Smith Premier Typewriter
1920s
Model #10

This early manual word processor was used in the News Reporting Department of the San Diego Tribune Newspaper. Manufactured by the Smith Premier Typewriter Co. of Syracuse, NY, it is unique and interesting because of the dual keyboard, with one set of keys for upper case letters and a second set of keys for lower case.

The keyboard is named QWERTY because that's how the letters align on the top row. The letters were arranged this way to slow down the typist. If the keyboard operator was too fast, the keys would jam.

The Computer Museum of America is particularly pleased to have received several significant equipment contributions from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Donor: Mike Province, San Diego Union-Tribune