General Discussion

QueerDuck

(1,296 posts)

44. Absolutely! It is intentionally designed to slow down typists...

Mon Feb 16, 2026, 02:57 PM

Yesterday

and to mechanically separate the keys that are most likely to tangle together as they hit the platen. Thus making fingers travel miles further than is necessary with a more efficient DVORAK keyboard.

She also had a Smith-Corona standard electric typewriter, but she could make those keys tangle by accident too. I remember when she bought an IBM selectric (the one with the golf-ball) it was amazing how quickly she could type as that little ball would fly around faster than the eye can see.

My first typewriter in college was a used Royal... like this one, only a blue color.

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DURHAM D

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Poll: Do you have a typewriter? [View all] DURHAM D Sunday OP

Not anymore, but there are plenty of days I wish I did have one! SheltieLover Sunday #1

I have one. It's in the attic. Ocelot II Sunday #2

I did but it is long gone. But I agree, sometimes it is the best and simplest way to fill out a form. Marie Marie Sunday #3

Not anymore---- I guess I haven't still owned one in about 30 years.... Jack Valentino Sunday #4

From 'class'............. MyOwnPeace Yesterday #55

I have an electric typewriter on a shelf in my basement. Like others have noted, I keep it to fill out those paper forms generalbetrayus Sunday #5

Long gone. NewHendoLib Sunday #6

Contribute one dollar to pay for a DU 'Star Membership', Jack Valentino Sunday #7

I have a Star Membership. DURHAM D Sunday #8

Why not both? Polybius Yesterday #41

I got tired of lugging it with me every time I moved. LudwigPastorius Sunday #9

Not since the 90's when I got my first Tree Lady Yesterday #10

About 42 years ago, I acquired my first printer. Intractable Yesterday #11

there is one in the house. I think it was my Mother's, possibly my Grandmother's Kali Yesterday #12

I gave up my typewriter about 25 years ago LogDog75 Yesterday #13

Somewhere, probably. Right now I have no idea where. nt eppur_se_muova Yesterday #14

I have one BlueSpot Yesterday #15

I have 2, area51 Yesterday #16

Yes. H2O Man Yesterday #17

Used to love using them for rough drafts back when DU first started thebigidea Yesterday #18

Yes - but only because it was my father's Ms. Toad Yesterday #19

nope, not for 15 years now krawhitham Yesterday #20

Yes. I rarely use it. nt Ilsa Yesterday #21

This message was self-deleted by its author CTyankee Yesterday #22

My last one was called a Selectric (I think). Does anybody remember that model? CTyankee Yesterday #23

This message was self-deleted by its author Raine Yesterday #25

Yes l remember those. nt Raine Yesterday #31

Yes - made by IBM. DURHAM D Yesterday #37

Yes, but it needs a ribbon. AnotherDreamWeaver Yesterday #24

Long gone, but I learned on an old manual one.. Permanut Yesterday #26

Yes l have couple of typewriters. One is special it's electric and Raine Yesterday #27

How cool samplegirl Yesterday #28

My cousin gave me her husband's old typewriter markodochartaigh Yesterday #29

What's a typewriter?? InAbLuEsTaTe Yesterday #30

We no longer have a typewriter... EarthFirst Yesterday #32

I'm not Ron Swanson SocialDemocrat61 Yesterday #33

I still use an electric typewriter for some things Shrek Yesterday #34

The last typewriter I had was a word processor. When the modern computer Emile Yesterday #35

I replaced my last typewriter with a computer in the 1980s. highplainsdem Yesterday #36

NO. Happy Hoosier Yesterday #38

I own 8 or 9 manual typewriters. Orrex Yesterday #39

Lol, no Polybius Yesterday #40

I do! An Underwood typewriter that belonged to my mother. She learned to type on it. QueerDuck Yesterday #42

Do you know how they came up with the keyboard design DURHAM D Yesterday #43

Absolutely! It is intentionally designed to slow down typists... QueerDuck Yesterday #44

Yes, I have a 1948 Royal Quiet Deluxe portable typewriter. MineralMan Yesterday #45

Yes a couple,,, somewhere. Prairie_Seagull Yesterday #46

Amen - love the clack nt DURHAM D Yesterday #47

Yes Rebl2 Yesterday #48

In the attic Bettie Yesterday #49

No blogslug Yesterday #50

Several bucolic_frolic Yesterday #51

I have two, and my wife has one DavidDvorkin Yesterday #52

No. The two things I actually learned in high school was how to drive a car and typing. underpants Yesterday #53

I have a Smith-Corona electric typewriter in my basement. CrispyQ Yesterday #54

Yes. Mine is a script. StarryNite Yesterday #56

No, sold my IBM Selectric five years ago. sinkingfeeling Yesterday #57

We have a 1936 royal bamagal62 Yesterday #58

Cool DURHAM D Yesterday #59

No orangecrush Yesterday #60