all that work and did not put too much thought into securing some old typewriters.

lazydog wrote:

This seems to be turning into a "typewriters in film and v" thread, which I do not think exists yet here that I have seen but I find fun.

I think there has been a couple, certainly this one comes to mind: Typewriters in the Movies