Showing posts with label analog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label analog. Show all posts

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Triumph NORM-6 of 1938

My slate workbench is currently occupied by a high school Honors Biology insect project.  The floor will have to make do.



Correction:  I double checked as noted below and determined this machine dates from 1938.



I swoon over chromed paper table logos.


The enamel and brass on this badge show this machine's 74-years of service and storage more than other portions.

The texture on the top section is a giveaway that this portion is plastic.  However, as you look at the other photos, you'll notice how well this color matches the painted metal lower section.
The chrome is thick and beautiful and the edges on the controls are nicely smoothed and polished.

Could any of the German speaking readers comment on the shop key tag?  Notice the Spanish tilde key - kind of funny in line with the German shift lock and margin release.

Correction:  I had been going off memory on the date of production.  According to the Typewriter Serial Number Database, this machine was made in 1938, a year after the Hindenburg explosion.  The Graf Zeppelin II was still out and about, but the era of the zeppelin was essentially over as the U.S. would not supply Germany with helium.


Thanks for reading this typecast!  This typewriter is a joy to write on, but takes a little practice and a subtle hand given the hard platen.  It is snappy and light to the touch on par with a well tuned Torpedo 18.

UPDATE:  To read more about the history of Triumph typewriters and similar models, visit:
http://www.machinesoflovinggrace.com/others.htm
 http://sommeregger.blogspot.com/2009/03/triumph-durabel-typewriter.html

It is interesting to note that the Triumph Durabel on Shordzi's blog resembles my NORM-6 more than the NORM-6 shown on Machines of Loving Grace.  Much gets lost in the history of relatively obscure machines.  It does not deserve obscurity as it is a wonderful machine.

If you are curious about the cards I typed on, visit the first entry on the topic at http://vintagetechobsessions.blogspot.com/2011/11/analog-record-keeping-and-kansas-city.html

Monday, September 24, 2012

Writing Materials Circa 1912 in Montgomery Wards Catalog


The Kansas City warehouse was the gateway to the West.  For typewriters from this catalog and additional back story, visit http://vintagetechobsessions.blogspot.com/2012/02/montgomery-wards-1912-typewriters.html

Just think how much ink one one of the glass pens would hold.


I like the fact that some of these brands are still around today.  "Blue Black" is still common nomenclature as well.



Saturday, October 22, 2011

Abandoned Analog



In the last week I have witnessed two separate instances of analog technology abandonment.  I suspect the perpetrators were hoping that someone would adopt their unwanted analog.  One pile of video tapes was around the corner from a row of dumpsters.  The box of albums was on a street corner planter.

Maybe putting up a sign that said "Free!" or "Please Take!" might have helped.  As it was, all but the most dedicated scrounger would wonder whether he or she were part of a stupid human video.

There are four dumpsters on the other side of that fence.
Remember VHS tapes?  I saw a Betamax player at a thrift shop recently.  Technology marches on.
How cryptic.
I like Flip Wilson.  However, I did not trust objects left in a random box on a street corner.