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WWII Signal Corps Typewriter


timmer3AS
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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

 

post-96665-0-93671300-1383166011.jpg

 

post-96665-0-51739600-1383166023.jpg

 

 

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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

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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

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...

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

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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.

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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...

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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.

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thanks for explanation! Now I understand, why there are orange/red inspection stamps, which are typical for signal corps equipment.

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