According to the company's website: http://www.shanghai-ae.com/en/, the company, established in 1978, produced the main part of aero-plane engines, both for civil and military uses. In addition, it also produced over 30 other industrial equipment and parts including turbines,shock absorbers, horizontal hydraulic jacks and disc-type separators. I'm a bit amused to find that the company once produced steel-plate enamel bathtubes, for which it won accolades from the government.
Under the guidance of "serving both military and civil interests", Chang Kong was launched and became another hit product of the company. Apparently, it borrowed the design of Japan's basket-shift Brother first launched in the 70's. I remember that Chang Kong's retail price is RMB30 more expensive than HERO and FLYING FISH as they are equipped with two more "functional keys": a five-space pre-set TAB key and REPEAT SPACER. For export, they were relablled as KOFA-300.
Frankly speaking, I know very little about these machines. My only impression is that the keys are lighter when pressed, but not that "crisp" rather dull actually compared with HERO or FLYING FISH. They are slightly bigger than the other two but lighter because, according to sales literature, the manufacturer used an "advanced metal".
pictures are lined up in order of year of launch. FYI, they are mechanically same with the last one in orange an exception.
Finally, see what I've found on taobao.com, China's ebay. Who on earth from U.S. designed this? Someone from Walmart?
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Hope you guys enjoy!
Wow, another typewriter brand I never heard of. You are really adding to the knowledge of English-speaking typewriter historians.
ReplyDeleteThe red Chang Kong really looks cute.
Maybe U•S•A does not mean U.S.A.!
You will be disappointed, coz that's pretty much every thing I got for Chinese typewriters. hahaha
DeleteAnother Chinese typewriter brand, who would've thought?! Thanks again for sharing something new. The Chang Kong reminds me of the Japanese Silver Reed and the Korean Remstar.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you've seen it before, but Ted Munk put up a Typewriter Database where most of us document our typewriters. I hope you'd consider contributing since you're the only one in the Typosphere who's into Chinese typewriters; I'm sure a lot of typospherians will appreciate the information. Here's the link: http://typewriterdatabase.com/
hey, I didn't know. Thank you! of course I'd love to contribute. Honestly, I am not into Chinese typewriters. I think you guys would love to know a thing or two about typewriters made in China. hehe
DeleteI just bought one of these - serial number is 1986. Cool little machine!
ReplyDelete