Like what's indicated in the title, the following pics I found on typewriter database really turn me on! Dear fellow typospherians, what is/are your favorite typeface?
2016/02/23
2016/02/01
Blue Ribbon Finally !!!! Hooray!
After months of relentless searches online and so many unanswered requests, there's finally one typewriter ribbon manufacturer in Canton, China, agreed to sell me black-blue ribbons! The best thing is, it costs only RMB14, approximately US$2, a piece, made of nylon and 8 meters long!
Months ago, I tried their violet ribbons, top quality!
They told me that, if the size of order is big enough , they can do all-yellow ribbons too. Once a Singaporean client bought from them a big order of four-parallel-color ribbons: red, yellow,blue and black, so that each and all typewritten characters have four colors.
Since I have no interest in yellow ribbons -- I have no idea of on what particular occasions do I need yellow ribbons. FYI, in China yellow flowers are for the dead--I'm trying to convince them to go with both dark green and brown colors just like the old times.
But they said ,to do that, they need to invest in developing formulae for the said colors, which in turn entails possible risks. So before that could happen, they need to be sure that the market big enough. I suggest them to list the products on eBay and try their luck.
Months ago, I tried their violet ribbons, top quality!
They told me that, if the size of order is big enough , they can do all-yellow ribbons too. Once a Singaporean client bought from them a big order of four-parallel-color ribbons: red, yellow,blue and black, so that each and all typewritten characters have four colors.
Since I have no interest in yellow ribbons -- I have no idea of on what particular occasions do I need yellow ribbons. FYI, in China yellow flowers are for the dead--I'm trying to convince them to go with both dark green and brown colors just like the old times.
But they said ,to do that, they need to invest in developing formulae for the said colors, which in turn entails possible risks. So before that could happen, they need to be sure that the market big enough. I suggest them to list the products on eBay and try their luck.
2016/01/31
Question about ribbon color in the heydays of typewriter era.
Hi fellow Typospherians,
I have a question for you. Aside from all-black, red/black ribbons,what colors were once used in the heydays of typewriter era? I've seen dark blue, verdant/ brown ribbons on a Remington shipped from the US.
In China, most typewriters would have black/red and all-black ribbons. I've seen, on earlier machines , blue ribbons. There were two shades of red. One is darker while the other is what I call rouge.
Your input will be highly valued and appreciated.
I have a question for you. Aside from all-black, red/black ribbons,what colors were once used in the heydays of typewriter era? I've seen dark blue, verdant/ brown ribbons on a Remington shipped from the US.
In China, most typewriters would have black/red and all-black ribbons. I've seen, on earlier machines , blue ribbons. There were two shades of red. One is darker while the other is what I call rouge.
Your input will be highly valued and appreciated.
2014/12/11
Typing Class in China.
 |
| Online source says it is a typing competition organized by a school in 1991, the most front boy is using a Hero TP110 typewriter. |
 |
| practice sheet |
 |
| typing classroom |
 |
| typing class in 1991 using Hero TP110 typewriter |
The following pictures show what you will see after opening the Hero typewriter package.
2014/12/04
A Typewriter Pile up
Below is a random picture took by an American tourist in Shanghai in 1990s.
What can we find in the picture? A pile of typewriters! At least three different models of Olympia,another three Olivettis. This picture shows one of the many second-hand markets that Shanghai once had and still have today.
These typewriters were probably discarded by trading firms or public schools. Staff of trading firms used to type business correspondence while English teachers type exam papers on weekly basis only to torture students!
In 1990s, my parents bought a HERO typewriter for me as a prize for excellent scores of English tests for an entire school year and not without my insistence that I deserve a prize that expensive. The HERO typewriter cost them 266 yuan (US$33), half of my dad's monthly salary. In comparison, an Olivetti Letter 22 cost some 500 yuan back then. So most local families couldn't afford imported typewriters. But yes, foreign typewriters could be brought home by a doting uncle or a dad's friend who happened to travel overseas. Rarity means an imported typewriter was worth showing off for quite a long time. However, trading firms and public schools could afford expensive imported typewriters which are more durable than locally made ones. I also believe that, instead of importing from Germany, the pictured Olympias were actually from Brazil while Olivettis from Mexico. Back in early 2000 when new typewriters still could be found in local stationary shops, I did check the origin of manufacturing of Olympia and Olivetti typewriters on display.
Why Brazil and Mexico? Because they are also developing countries like China, . So poor brothers are supposed to lend a helping hand to each other!
These typewriters were probably discarded by trading firms or public schools. Staff of trading firms used to type business correspondence while English teachers type exam papers on weekly basis only to torture students!
In 1990s, my parents bought a HERO typewriter for me as a prize for excellent scores of English tests for an entire school year and not without my insistence that I deserve a prize that expensive. The HERO typewriter cost them 266 yuan (US$33), half of my dad's monthly salary. In comparison, an Olivetti Letter 22 cost some 500 yuan back then. So most local families couldn't afford imported typewriters. But yes, foreign typewriters could be brought home by a doting uncle or a dad's friend who happened to travel overseas. Rarity means an imported typewriter was worth showing off for quite a long time. However, trading firms and public schools could afford expensive imported typewriters which are more durable than locally made ones. I also believe that, instead of importing from Germany, the pictured Olympias were actually from Brazil while Olivettis from Mexico. Back in early 2000 when new typewriters still could be found in local stationary shops, I did check the origin of manufacturing of Olympia and Olivetti typewriters on display.
Why Brazil and Mexico? Because they are also developing countries like China, . So poor brothers are supposed to lend a helping hand to each other!
2014/11/26
Unusual Pica font | Rover 7000
 |
| Rover 7000, Made in Italy, with unusual Pica font |
 |
| Royal Safari with beautiful cursive script |
Bigger than bigger
As I type on both machines, I find them flimsy. At some point, I thought the blue one was going to collapse. I typed some pages from my junior high school English book. I think you guys would be interested to know how English was taught in China during entire 1980s to early 1990s.
 |
| Torpedo, with non-serif font |
 |
| Rover 7000, Made in Italy, with unusual Pica font |
 |
| English coursebook for junior high school students in China from early 1980s to early 1990s |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)