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

As of April 2026, the collection includes 9 machines, as summarized below:

Branding	Model	Date	Notes	Electric	Justifying	Differential	Paint	Forms
VARITYPER Incorporated	Folding	1927	Hammond Patents restored	N	N	N	Glossy	N
VARITYPER Incorporated	1st electric version	1930s	mathematical	Y	N	N	Glossy	N
Vari-Typer	Secretarial SM-9	1940s	fair condition	Y	Y	N	Crinkle	N
Vari-Typer	A-20	1940s	poor condition	Y	Y	N	Crinkle	N
Vari-Typer	A-20	1940s	good condition	Y	Y	N	Crinkle	N
VariTyper	Engineering	1950s	poor condition	Y	N	N	Crinkle	N
VariTyper	160	1958	good condition	Y	Y	Y	Crinkle	Y
VariTyper	610 F	1962	restored	Y	Y	Y	Crinkle	Y
VariTyper	720	1967	good condition	Y	Y	Y	Crinkle	Y

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

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

1958 - This is a Varityper 160. It looks almost identical to the 610F. I have yet to identify actual differences between the two models. It is unclear if it was ever referred to as "160 F", given that it has the forms ruling attachment.
Pics | TWDB

1962 - 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

1967 - This is a Varityper model 720. With this model, Varityper introduced many changes, including a new body and keyboard style (which might have arrived a few years earlier with model 660), a continuous operation motor, a take-up spool, a power button, and a power carriage return. This model was announced in 1967, and the motor date code and serial number are compatible with a tentative production date of that same year.
Pics | 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 100 varityper fonts (previously known as shuttles on the Hammond). Varityper fonts, except for the very early ones, are gray rather than black, made of metal, and typically will not work in older Hammond typewriters.²

Manuals collection

In progress.

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.