194x VariTyper Secretarial #414189 9
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Erik Bruchez (ebruchez)
Created: 03-16-2021 at 11:51AM
Last Edit: 01-04-2025 at 02:14PM
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Description:
This is a Vari-Typer probably from the 1940s. The first electric version came out in 1930, but the crinkle paint indicates a later style.
Features:
- crinkle paint (which might indicate a later version)
- 9-inch platen (I assume the trailing "9" of the serial, on a different line, actually, indicates that)
- electric motor
- no justification mechanism
- variable pitch lever
- half-backspace key ("HALF BS")
Compare with my following other entries:
- Varityper Incorporated (https://typewriterdatabase.com/193x-varityper-varityper-incorporated.12739.typewriter)
- Vari-Typer 20-inch (https://typewriterdatabase.com/193x-varityper-unknown.13454.typewriter)
- Vari-Typer 20-inch (https://typewriterdatabase.com/see.16897.typewriter)
UPDATES:
- 2025-01-04: I posted a Vari-Typer catalog on Archive.org. [1] According to this, this could be a "Secretarial Model SM-9", which matches the looks except this has 12/14/16 pitches while the catalog only mentions two pitches. It could also be a "Standard Model T-16", which has 3 pitches, although they don't match these pitches (10/12/16 in the catalog, vs. 12/14/16 here), and this doesn't have the type drawer. I'll go for "Secretarial", because that seems to denote the simplest model of all, which this seems to be except for the presence of 3 pitches.
[1] https://archive.org/details/vari-typer-catalog-august-1940-300-dpi
Typeface Specimen:
Links:
Photos:
Hunter: Erik Bruchez (ebruchez)
Erik Bruchez's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 11375
I started collecting my first pre-WW2 standard typewriters in 2017. Since then I have added a few machines to my collection, which now ranges from the 1880s to the 1980s. As of 2024, I have more big standard (desktop) typewriters than portables, a few standard electrics, and some unusual machines like Varitypers, uncommon IBM machines, and more. I am not a pro restorer, but I have restored a few of my machines beyond simple cleaning.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the VariTyper Secretarial on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the VariTyper Serial Number page and the VariTyper Secretarial By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
