You are looking at a revolution in retro writing technology.
Those who know antique typewriters will recognize this as a typewheel for a Blickensderfer ("Blick"), invented by George C. Blickensderfer and made in Stamford, Connecticut. This design was made in several models from 1894 to about 1919. (See the details on The Typewriter Database). It features interchangeable typewheels, a three-bank keyboard (usually arranged in the "Scientific" layout with the most common letters on the bottom row), and inking by roller.
The design was briefly revived by Remington as the Rem-Blick (aka Baby Rem), mostly manufactured in 1928. But for nearly a century, Blicks have been "obsolete" collectors' items and curiosities.
Here are some Blicks I've had in my collection over the years.
Blicks are very clever, but also relatively slow and tiring compared to a typebar typewriter. If only it were easy to find a Blick Electric, a 1902 model (available in a few variants) that anticipated the IBM Selectric! But these machines are extremely rare.
This is a brand new, made in 2023, interchangeable type element for Blicks. Not only that, but it is equipped with a typeface that was never available for Blicks before: Steile Zierschrift, a decorative type, as pictured here in the 1928 Ransmayer-Rodrian (RaRo) catalogue.
And here's a new typewheel that features an extremely rare italic Remington typeface designed by the famous Frederic Goudy. (This one has been used, so there's ink on it.)
They even come in their own neat containers with screw-on tops.
Yes, they do work!
Most excellent. Again.
ReplyDeleteRichard,
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased to think there will be at the least a minor resurgence of typing on these wonderful little machines. DHIATENSOR rules!
Or Maybe QWERTY on a 1898 Blick 7
DeleteEsta rueda Blick, ¿Cómo logra coincidir con la letra que se oprime? Imagino que tiene una muesca que coincide con el poste de fijación, y que la configuración mecánica hace lo necesario.
ReplyDeleteEs bastante complicado.
Delete¡Vaya que sí es complicado! Quizá Leonard nos lo explicaría simplificado, con manzanas.
DeleteAfter the "Hermes Hanks tax", we'll soon see the "Blick Leonard & Brent tax"!
ReplyDeleteNice! Do you have a suggestion for rubber replacement feet for a Blick 5?
ReplyDeleteI have never replaced them, sorry.
DeleteHow much are they selling for, please?
ReplyDeleteYou'll need to ask Leonard.
DeleteAh, if only my Rem-Blick was in working order!
ReplyDeleteI tried the QWERTY element on my Rem-Blick and it was not aligned. It turns out that the Remington typewheels are a little shorter in their axis than the Blick typewheels! So the writing is perfectly readable, but the caps and figs are not on the same level as the lowercase letters.
DeleteSo can you can get QWERTY wheels as well? Did I miss that?
ReplyDeleteYes, you can. I got the Zierschrift and Goudy in QWERTY to use on my Blick 6.
DeleteHa! Love it! Now someone needs to do 88-Char IBM Typeballs with custom typefaces. :D
ReplyDeleteIn theory—why not!
DeleteGreat work! Now for Hammond shuttles, and as Ted states, IBM balls, especially the rare ones.
ReplyDeleteMany collectors are going to dust off their Blick and give it some long overdue love. I too agree that Hammond Shuttles, Selectric Elements might not be far behind. Thanks, Richard, for giving them a notice ... Brent and Leonard have worked many hours perfecting this product.
ReplyDelete