vintage and contemporary postcards and stamps from around the world


20 June 2015

a giant

unsent, 1939

Operates daily at the Underwood Elliott Fisher Exhibit in the Business Systems and Insurance Building at the New York's World's Fair. This huge machine, weighing 14 tons, is 1,728 times larger than the regular Underwood Master. It required 3 years to build. Each typebar weighs 45 pounds and the carriage alone weighs 3,500 pounds. letters are typed on 'stationery' measuring 9 by 12 feet, and the ribbon in the machine is 100 feet long and five inches wide. two box cars were required to transport the Giant to the World's Fair.

Sepia Saturday for typewriters

12 comments:

Kristin said...

Amazing.

Postcardy said...

I have that postcard too.

Little Nell said...

I wonder what happened to it after the Fair was over.

La Nightingail said...

Reminds me of the giant piano keyboard in the movie "Toys" with Tom Hanks. Like Little Nell, I wonder whatever became of that giant typewriter? Perhaps it graces Underwood's headquarters office? It would be kind of sad if it was done away with after the fair.

Alex Daw said...

Goodness. How did they make the keys work????

Unknown said...

I have visions of people jumping down on the keys to push them...what a monster!

Anonymous said...

One can simply ask "Why?"

~JarieLyn~ said...

I wonder if this typewriter is still in existence. Nonetheless, it's a beautiful postcard.

Jofeath said...

Big is beautiful? Someone must have had to jump or step on the keys in order for it to "operate daily", you would think

Wendy said...

As if a real Underwood wasn't big and heavy enough already!

Brett Payne said...

I, too, wondered what happened to the device after the Fair was over. I'm guessing it lay forgotten in a warehouse somewhere until it decayed.

Joan said...

What a cool post --- and post card.