The Original Word Processor

My brother, Jason, recently dropped an antique typewriter off at the barbershop.  He wanted to give it to my daughter, Kathleen; but she already has an antique typewriter.  I suggested he leave it at the shop.  I think it makes an interesting addition to my growing collection of antiques and oddities.

Today I decided to write this week’s blog entry using the typewriter.  As it is a manual typewriter (not electronic and not a word processor), I find I must be very deliberate and forceful with each key stroke.  Otherwise the ink does not sit well on the page.  It needs a new ribbon as the ink is old and fairly dry.  Needless to say, using an old typewriter is a challenge.

While I’m on the subject of typing, do you know the origins of the QWERTY keyboard?  Why is it called QWERTY?

I took typing back in high school.  At that time we were told the keys were positioned such to slow typists down as the keys would jam; but a Smithsonian magazine article (www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/fact-of-fiction-the-legend-if-the-qwerty-keyboard-49863249 May 3, 2013) indicates the design was originally created based on the advice of telegraph operators who translated Morse code to letters.  QWERTY is the name because these are the top six letters from left to right.

Regardless that little tidbit, I think I’ll stick to barbering rather than typing.  Although this has been fun, I’d rather stand behind the chair than sit in front of a typewriter.

Cheers,

Dan