Mystery Machine

[Dave Hughes]

So, the wording on the top of the machine is in a foreign language, or perhaps just a generic model name?

[Mechanic]

I have no idea what is written on top of the machine too many letters for IBM. It could be a guide to the operator.

[Mechanic]

At the same time IBM was promoting this machine, Mergenthaler was also looking at the same market and had built a machine to do the job. the following is a quote from the article.

Mergenthaler joined forces with Lin, who was already something of a celebrity in America owing to his two New York Times bestselling novels.

[Mechanic]

Although Jeffo found the answer early on in this little puzzle, and let it continue I think it is time to reveal the answer. In fact we had another similar machine as a mystery machine before.

Go to the following web site and scroll down to "How the Chinese Typewriter Developed" and you will find the uncropped photo and the details.

http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/topic/31704-the-thing-you-want-to-know-about-chinese-science/page-27

[Jeff Zilles [jeffo]]

A link to a video showing the machine in operation --

https://archive.org/details/modern_business_machines_for_writing

I you don't want to see the rest of the video jump in to 12min 34 secs and follow the film to 14 min.

There is a large amount of history collected on this subject which I will collate if somebody wants it though while intrigueing to me the subject may not interest print buffs.

[Dave Hughes]

Well done George! I can't believe we've all fallen for the old "Chinese typewriter" puzzle again.

It would explain the female operator's utilitarian clothing.

I thought they looked like the one below, but it would seem I'm a little behind the times.