The Giant Underwood Master Typewriter
- Grond
- Location: Milan, Italy
- Main keyboard: Keychron K2
- Main mouse: Kensington Slimblade
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
Somebody posted this pic on Facebook, which I found pretty cool:
At first I thought this was just ancient photoshop, but turns out the giant Underwood actually existed – and worked! It was built for the 1940 Universal Exposition in New York.
http://www.historybyzim.com/2013/04/the ... ypewriter/
I wish IBM had built a giant Modem M!
At first I thought this was just ancient photoshop, but turns out the giant Underwood actually existed – and worked! It was built for the 1940 Universal Exposition in New York.
http://www.historybyzim.com/2013/04/the ... ypewriter/
I wish IBM had built a giant Modem M!
- vivalarevolución
- formerly prdlm2009
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Beam spring
- Main mouse: Kangaroo
- Favorite switch: beam spring
- DT Pro Member: 0097
I want to jump my way around those keys so bad.
- Grond
- Location: Milan, Italy
- Main keyboard: Keychron K2
- Main mouse: Kensington Slimblade
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
I wonder where the giant typewriter ended up. Apparently it took three years to built it, so I don't think they just torn it down after the show. I wonder if it still lies forgotten in some warehouse.
- Brian8bit
- DT Pro Member: -
They made two of them. One in the 1910s and the one posted here in the late 30s.Grond wrote:I wonder where the giant typewriter ended up. Apparently it took three years to built it, so I don't think they just torn it down after the show. I wonder if it still lies forgotten in some warehouse.
It was last shown in 1939/1940. A year later the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour. The US enacted scrap drives to gather metals for building ships, planes and munitions. As far as I've seen from searching the internet, both Underwoods ended up broken / melted down for the wars.
This link shows a picture of the first one from 1915 and the second from the late 30s.
From the above link...
The Underwood Typewriter Company produced M1 carbines for the war-effort. In the late 1930s, it manufactured a gigantic, working typewriter as a marketing stunt for the World’s Fair:
Just like in 1915…this too, was melted down for the war-effort! This typewriter was a giant version of the Underwood Master standard typewriter:
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Granted, it would have been bad public relations to hold on to a giant marketing gimmick at a time when people were dying in war. It was certainly an interesting artefact, but not quite what the 1940s would recognise as art:
Of course, our definitions have changed quite a bit since. No global shortage of formaldehyde will be enough to free a certain shark.
Of course, our definitions have changed quite a bit since. No global shortage of formaldehyde will be enough to free a certain shark.
- Grond
- Location: Milan, Italy
- Main keyboard: Keychron K2
- Main mouse: Kensington Slimblade
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
Yeah, I also read on Wikipedia that Underwood produced weapons during WWII, so possibly the second giant typewriter ended up there. Too bad! I also noticed that the Underwood brand is still used on some Olivetti POS. Quite a lousy end for a once glorious brand. I have a Underwood no. 5 from the 20s and it looks like it could still work.
P.S. I also found a tap dancing scene on a giant typewriter from a 1937 musical!
P.S. I also found a tap dancing scene on a giant typewriter from a 1937 musical!
- vivalarevolución
- formerly prdlm2009
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Beam spring
- Main mouse: Kangaroo
- Favorite switch: beam spring
- DT Pro Member: 0097
I wonder what the actuation force was on those. One elephant leg, or two?