timmer3AS Posted October 30, 2013 Share #1 Posted October 30, 2013 Good Evening, My wife had been looking for a typewriter for a while and we ended up making a compromise. LC Smith Signal Corps typewriter model MC-88. I wasn't really having any luck searching for a similar model, so if you have seen one before let me know! I don't imagine it was considered "portable" as it weighs at least 30 pounds...assuming it's WWII era. Now to oil this baby up and get typing..haha. -Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted November 1, 2013 Share #2 Posted November 1, 2013 Nice! All caps, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellumbill Posted November 1, 2013 Share #3 Posted November 1, 2013 Timmer - Thanks for the post and the pics! I have never seen a US Army model with the data plate before, only US Navy ones. Curious, does the "Phila" serial number represent a 1945 date or 1951? I never know how to read those things correctly! Lee - I have two Smith Corona portables marked "US Army" and painted OD green - One is all caps and one is not, go figure? Best, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmer3AS Posted November 5, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted November 5, 2013 You are correct...it's all caps. It has a tabulator button in the top middle...kind of like a smaller space bar. Looking closer it also has a metal tab on the top right where in theory I think you can switch between red, yellow or black type. As for the serial number on the back...I'm really not sure. The overall Art Deco appearance of the case made me think WW2 but who knows. Thanks the responses gents and I'll keep you posted if I figure out more! - Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QED4 Posted November 17, 2013 Share #5 Posted November 17, 2013 Assuming this typewriter has a serial number not the Army one on the data plate but the manufacturer's number that should be on the frame somewhere, usually near the carriage but not always, you can get the date of manufacture from this website. http://www.tw-db.com/indexen.htm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mireks Posted March 17, 2014 Share #6 Posted March 17, 2014 Hello, I read the topic and realized, I have WWII military typewriter, which is all caps. However I have no idea, what is reason for such feature. Can anyone explain it to me, please? thanks Mirek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted March 17, 2014 Share #7 Posted March 17, 2014 They were used for teletypes and such, where you wanted clear messages sent. Remember, typewriters weren't perfect even when new, and lower case letters could cause problems with a read-back. For example, the lower case 'L' on an old typwriter was also the number 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgawne Posted March 17, 2014 Share #8 Posted March 17, 2014 I bet I, with my crappy typing skills, can type better than any of today's youngsters on a manual machine. It took a REAL MAN to punch those keys! not just gently touch them like today's modern keyboards. Not that I am sad in any way to see them go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted March 17, 2014 Share #9 Posted March 17, 2014 I learned how to type on a manual machine, one my Mom got in the 50s. So, using the two-finger method (as noted already, you have to punch the mother out of those keys to make them work) as they were the only finger strong enough to type with. So now, I can type faster than most people with ten fingers, but I still only use two. People at the office will sometimes stop behind me and watch, marvelling at how fast two fingers can go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mireks Posted March 17, 2014 Share #10 Posted March 17, 2014 thanks for explanation! Now I understand, why there are orange/red inspection stamps, which are typical for signal corps equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted March 18, 2014 Share #11 Posted March 18, 2014 NICE! Talk about a very basic typewriter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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