Underwood Typewriter Company

The Underwood typewriter goes back to a construction of the German - American Franz Xaver Wagner ( 1837-1907 ).

History

The entrepreneur John T. Underwood (1857-1937) acquired in 1896 by Franz Xaver Wagner, the Wagner patent for the transmission. With the previous models from other manufacturers had to be "blind" typed. The invention Wagner made ​​it possible for the first time see the machine Written immediately and to correct errors. This all new design principle helped Underwood unique success. Among the patents acquired by Wagner was also the patent number 633 672, which used Underwood as the basis for its machines.

The first models " Underwood No.. 1 "and" Underwood No.. 2 ", manufactured 1896-1900, contributed on the back yet the word" Wagner Typewriter Co. ". Approximately 12,000 of these machines were produced and are in good condition today valuable and sought collectibles.

The models " Underwood No.. 3 "," Underwood No.. 4 "and" Underwood No.. 5 "or the beginning of 1932 were made ​​by the end of 1900 until the end of 1931. The " Underwood No.. 3 " is a machine, with a wide cars " Underwood No. 4 " writes 76 characters per line and the" Underwood No.. 5 " writes 84 characters per line.

Underwood had in particular with the model " Underwood No.. 5 " huge success from 1900 in the U.S.. This machine sat by their construction the standard for all subsequent machines from other manufacturers. She was the quintessential under the Underwoods. Half of honor was the term " no. 5 "or" five " given even later machines, since this model was the foundation for the success of the company Underwood. The Underwood Typewriter Co. merged in December 1927 with the Elliott -Fischer Co. of Underwood Elliott Fisher Co. In the early 1960s, Underwood was bought by Olivetti and the brand name " Underwood " typewriter slowly disappeared from the market.

The Underwood and their derivatives meant the end for a number of competitors. After 1900 the biodiversity never reached the state before 1890.

An Underwood typewriter on the state of the art which should represent the world of the future was presented at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

Olivetti in 1959, the largest shareholder of Underwood. 1960 Underwood had a hard struggle with falling sales in four years, Olivetti had to restructure massive. In October 1963 Underwood has been completely taken over by Olivetti for Olivetti Group in the United States as " Olivetti Underwood " with headquarters in New York City to make known. The name Underwood appeared the last time on a produced by Olivetti typewriter in Spain mid 1980s.