Milsurp After Hours

I'd guess of the few of us still posting here the answer would be no. However, there are people who do. I saw such a page on Facebook and joined when I thought about an old typewriter I had out in the garage suffering from the humid climate and the blown in dust and now growing rust... and that's not counting the rat droppings.

First thing I did was hose it off... pretty dust and dirt accumulated. Probably not something a true collector would do...but whatever. I took some photos and went online to see what I could learn. And... bingo... there is nothing that somebody hasn't added to the internet about anything I'd imagine and Underwood typewriters are not ignored with lots of informational sites. Turned out the Underwood No. 5 is a model that had about in as much production over a century as the commies produced AK47's and Mosin Nagants in fewer years. But... it was a heavy well made work horse that was the popular model for lots of years. I didn't weigh it but from having lifted it I'd peg it at maybe 20 pounds. No government office would have been without one for decades in the 20th century. The one I have I think was government surplus, although I bought it from my neighbor at the time.....30 plus years ago.

After doing my due diligence investigation...or half ass'd short time research, I found by the serial number it was made between 1962 and 1963. I also found that, if it were in good condition, it could be worth between $50 and $100 to a collector wanting one for his collection. Unfortunately, the rust and lack of care would place mine more in the nature of a make do boat anchor. This would probably bring "serious" collectors to tears to think it may be valued as a boat anchor....but..... I can feel their pain thinking about gun collectors seeing someone suggest using a Mosin Nagant as a tomato stake.

I still have a electric typewriter and use it occasionally.
Mechanical typewriters seem to last forever, years ago a friend had a small museum devoted to Colonial history, and he acquired an unused Remington of late 19C vintage, all shining black paint, red lettering and gold lining.
It was like new except that the rubber roller had grown to near double its original size.
He took it to a firm that repaired typewriters on the off chance that they might fix it.
Chap took a look at it and called to someone out back, “Bring us a roller for a Remington model - -“
The mate was amazed and they told him that there were hundreds of that model still in use

Before the days of planed obsolescence.

I'm not really a collector, but up until about 15 or 20 years ago I had my folks old, Smith Corona I think,
that my older sister and I both used in high school. Probably just kept it as a family thing, not sure what ever
happened to it.
I remember using carbon paper and these round erasers with the little brush ..... and later Whiteout. ......

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Spell check and printers probably did something to the white out market stock price...maybe it isn't even made any longer. Wonder if they still make erasers of any kind?

Erasers - Rubbers over here! Yes still plenty around and the 'White Stuff' - Tipex - I still have some and use it every now and then.

It seems that BIC now makes it, but it's called Wite-Out now or Correction Fluid. And the inventor of the
original Liquid Paper was Bette Nesmith Graham, the mother of Michael Nesmith of the Monkees fame.
Was white out a generic term or was it ever a brand name?

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Always know as Tipp-Ex here Vern although I also remember Snowpake...........