Last Typewriter Factory in the World Shuts Its Doors

[The Straight Story]

Last Typewriter Factory in the World Shuts Its Doors

've owned at least two typewriters over the years. They were passed down to me from other family members; I think one I discovered in my grandmother's basement and begged her to let me take it home with me. She obliged and I used the thing, banging out random nonsense, until I ran out of tape. There's something about the large, clunky, medieval device that appeals to the aspiring writers among us; they make you feel more connected to your work. When a story is done and has been pulled off the roller, you can still feel it in your fingers.

Because I have a mother that loves to collect antiques -- and drag her children with her to the nearest barn sale -- I've seen hundreds of typewriters. (The Smith-Corona Galaxie DeLuxe, made famous among members of my generation by Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous, will always be a favorite.) It never occurred to me that I might not be able to find one whenever the desire hit. Sure, there are thousands collecting dust on thrift store shelves from here to Texarkana, but that will eventually change. Now that Godrej and Boyce, the last company left in the world still manufacturing the devices, has closed its doors, when typewriters make their way to landfills, there won't be any new ones to replace them.

With only about 200 machines left -- and most of those in Arabic languages -- Godrej and Boyce shut down its plant in Mumbai, India, today. "Although typewriters became obsolete years ago in the west, they were still common in India -- until recently," according to the Daily Mail, which ran a special story this morning about the typewriters demise. "Demand for the machines has sunk in the last ten years as consumers switch to computers." Secretaries, rejoice.

"We are not getting many orders now," Milind Dukle, Godrej and Boyce's general manager, told the paper. "From the early 2000s onwards, computers started dominating. All the manufacturers of office typewriters stopped production, except us. 'Till 2009, we used to produce 10,000 to 12,000 machines a year. But this might be the last chance for typewriter lovers. Now, our primary market is among the defence agencies, courts and government offices."

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/04/last-typewriter-factory-in-the-world-shuts-its-doors/237838/

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Awww...I understand that feeling about typewriters.

When was the last one made here, I wonder.

[ThomWV]

2. The first time I used a "Selectric" I thought I was in heaven

[Donnachaidh]

3. yeah -- they were so cool!

I still have a fascination for the old ones.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. Same here and have one collecting dust.

[Raine]

11. Yeah I always loved the Selectric nt

[SpiralHawk]

13. Selectric had the best keyboard 'feel' ever

total heaven...

[Uben]

4. Since I'm older than algae......

....I have a question. DO they still teach typing in highschool? If they do, do they use computers or word processors since the typewriter has now become extinct? I can't help but remember in typing class hearing the click, click, click as students followed the record (yes we practiced to lessons on a vinyl record).

[mysuzuki2]

5. they teach "keyboarding".

[Uben]

7. Keyboarding?

See, that was a musical instrument in my day.

[WatsonT]

10. Soon to be replaced with texting

I wonder how long the physical keyboard will last in the face of more versatile touch screens?

I like the feel of a keyboard better but I think it's on it's way out already.

[Javaman]

6. The slow death of the manual operated machine world. nt

[cali]

9. ironic because typewriters are enjoying a resurgence of interest

fascinating article about that a few weeks ago in the NYT.

[Skidmore]

12. My first job was as a clerk hammering away everyday on a manual

typewriter and finally we went high tech and upgraded to the Smith-Corona itty bitty electric typewriter. We knew we had made a huge tech leap when the office went to the IBM Selectric with 100 character memory. My high school teacher told us that typing would be the most valuable skill we could learn because we could always use it to get a job.

[hifiguy]

14. There is something exceedingly sad about this

I haven't used a typewriter for years, but I will miss knowing that they are no longer there. Something about their ineffably mechanical nature was most appealing to me.

[Frisbee]

15. I recently inherited my Grandmothers old typewriter.

It is an antique L.C. Smith very similar to this:



She used it until well into the 1980's. It is a pretty cool thing to have.

[TrogL]

16. I've still got my old typewriter but can't get ribbons for it