1 of 1- Ted
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Underwood with only UPPER CASE letters
As a small child (I am 84 years old, right now) I once took a heavy Underwood typewriter, laying in a field somewhere, home on my scooter.
I still have the Underwood and am curious about its use, since it only possesses UPPER CASE lettering (in the letter blocks for upper case- as well as lower case).
Could it have been used for teletype/telegraph/telegram forms etc. and when; wartime? And what is the manufacturing date?
The details:
Typewriter # II-6224266 (II could also be a small OO). On the paper plate and casing is stamped/painted the number 83. The detachable front plate has a (paint-)stamped mark "ASPA".
It is still in working condition, but needs a thorough clean up.
I am curious if any of you can provide details.
Thanks and regards,
Ted (Amsterdam).
- Ted
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Re: Underwood with only UPPER CASE letters
Being new I still don't know how to ad JPEG-pictures.
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Thread Starter- Laurenz van Gaalen
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Re: Underwood with only UPPER CASE letters
Hi Ted,
How interesting, I have a telegraphers Remington that was serviced by ASPA too. See the link below for photo's op and a type sample. Now I wonder, does your machine have the same typeface?
FYI: Underwood made MILL's (the nick name for telegrapher typewriters). As far as I know MILL's had always a slashed zero. See also the links below.
Kind regards,
Lau
- skywatcher
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Re: Underwood with only UPPER CASE letters
Hi Ted
You'll find instructions for posting pictures here:
Typewriter Talk » Typewriter Talk FAQ - PLEASE READ THIS FIRST!
Hope this helps,
Sky
We humans go through many computers in our lives, but in their lives, typewriters go through many of us.
In that way, they’re like violins, like ancestral swords. So I use mine with honor and treat them with respect.
I try to leave them in better condition than I met them. I am not their first user, nor will I be their last.
Frederic S. Durbin. (Typewriter mania and the modern writer)
- Pete E.
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Re: Underwood with only UPPER CASE letters
Hi Sky,
Is our Forum set up so a new member needs to have a few text-only postings before the photo-posting feature is automatically allowed ? I thought that was mentioned in the past by Uwe.
.
- skywatcher
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Re: Underwood with only UPPER CASE letters
Hi Pete
I believe a new member has to post 3 times before he or she can post pictures. If Ted posts one more time, he should be able to imbed links to pictures in a post.
Sky
We humans go through many computers in our lives, but in their lives, typewriters go through many of us.
In that way, they’re like violins, like ancestral swords. So I use mine with honor and treat them with respect.
I try to leave them in better condition than I met them. I am not their first user, nor will I be their last.
Frederic S. Durbin. (Typewriter mania and the modern writer)
- Ted
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- Posts: 3
Re: Underwood with only UPPER CASE letters
I apologize for responding so late.
Finally I am able to use Flickr to upload the pictures.
Here is the link:
Since the ink on the ribbon has dried, I unfortunately can’t provide a sample of the lettering.
However I am still interested in the history of those ‘single case’ machines/Underwoods.
Best regards and a happy New Year,
Ted, Amsterdam.
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Thread Starter- Pete E.
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- From: Idaho - USA
- Registered: 23-6-2020
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Re: Underwood with only UPPER CASE letters
Ted,
Many typewriter manufacturers offered what some called their "Double Gothic" type-script...for both standard and portable machines.
Here is an example of that type-script on a portable Olympia SM3 machine.
.
- skywatcher
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Re: Underwood with only UPPER CASE letters
Hi Again Ted
Your picture of the keyboard clearly shows both a figure 1 and a slashed zero. This points strongly towards a Morse typewriter. The 7-digit serial number beginning with 62- indicates 1947, the rimmed Bakelite letter keys and green function keys are in keeping with this model year range. From what I understand, portable units were usually used on ships for recording morse messages. As your unit is definitely not a portable, it may have been a naval or military base unit, or a telegraph writer.
If you can get your hands on a sheet of carbon paper, an acceptable type sample can be generated using carbon paper and plain white paper together leaving the bichrome selector on stencil. If the type slugs cut through the carbon paper, sandwich the carbon between 2 sheets of paper. Hope this points you in the right direction,
Sky
We humans go through many computers in our lives, but in their lives, typewriters go through many of us.
In that way, they’re like violins, like ancestral swords. So I use mine with honor and treat them with respect.
I try to leave them in better condition than I met them. I am not their first user, nor will I be their last.
Frederic S. Durbin. (Typewriter mania and the modern writer)
