I got an old Underwood Five in my garage. Heavy as a sack of bricks and its utility surpassed by the computer age. But if the power ever goes out or my printer doesn't work and I have the urge to type a letter....well...I'm prepared.
This is what I found about the Underwood company.
The original Underwood typewriter was invented by German-American Franz X. Wagner, who showed it to entrepreneur John T. Underwood. Underwood supported Wagner and bought the company, recognising the importance of the machine. Underwood No. 1 and No. 2s, made between 1896 and 1900, had "Wagner Typewriter Co." printed on the back.[citation needed]
Underwood started adding addition and subtraction devices to their typewriters in about 1910.
During World War II Underwood produced M1 carbines for the war effort.