| Information: | The IBM Electromatic typewriter was the first electric typewriter
to enjoy long-term commercial success. Unlike the later IBM
Selectric typewriter, this typewriter model used a conventional moving carriage and typebar mechanism. This is an example of a pre-IBM Electromatic.
The history of the Electromatic goes back to 1924, when the North
East Electric Company received patent rights for the power roller
from James Smathers. At that time, the company was selling electric motors, and wanted to get into the typewriter business. They
reached an arrangement with Remington, securing a contract for
2,500 machines in 1925. N. E. Electric manufactured the motor and
power-roller base. The typewriter portion was made by Remington,
based on its model Number 12. Remington had to do little more
than attach its typewriter to the base.
All the units manufactured sold quickly and Remington wanted to
continue the relationship. According to Darryl Rehr, in his 1997
book, “Antique Typewriters & Office Collectibles”, Remington
claimed … they could sell as many as N.E. Electric could
produce.”[2] The insistence of N.E. Electric on a contract,
however, came at a time when Remington was unable to make such a commitment, so the Remington Electric went out of production.
The N. E. Electric Company then developed and produced the
Electromatic, placing it on the market in 1929. After passing
through the hands of General Motors, it became The Electromatic
Typewriter Co.
IBM acquired the assets of Electromatic Typewriters, Inc., of
Rochester, N.Y. in 1933 and invested $1 million in redesigning
their product and setting up service centers. The new IBM’s Model
01 was introduced in 1935 and became the first successful electric typewriter in the U.S., according to IBM.
ON LOAN from Nick Bishop |