.Davis Typewriter Works

.Davis Typewriter Works

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

What's wrong with THIS thing?

Ok everybody, time for the newest installment of our popular series where we show you a typewriter, and then ask you what is wrong with it. Now since it has been a while let me review a few points for those who have not played along. (If you haven't, look back at older posts here on this blog to see the preceeding "What's wrong with this?" offerings.)

First off, the machines we show are machines we actually have here. Second, what is wrong with it is NOT something like "Dave dropped it when unpacking it and all the type bars fell out" or "It prints upside down" or anything goofy like that. I mean, those things WOULD be fun, but we'd just show you. But, this is "typewriterology" at the doctorate level! (Yes, the credits are fully transferable, and yes I'm keeping track of all your grades.) So what is "wrong" with the machine you are looking at might not be something immediately obvious, or even intuitive. But there is SOMTHING wrong or odd about every machine in this feature! (You can also click on the picture to enlarge it.)

So here we have a Webster XL-800. Ho-hum right? Seen one before? Used one? Know what it REALLY is? It wouldn't be up here if there wasn't something really significant about it. How much do you know about this here thingy? Leave your thoughts and answers and perhaps questions in the comments section below, and in a week or so we will reveal what is "wrong" with this machine in a feature article right here on this blog! Look sharp, have fun with it, and have a great week everyone!

David A. Davis
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18 comments:

  1. notagainSeptember 11, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    The red keytop indicates a changeable type, but it can't be something that obvious can it? I had a Brother that had it, but on the more traditional one key position.

    ReplyDelete
  2. mpclemensSeptember 11, 2012 at 11:06 AM

    The tabulator key is a little wide and out-of-place, at least compared to other Brothers I have known. That may be typical of this model, though -- I haven't seen an XL anything in person.

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  3. Richard PSeptember 11, 2012 at 11:43 AM

    I didn't know that Brother offered changeable type until I read the comment from notagain. But that's not a flaw in the machine.

    Where do you set the tabs? Or are they pre-set?

    Anyway ... I'm stumped.

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  4. mpclemensSeptember 11, 2012 at 11:53 AM

    I think on the compact models, the tabs are fixed every inch or so -- I have some rebadged model 100s that have fixed tab stops.

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  5. gthawkSeptember 11, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    On the Brothers I have (actually the Signature variants) and on other typewriters, the red position for the ribbon selector is at the bottom, not at the top.

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  6. TedSeptember 11, 2012 at 2:11 PM

    My XL-747 has the red ribbon position at the top, so that may not be it. The red @/cent key is odd, the tabulator is an odd shape, and the keyboard leaves out the +/= key (maybe because the oversized tab key?) Also, no woodgrain panel on the front.

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  7. Bill MSeptember 11, 2012 at 6:33 PM

    Brother actually made a typewriter with chageable type? I did not know that. I have no idea what may be wrong.

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  8. notagainSeptember 11, 2012 at 7:34 PM

    I misspoke. The one I had was an Echelon 91 and the changeable type was on the =+ key. I sent it to Ryan last year.
    http://manualentry.blogspot.com/2011/03/brother.html

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    Replies
    1. Ryan AdneySeptember 13, 2012 at 10:06 AM

      Confirmed. I have it right here and the red changabel is +/=.

      Delete
  9. Ton S. September 13, 2012 at 6:39 AM

    The width of the tab key is not "normal," that size is not normally meant for the top row.

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  10. Ryan AdneySeptember 13, 2012 at 10:15 AM

    I have a Webster here and the Eschelon 91. Along with a host of other Brother machines and every one of them is a little different. So much variety! I agree the tabulator button is silly looking. There are no tab sets even though there is a changable type. It is fun to see, though.

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  11. michaelianySeptember 19, 2012 at 10:36 PM

    i dont know webster machines at all but i do have a pic of one i spotted at an antique mall about 6 months ago - dont know the model bc of a glare ... comparing the two...

    since the oddly sized tab key has already been mentioned,
    im going to go with the extra red key in nearly the same spot as olivetti typers have. thats weird.

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  12. French NannySeptember 20, 2012 at 1:20 AM

    I have one with the same sticker from Parents magazine and it says it is a Brother Charger 11. Not got all the same keys as yours though...

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/pearlyqueen/7961747020/in/set-72157631478952798/

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  13. Will DavisSeptember 21, 2012 at 11:54 AM

    Looks like we got pretty close to the answer, but not exactly... This one is a fooler, all right!

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  14. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2012 at 4:08 PM

    Unless you are referring to the symbols (*, @, ") are in non-standard places, I don't really see anything. Yes, the tab key is unusual, but that's been mentioned.

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  15. shordziSeptember 24, 2012 at 9:02 PM

    The tabulator key is so big it replaces another key usually in the first row. So in total, there is only 43 keys instead of 44.

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  16. shordziSeptember 29, 2012 at 5:44 AM

    Hello Will, what's the answer? thanks, your curious reader.

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  17. David A. DavisOctober 2, 2012 at 7:07 PM

    Answers: posted!

    ReplyDelete

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