The Typewriter Development: Keyboarding And Word Processing Essentials - Essay Example

The Typewriter Development: Keyboarding And Word Processing Essentials 1-Abstract The typewriter development included the full-keyboard up-strike here through Remingtons and class. Even though the initial typewriter developed by the L.C. Smith & Bros factory ultimately gave rise to the famous Smith-Corona line, Smith-Corona and Smith-Premier Typewriter Co did not have corporate relationships. The artifact was invented by Alexander Brown, an employee at L.C. Smith & Bros. This was after nurturing the need to improve on Sholes & Glidden typewriter product. Purchase of Smith-Premier’s name by Remington Led to the winding up of the company in early 1900s. The firm continued sporadically applying the name within its machines. 2-Introduction The fact that the machine was developed in L.C. Smith's factory and was stimuli for entering typewriter business, this paper aims at categorizing artifact as a founder product of all Smith-Corona product lines (VanHuss, Forde & Woo, 2010a, p83). The mechanisms caused in different typebar portions allowed for contacting with ribbons and platens. The outcome was that each of the typebars was in a position of typing different characters through cutting the scope of keys and typebars by half. The approach simplified internal mechanisms at a considerable degree. The machine could have been "common" during the time the ingenious design, as well as historical significance, give it a significant place within all forms of typewriter enthusiasts and collectors. Promotion of the typewriter usage was one of the goals of the company that started through offering typing services within its company East Genesee headquarters located in Washington streets at Syracuse (VanHuss, Forde, Woo & Hefferin, 2008a, p 73). One of the advertisements running on December, 1904 at Smith Premier Typewriters illustrated that the Employee Department was offering the services had broadened services and were offering competent stenographers for both males and females to operate their machine. The company responded with an instant offer to provide prompt services and save clients trouble and time in examining all prospective applicants (Gottlieb, 2013, p 63). Operators were able to perform tasks such as typewriter, stenographer, bookkeeper and telegrapher. The Corona model success in 1927 led to Standard Typewriter Company renaming again to become Corona Typewriter Company. Further, Smith Corona was initiated after L. C. Smith & Bros. joined Corona Typewriter in the same year. L. C. Smith & Bros. made office typewriters while Corona Typewriter made portables (VanHuss, Forde & Woo, 2010c, p 53). 3- Artifact Description The 1927 Smith Corona Typewriter had a shift key, and the manufacturing costs and purchase price were reduced. Typist operations became more simplified as each of the factors contributed towards mass technology adoption (VanHuss, Forde & Woo, 2010c, p 83). Certain 1927 Smith Corona Typewriter models developed a double shift for purposes of integrating major performances of functions. The row machines were portable and were appropriate for more markets such as the journalists. The technologies led to a change of the corporate name to read ‘Smith-Corona Marchant Inc’. In 1958, the Smith Corona spectrum took up British Typewriters Ltd at West Bromwich, which dwelt on making small portable typewriters. In 1960, the firm developed typewriter power carriage return in the same year after moving to Cortland from Syracuse. The company opened corporate headquarters in New York on Park Avenue in 1960 (VanHuss, Forde & Woo, 2010a, p 78). The company also developed the first foray of photocopier business through the Vivicopy machine product lines. Further, the accounting machinery market had different elements of tape and punch card products that were manufactured in Germany by a partner firm, Kienzle. The acquisition trail saw the company acquire St. Louis Micro static Company between 1960 and 1962. The merger triggered rise of Electrostatic Copier Model 33 that was first sold in 1962. Through the mid-1970s, SCM became a major supplier of office equipment market through providing photocopiers, calculating machines and typewriters (VanHuss, Forde & Woo, 2010b, p 63). 4-Artfact Analysis The little platen appears folded down on the keyboard for purposes of fitting the case. Smith-Corona built over 700,000 pieces from 1912 to 1940, and the product became one of the major and popular typewriter offerings. The concept was continually copied based on competition and resulted in various patent infringement lawsuits (VanHuss, Forde & Woo, 2010b, p 90). When the artifact was brought into the market in 1927, Corona started offering close to $50 rebates on previous product versions while the produce line of specialty was green, blue, and red. The concept gave rise to various minor product variations. The earliest forms include individual concepts of hung type-bars that had later traditional slotted segments. The early ones had Standard Typewriter Company labels because the company was not changing the name to read ‘Corona’ until later in 1914. From 1923, an improved version added sets of shift keys to the right-hand and had a widened platen. Improved models did not have the "3" designation at the front. The last iteration and of most interests to collectors apart from the pre-1950 models was the inclusion of X-C / XC-D functionality (Woolf, 2014, 90). The X model had additions of two extra keys making the total to 30. X-C concept allowed operators configure the main special keys as "dead". This was achieved through striking one "dead" key without moving the carriage. 5-Materials Used The Smith Corona Typewriter of 1927 had a formation of type bars sticking upwards on the paper. The type bar pressed hard against the platen’s bottom to allow typists see more text while typing. The content that remained invisible during typing was adjusted through carriage returns developed for purposes of scrolling into different views. The difficulties raised with other forms of arrangements included making sure that type bars went back to reliable positions after keys were released. The ultimate implication was achieved based on variations in ingenious mechanical designs through visible typewriters that used front-striking techniques (VanHuss, Forde, Woo & Hefferin, 2007, 89). The type bars of the 1927 Smith Corona Typewriter struck forward on the platen’s front side and became a standard practice. The i126 Smith Corona Typewriter was introduced and featured a four bank keyboard that was standardized through Underwood. The design was extensively formulated as an integral typewriter based on the available features. However, the previous "non-visible" models remained in market circulation until late in the 1950s. 6- Artifact Characteristics The elements contributed to the closure of the plant at West Bromwich in England by 1981. Within a decade, personal computers had gained popularity and were used in word processing (Robert, 2007 p 83). Thereafter, the firm was declared bankrupt, and it has company concentrated on making sale revenues from portable electronic typewriters coupled with as word processor supplies and typewriter. The firm current electronic models include LCD displays and built-in dictionaries together with grammar check and spell check features. Through the acquisition by private company in the second bankruptcy pronouncement in 2000, Smith Corona moved the typewriter supplies manufacturing and typewriter manufacturing to Ohio in Cleveland (Morgan, 2011, p 563). A period of five years saw Smith Corona quit ultimate manufacturing of all typewriters. The typewriter supplies sales and production continued declining while Smith Corona decided on leveraging the expertise through thermal technologies and ribbons that were previously used within typewriter businesses and growth in thermal label markets (Gottlieb, 2013, p 76). 7- Attributes Of The Artifact The component had subsequent electronic typewriters containing single electrical components such as a motor. In cases where the keystroke had initial movement of the typebar, there was an engagement of mechanical linkages with direct mechanical power for the motor the typebars. In 1962, the management of Smith Corona sought to change the corporate name into ‘SCM Corporation’ followed by adoption of tribar SCM logo (Hicken, 2008, p 73). Three years later, SCM acquired Allied Paper Corporation at a price of $33 million. This division made paper and was called SCM Allied Paper. In 1968, The Glidden Paint Company merged with SCM. Reorganization at Glidden was aimed at accommodating the SCM division of Glidden-Durkee. The reason for the merger was the fact that Glidden perceived SCM's to be "White Knight" in preference of the alternative offers of Great America Corporation across Texas, Dallas and New York at General Aniline & Film. In turn, the merger put the SCM beyond reach of potential hostile competitors during the time (Allen, 2009, p 63). 8- Future Prospect On Typewriters The conventional typewriters had type bars decelerated within the ends of travel through impacting on the paper position and ribbon technology. The noiseless feature in the 1927 Smith Corona Typewriter had complex lever mechanisms decelerating type bar mechanical implications through pressing it hard against a ribbon and paper (Ryan & Conover, 2003, p 63). Production processes shifted to various military weapons from typewriters in different parts in World War II. In 1942, the Smith-Corona Company started specialty production of M1903A3 Springfield rifles within its Syracuse plant and received assistance from Remington Company for high standard manufacturing and arms. Subcontractor barrels have unusual collector value among the collected 234,500 Springfield rifles. Serial numbers between 3608000 and 3707999 as well as between 4708000 and 4992000 bear Smith-Corona name within the receiver rings. Even as various M1903A3 rifles are produced by Remington for groove barrels through differentiation of rifles for assembly of the Smith Corona and use of groove barrels on a manufacturing High Standards (VanHuss, Forde, Woo & Hefferin, 2008a, 83). Further, there is approximately six thousand barrels that were produced by High Standard with 6-groove barrel developed by Savage Arms. 9-Aspect Of Saving Of The Environment The 1927 Smith Corona Typewriter had an obvious use based on its allowance in terms of letter keys at lower and upper cases, however, the norm was that the number keys could be duplexed to allow more access to special symbols like an ampersand (&) and percent (%).The decline of the warring period marked a new beginning for the company as it concentrated on developing typewriters. The goal was to enhance convenience and efficiency for application within business offices. Typewriter sales were expounded within World War II as a response to increased demand for typewriters with faster capability in terms of output. Smith Corona ventured into production of electric typewriters within 1955. Electric portables were aimed at traveling writers as well as business people. However, there was a drastic change in purchase as people acquired them for general home use from 1957 (VanHuss, Forde & Woo, 2010b, p 73). Such new portable typewriters became essential tools for many generations in high schools and colleges of the American descent. The diversification move to wider office technologies saw Smith Corona purchasing Kleinschmidt Corporation from 1956 as well as Marchant Calculators within 1958. 9-Adverse Effects On The Environment  The XC-D was accompanied with other dead keys by default. The firm launched the first-word processor that was portable together with a portable typewriter with inclusions of electronic spelling functions. However, the products became insufficient for purposes of countering diminishing sizes of computer markets (Ryan & Conover, 2003, p 72). The corporate bloat was linked to the conglomerate nature if business where different operating divisions did not have inherent business logic rendering it rather vulnerable to hostile takeover. In 1986, the company was acquired by Hanson Plc that was an acquisition and takeover specialist based in the UK. Hanson disposed of most of the SCM divisions and its New York City headquarters building for significant profits. The firm moved the remainder of typewriter manufacturing operations to in 1995 Mexico from Cortland followed by an announcement of cutting down close to 750 jobs due to the continued decline in sales. 10-Future Prospect On Typewriters The bolts of M1903A3 rifles by Remington with packetized finishes for the stamped through the root of handling Smith Corona bolts under a blue color and stamping for letter X and handling unmarked elements. Other extractors and collectors of Smith Corona rifles for stamping of the product bottom insist on the quality of stamped fittings on the steel stocks with a generalized blue parker for the production (VanHuss, Forde & Woo, 2010c, p 53). The goal was to render less noisy processes. However, the scope of success for the feature remains unverified for the 1927 Smith Corona Typewriter. However, it is certain that there was a reduction in high-frequency sound content that made a major "clunk" noise which was arguably less intrusive. However, the grandiose advertising claims were not founded on the success of such add-on features. In mid-1970s, the calculator market faced economic devastation due invasion of pocket calculators that were cheap and electronic (VanHuss, Forde, Woo & Hefferin, 2007, p 673). Typewriter market was undermined due to cheaper imports solicited from Far East. 11-Commentary The 1927 Smith Corona Typewriter designs removed direct mechanical connections across keys through enhancing the element of sticking the paper. The firm looked forward to helping Glidden's research on paper coatings used by typewriter machines as it was useful in the company’s product portfolio. "Letter pack" product established in 1967 became one of the handsets upon which there were personal voice messages recorded to smaller tape cartridges that were mailed to recipients needing other handsets for relay (Woolf, 2014, p 56). Cartridges were only durable for 6 to 10 minutes while handsets cost $7. SCM became an instrumental focus in the development of smaller computers used by businesses. 12-Conclusion  In conclusion, the 1927 Smith Corona Typewriter was "manual" and "mechanical" in operations and had attained some level of standardized design. The typewriter had minor variations against different manufacturers, and most of the model’s typewriters followed a concept that used strategic keys attached to the typebar with correspondence letters molded. However, there was in reverse setting that was more striking to a user’s memory. When the keys were briskly and firmly struck, such typebars hit the ribbon that was normally made of inked fabric and made printed marks on paper wrapped across cylindrical platens. Most platens were mounted onto carriages moving either left or right with automatic advancement of typing positions in a horizontal manner after typing each character. The mounted paper rolled across Smith Corona Typewriter’s platen and later advanced vertically through installations of "carriage return" levers into position and advancement of text’s new line. The lever was attached to the far left or on far right depending on the user’s request. References Allen, D. 2009. The Typewriter Satyr: A Novel. New York: Terrace Books. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from http://www.amazon.com/The-Typewriter-Satyr-A-Novel/dp/0299229904 Gottlieb, N. 2013. Word-Processing Technology in Japan: Kanji and the Keyboard. New York: Routledge. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from http://books.google.co.ke/books/about/Word_processing_Technology_in_Japan.html?id=8W8xiNxszzYC&redir_esc=y Hicken, V., 2008. U.S. History, Grades 6 - 8: Inventors, Scientists, Artists, & Authors. New York: Carson-Dellosa Publishing. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=EjtqAgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=History,+Grades+6+-+8:+Inventors,+Scientists,+Artists,+%26+Authors&hl=en&sa=X&ei=V4CQVISEE8SAUdfQgvgJ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=History%2C%20Grades%206%20-%208%3A%20Inventors%2C%20Scientists%2C%20Artists%2C%20%26%20Authors&f=false Morgan, B. 2011. The Typewriter Is Holy: The Complete, Uncensored History of the Beat Generation. New York: Counterpoint. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=yDRoi7ilJ5sC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Uncensored+History+of+the+Beat+Generation&hl=en&sa=X&ei=roCQVLOvBYH9UvfngtgG&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Uncensored%20History%20of%20the%20Beat%20Generation&f=false Robert, P. 2007. The Typewriter Sketchbook. New York: Lulu.com. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from http://books.google.co.ke/books/about/The_Typewriter_Sketchbook.html?id=FkAEGnTiZ18C&redir_esc=y Ryan, W. E., & Conover, T. E. 2003. Graphic Communications Today. New York: Cengage Learning. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from http://books.google.co.ke/books/about/Graphic_Communications_Today.html?id=choQ91rk0i4C&redir_esc=y VanHuss, S., Forde, C., & Woo, D. 2010a. Advanced Word Processing, Lessons 56-110: Microsoft Word. New York: Cengage Learning. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=5OM3miwz-z0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Advanced+Word+Processing,+Lessons&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SoGQVJf8Fcm4Ub-vgdAP&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Advanced%20Word%20Processing%2C%20Lessons&f=false VanHuss, S., Forde, C., & Woo, D. 2010b. Woo Keyboarding and Word Processing, Complete Course, Lessons 1-120: Microsoft Word 2010: College Keyboarding. New York: Cengage Learning. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=W-jYoTP2PC0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Keyboarding+and+Word+Processing&hl=en&sa=X&ei=o4GQVMblCcn4UPCqhLAI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Keyboarding%20and%20Word%20Processing&f=false VanHuss, S., Forde, C., & Woo, D. 2010c. Keyboarding and Word Processing Essentials, Lessons 1-55: Microsoft Word 2010. New York: Cengage Learning. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=TzsaBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT8&dq=Keyboarding+and+Word+Processing&hl=en&sa=X&ei=o4GQVMblCcn4UPCqhLAI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Keyboarding%20and%20Word%20Processing&f=false VanHuss, S., Forde, C., Woo, D., & Hefferin, L., 2007. Keyboarding & Word Processing, Lessons 1-60. New York: Cengage Learning. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=3iIgpWQngnsC&dq=Keyboarding+and+Word+Processing&hl=en&sa=X&ei=o4GQVMblCcn4UPCqhLAI&redir_esc=y VanHuss, S., Forde, C., Woo, D., & Hefferin, L., 2008a. Keyboarding & Word Processing, Complete Course, Lessons 1-120. New York: Cengage Learning. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=5OM3miwz-z0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Keyboarding+and+Word+Processing&hl=en&sa=X&ei=o4GQVMblCcn4UPCqhLAI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Keyboarding%20and%20Word%20Processing&f=false Woolf, A. 2014. The Typewriter: Stories of the Surreal, the Supernatural and the Downright Strange. New York: Andrews Limited. Retrieved on 14th December 2014 from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=-Ra5BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1&dq=the+Supernatural+and+the+Downright&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QYKQVKWWN4KuU6S_g_gB&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=the%20Supernatural%20and%20the%20Downright&f=false Read More