On the Brink of Extinction: The mechanical typewriter

[canetoad]

Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company, the last manufacturers of mechanical typewriters in the world, have ceased production. About 500 machines remain in stock.

“We stopped production in 2009 and were the last company in the world to manufacture office typewriters. Currently, the company has only 500 machines left. The machines are of Godrej Prima, the last typewriter brand from our company, and will be sold at a maximum retail price of Rs 12,000,” said Milind Dukle, general manager-operations, Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company.

When the company started making typewriters, the whole nation considered it the first step to an industrialised India.

During its golden age in the 1990s, the company used to produce 50,000 machines every year, while the total output in India was about 150,000.

“From the early 2000 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,” said Dukle.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/typewriters-about-to-becomepage-in-history/432497/

[Buzz Clik]

1. It's going the way of the stone ax and the abacus.

They are all useful, but other tools are far better.

[Ilsa]

2. It doesn't surprise me, yet, from time to time, I really need to

Run a sheet of paper through a typewriter to add/edit some text. It's easier than creating a whole new form.

[hlthe2b]

3. Many offices still have an old IBM selectric around...

Those suckers were built to last (and heavy enough to kill) and are still the easiest way to fill out or edit a form.

[FloriTexan]

4. I which I had an IBM Selectric...

I loved the touch on those things.

[hlthe2b]

7. You can still buy them--new/refurb... The Chinese & Indonesians

are still manufacturing typewriters, and I assume will take over for the Indian production. I was surprised to see so many available--really.

Check it out:
http://www.refurbexpress.com/ListProduct.asp?bSub=T&idCategory=32&gclid=CK6Cj_bIu6gCFcxL2godhS2YAw

If you google, there are other companies as well...

[ngant17]

5. always plan for the worst case scenario

When my motherboard dies, when my inkjet is out of ink, when all else fails, I still have a backup plan: use the stand-alone printer w/ integrated keyboard(ie, electronic or electric typewriter). Manual typewriter would be better. All you need is to make sure you have good ink ribbon for it. I wouldn't count them out just yet.

[hlthe2b]

8. As much as I always loved the old IBM Selectric...

They are big, heavy, bulky. I think my back up plan will be KINKOS--open 24 hours with all the hardware/software/supplies you could want.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. RIP mechanical typewriter