For the Taking Things Apart lab, Caz and I decided to dismantle the typewriter shown on the left. We began by plugging it in to see if it was still functional. Sure enough, when we tried typing onto Caz’s ENGI 210 syllabus (oops), the typewriter transferred our messages to the paper successfully. We also noticed and experimented with several digital features of the typewriter, including its ability to store previously typed text in its memory.
Then we placed the device in “Demo” mode, and it began furiously typing of its own volition, as shown in the video on the below.
“Hello. I’m the newest in design from Smith Corona!” it began, and subsequently proceeded to type out a whole page describing its features. Caz and I were taken aback at having been addressed so vigorously by the machine, so before it got any maniacal ideas, we unplugged it and got to work on deconstruction.
First, we removed the plastic outer casing of the typewriter, which simply required removing several Phillips-Head screws and opening an interior latch. In fact, most of the typewriter’s components were attached solely through Phillips-Head screws, leading us to conclude that the device was intended to be opened and repaired as needed. After removing the top of the typewriter, we plugged the device back in to see if it was still functional. Each time we attempted to turn it on, it began humming briefly, but quickly turned back off, so there must have been some sort of limit switch preventing the device from operating once the cover had been taken off.
Next, we removed the ink cartridge from the typewriter’s carriage. We found that characters we had previously typed were still imprinted into the thin film of the cartridge. This part was one exception to our Phillips-Head trend, as the cartridge was latched together in such a way that it was impossible to open without breaking it. This suggests that it was not intended to be opened for maintenance, but instead was meant to be periodically replaced. This was further supported by the fact that the cartridge was made of far lower-quality plastic than the rest of the typewriter, not to mention that there was a decal inside the typewriter shell explaining how to remove the cartridge.
We then turned our attention to the keyboard. Upon unscrewing its different layers, we found that the keys themselves pressed metal levers against an insulating layer of rubber, which in turn pressed against the contact points of a ribbon cable. The final two layers were simply metal backings for the keyboard, which appeared to have achieved their shape through punching.
Under the keyboard resided the circuit board. All of its components were very meticulously arranged, and the board had outlines and labels for each and every electrical component. This led us to believe that the circuit board had been assembled by hand. Interestingly, there were several labeled outlines in which nothing had been attached. This suggests that the circuit board was a general design intended for use in many different typewriters, and for a particular model, only the components it required would be used.
Finally, we moved on to the typewriter’s carriage system. We didn’t have time to fully disassemble this system, but we nevertheless found that it was very mechanically intricate and interesting. Some notable design features included a limit switch that signalled the carriage’s arrival at the end of a line, a rack and pinion that the carriage used to travel back and forth, and a plastic wheel of characters that was pressed against the paper to type each letter. The wheel of characters was particularly interesting, as each letter resided on its own thin spoke of the wheel, and using the inherent flexibility of the wheel’s injection-molded plastic, a hammer pressed individual spokes of the wheel forward and onto the paper. Therefore, the plastic must’ve been required to withstand a great amount of flexing back and forth, as it was bent in such a way each and every time a key was pressed! This functionality is shown in the video below.
Now that our self-aware typewriter was merely a pile of parts, we spread them out into a most beautiful arrangement and snapped a photo.
Finally, we filled out the Parts/Features sheet, as well as the Materials Analysis and Tools Analysis. These documents are shown below.
