Typewriter Collection: Varityper

Introduction

I have accumulated a few Varitypers ¹ over the years. For a nice introduction to the Varityper in general, see Richard Polt’s Varityper page.

I have taken a particular interest in these machines, collecting a few, and I am still looking for more, as well as more shuttles/fonts. See my Typewriter bucket list for more.

Collection

The following table summarizes the collection:

Branding	Model	Date	Misc	Electric	Justifying	Differential	Paint
VARITYPER Incorporated	Folding	1927	Hammond Patents	N	N	N	Glossy
VARITYPER Incorporated	1st electric version	1930s	mathematical	Y	N	N	Glossy
Vari-Typer	Secretarial SM-9	1940s	fair condition	Y	Y	N	Crinkle
Vari-Typer	A-20	1940s	poor condition	Y	Y	N	Crinkle
Vari-Typer	A-20	1940s	good condition	Y	Y	N	Crinkle
VariTyper	610 F	1950s	forms attachment	Y	Y	Y	Crinkle
VariTyper	Engineering	1950s	poor condition	Y	N	N	Crinkle

1927 - This beautiful Varityper Folding, labeled "VARITYPER INCORPORATED" is essentially identical to the Hammond Folding, and even shows a "Hammond Patents" label. This machine has signs of previous paint touch-ups, and dirty key legends. But it has been cleaned as well as possible and looks pretty good.
During | After | TWDB

1930s - This Varityper, like the Folding machine, is also labeled "VARITYPER INCORPORATED". However, this is not a folding machine, but one of the first electrified versions. Its smooth black paint contrasts with later machines. This instance has a mathematical keyboard with 4-row shuttles. It is in beautiful cosmetic condition, but needs fixing its carriage return lever. It does not support right-margin justification.
Pics | TWDB

1940s - This 9-inch machine is now labeled "VARI-TYPER", and the name "Ralph C. Coxhead" appears. Based on a catalog, this matches the "Secretarial" model name. It does not support right-margin justification. This machine needs refurbishing.
Pics | TWDB

1940s - This 20-inch machine, model A-20, is also labeled "VARI-TYPER". This is a parts machine which I have almost entirely disassembled with the idea of doing a full restoration. It does support right-margin justification.
Before | During | TWDB

1940s - This 20-inch machine, model A-20, is also labeled "VARI-TYPER". This machine is in very good condition, but needs refurbishing. It does supports right-margin justification.
Pics | TWDB

1950s - This beautiful VariTyper (notice yet another name variation) is a model 610 F. The "F" indicates the "forms" function for creating lines, embodied in the box to the right of the machine. It supports right-margin justification and proportional (differential) fonts, two capabilities that Varityper named "DSJ" (Differential Spacing and Justifying). This machine is refurbished.
During | After | TWDB

1950x - This is an "Engineering" machine, which supports neither justification nor proportional spacing. It is in very poor condition, and might not be salvageable. However, some fonts from its drawer were rescued.
Pics | During | TWDB

1988 - As a bonus, this is a CPU board for the AM Varityper EPICS system. This board is based on the MC 68000 microprocessor. By that time, Varityper was still producing machines in the domain of cold typesetting, but these machines had become in effect computers.
Pics

Font collection

I have a small collection of about 70 varityper fonts (known as shuttles on earlier and Hammond models). The Varityper fonts, except for the very early ones, are gray rather than black, and typically will not work in older Hammond typewriters. I have yet to document the collection in details, but I plan to do it.

Varityper artifacts

I have a few Varityper artifacts and manuals, which I also plan to document. An example is this beautiful Varityper ribbon box, probably from the 1940s.

Typewriter Collection: Varityper

Introduction

Collection

Font collection

Varityper artifacts

See also