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Just My Type (6/9/21)

1988:084:004 Little Giant Simplex Typewriter, ca. 1915
1988:084:004 Little Giant Simplex Typewriter, ca. 1915

The Simplex Little Giant typewriter was a toy, but it could be used as a piece of office equipment. This kind of typewrite is known as an index typewriter. This means it has no keyboard and one hand selects the letter while the other hand positions the paper and operates the lever. Index typewrites were meant to be a simple, inexpensive device for anyone who wanted readable pages, postcards or labels. By slipping the metal tabs of the typewriter into holes in the lid, the box becomes the base for this device. The measuring tape on the lid provides the user a reference for spacing and alignment. If you look closely at the dial, you will see that it types only capital letters. The Simplex typewriters that were intended for office use came with a wood base and brass fittings. Simplex typewriters were produced from 1892 to 1948.