While in most office settings the computer has replaced the typewriter as the office machine of choice, typewriters have a long and rich history in the arts, in homes and in the business world. Today, many people collect typewriters. Some people still use typewriters for writing at home, because they enjoy the sound and the tactile experience of the typewriter keyboard.

Mastering some typewriters key terms can help you if you want to collect or use typewriters. Learning typewriters key terms can help you understand the parts of the typewriter that you may eventually need to replace or repair. Understanding some basic key terms also can help you understand which typewriters you might want to buy for yourself.

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Typewriters

Typewriters are mechanical office machines that allow users to press a key and have a character imprint itself on a card or a paper. There are electrical as well as manual typewriters still in use, although these machines have become somewhat of a collector's item since the introduction of the computer.

I recommend: The Classic Typewriter Page has an illustrated explanation of typewriters, as well as a history of the typewriter.

QWERTY

QWERTY refers to the most often used keyboard arrangement of letters on typewriters (and many computers). QWERTY is named after the first letters to appear on the upper left side of the QWERTY keyboard.

I recommend: The Great Idea Finder explains what QWERTY is and how it was invented.

Typewriter ribbons

Typewriter ribbons are narrow pieces of fabric that are soaked in ink. They are held taut in the typewriter and are moved back and forth. When a typist strikes a character on the typewriter keyboard, the ribbon is struck with a piece of metal, creating an imprint on the page.

I recommend: Typewriter Ribbons has a useful definition of ribbons, as well as information about pricing and where ribbons can be found.

Upstrike keyboard typewriters

Upstrike keyboard typewriters are an older design of typewriters in which the typebar -- the part of the typewriter that has the characters, which are attached to the keys -- moves up towards the typewriter ribbon.

I recommend: The Virtual Typewriter Museum has a definition of upstrike keyboard typewriters, as well as images of such typewriters.

Carriage return

The carriage return is a mechanism on a typewriter that allows the typist to move to the next line of the page and continue typing. On most typewriters, the carriage return mechanism consists of a lever on the side of the machine that can simply be pushed when the typist is ready to finish a line.

I recommend: WiseGEEK has a detailed definition of the carriage return and why it was created for the typewriter.

Frontstrike keyboard typewriters

In frontstrike keyboard typewriters, the typebar rests in a down position, surges forward when a key is hit, and then falls back into place when the key is released. This sort of typewriter became common after 1900.

I recommend: The Early Office Museum has an illustrated definition of frontstrike keyboard typewriters and compares these machines to other typewriter designs.

Typewriters still serve many useful functions in today’s offices. Electric typewriters can improve efficiency and enhance precision and control when it comes to labels, envelopes, printed forms, carbon copies and other items that a computer struggles to print on.

Electric typewriters, portable typewriters and even manual typewriters are still available, as are typewriter parts and ribbons. Brother, Royal, Smith-Corona, Olivetti and IBM can be bought, although only the first three of these typewriter manufacturers remain in the business. You can buy new and refurbished typewriters online and through typewriter distributors and possibly find them at office supply stores as well.

Choose a typewriter with features best suited to your needs and budget. For low usage, select one with fewer features. For regular, even heavy usage, consider an electronic typewriter with spell check, correction memory, battery back-up and a dictionary. Questions to ask when evaluating electronic typewriters include:

1. Volume: How many projects are you using your typewriter for?

2. Project type: What types of projects are you doing?

3. Correction: Will you need to make corrections on the document?

4. Font flexibility: Will you need to have more than 1 font available?

5. Paper width: Are you working with 8.5” x 11” or wider?

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Compare features for different typewriters online

Save time by comparing different typewriter brands and models before you buy. Review features, pricing and availability for an electric typewriter or manual typewriter online.

I recommend: Side by side comparisons at PriceGrabber.com, MSN Shopping and SortPrice enable you to evaluate different options, correction features, page width and font choices. View an overall broader assortment as each site usually profiles a different inventory of machines.

Choose your typewriter's basic features

Whether purchasing an electric typewriter or a manual typewriter, it's important to consider basic features such as pitch selection (point size-usually 10 point and 12 point), platen or carriage width (around which the paper wraps), line spacing (1, 1.5 and 2 lines) and paper length it accepts.

I recommend: Brother International’s product index is user friendly and provides a detailed description of both current and discontinued typewriters. Refurb Express offers a broad selection of refurbished electronic typewriters. Also check the supply at Typewriters.com and Royal. If you're looking for a vintage manual typewriter, try Classic Typewriter Classifieds or MrTypewriter.com.

Save and store information with memory typewriters

Memory typewriters are hybrids. Their operation combines mechanical with microprocessor technology to provide many word-processing functions, and sometimes includes a partial-line visual display. For jobs that require repeated use of information, such as labels and envelopes, or high volume projects, a memory electronic typewriter combines the best of both pieces of equipment.

I recommend: Both NexTag and mySimon have an extended list of the different typing manufacturer makes and models of memory typewriters to review and compare the different functions available.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Evaluate getting an extended warranty on your equipment. Like all equipment, typewriters can require repairs. Weigh replacement cost vs. warranty cost before you decide.
• •  Keep a back-up stock of typewriter supplies on hand, and not just a single replacement. When it comes to typewriter ribbons and correction tape, keep two in case one is faulty.
• •  Try before you buy if you are unfamiliar with a particular typewriter model.

Since 1829, when the first known typewriter was invented, typewriters have been an important machine for writers and businesses. Throughout the late 1800s and much of the 1900s, typewriters were the main business machines at many companies. With such a rich history, there are many typewriters types and styles to choose from. In general, each type of typewriter stems from a different period in history. The earliest machines were manual typewriter styles, while later in the 1900s, electric models were available. Today, electronic models resemble early word processors.

Today, the number of typewriter manufacturers has declined, but sales of used typewriters remain brisk due to their high demand as collectibles. A few manufacturers still make electronic typewriters, and typewriter parts for various machines are widely available. If you want to buy typewriters, familiarize yourself with the types and styles available. Consider the following:

1. Look at manual typewriters for antique appeal and collectibles.
2. Select electric typewriters for general typing and economic business use.
   
3. Choose electronic models still made new by typewriter manufacturers.
   

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Find out more about mechanical typewriters

Manual typewriter styles, or mechanical typewriter styles, as they were commonly known, were standardized by 1910 and included keys that were attached to typebars. When a key was struck, that key's typebar struck an inked ribbon, which left an imprint on the page. Today, manual typewriters are somewhat of a collector's item, although typewriter ribbons and parts are still available for those who want to use these machines for writing.

I recommend: Mr. Martin's Web Site lists many of the most common manual typewriter styles over the years. Many pictures are included, as well as details about each model. Rider University has a virtual collection of manual typewriters and other business machines over the years.

Consider electric typewriter models

Electric typewriters were first invented in the 1800s, but were not in use until later in the 1900s. These machines were faster and more accurate because of the motor used. Today, it is possible to buy refurbished typewriters that are electric.

I recommend: IBM has a history of the electric typewriter, complete with images and multimedia showing different types of electric typewriters. The Art History Club has a useful guide to several kinds of electric typewriters.

Buy more modern electronic typewriter machines

Electronic typewriters became popular in the 1980s and they included circuitry, internal memory, external memory storage displays and daisy-wheels. These typewriters were much like later word processors and made typing and fixing mistakes much easier while also providing near-printer-quality output. Today, the few typewriter distributors and manufacturers still selling new typewriters sell electronic models exclusively.

I recommend: Brother International still sells new electronic typewriters in personal and business class styles with daisy wheels, LCD displays, and disk drives. Royal Consumer Information Products is another established company still selling several styles of new electronic typewriters.

Upon first glance, you may think typewriters are obsolete, especially in the business world. However, that is not the case. A mechanical typewriter is very effective in situations where a computer printer just won’t do, such as filling out forms with a carbon copy attached or making file and folder labels. Basically, you can take any document that won’t feed through a printer properly and get the results you desire by using a typewriter.

While there aren’t many typewriter manufacturers remaining, you can still buy a typewriter online with ease. Many older manual typewriters can be refurbished, even some vintage style models that add class to your work environment. Once you know what your needs are and the style you want, you need to consider your budget. Keep the following in mind as you look at typewriters pricing and costs:

1. An electronic typewriter can do virtually everything a word processor can do.

2. Refurbished typewriters are just as reliable as new electric typewriters or new manual typewriters, but are less expensive.

3. You will need to be sure that the typewriter parts for your particular unit are still available for purchase.

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Obtain a productive atmosphere with an electric typewriter at each desk

Many business owners are implementing typewriters because the sound they make when in use provides the perception of a busy and productive office. If this is something that appeals to you, then it would be best to purchase high-tech electric typewriters for your employees so that they can get more use out of them. These units come with correction tape (the ability to correct mistakes), spell check, automatic centering capabilities, fast typing speeds and more.

I recommend: Most typewriter distributors offer electronic typewriters for $200 to $700, depending on the brand and features. Office 1000 has the Royal PowerWrite electric typewriter available for less than $500. Purchase a Brother typewriter, well-known among typewriter brands, from Typewriters.

Add class and style with a vintage manual typewriter

A vintage manual and/or refurbished manual typewriter can add an element of class to your business. Keep in mind that they are slower and don't have all of the extra features that a newer electric typewriter has available. However, if you're just looking for something for basic, periodic use (such as file labels), then a manual unit is the right choice for you. It's important to know that vintage-style typewriters will be more expensive because of their rarity. There are more modern units available that are much cheaper than vintage or even electric typewriters.

I recommend: There are a variety of styles and brands of refurbished vintage typewriters available through myTypewriter for $900 to $1,300. The rarity of a functioning vintage typewriter makes these units more costly.

Make sure the typewriter ribbons for your unit are available for purchase

It is a good idea when you purchase a typewriter to buy some replacement ribbons and other necessary supplies at the same time. Since typewriters aren't as common as computers, parts and supplies aren't as readily available. Be sure you can find the replacement parts you need before making your final decision on a typewriter.

I recommend: Find correction ribbon, lift-off tapes, typewriter ribbons and printwheels through Office Depot for $4 to $20, depending on what you need. Office World offers ribbons for several different typewriter brands, ranging from $4 to $40.