Densmore Typewriter Co
"The Worlds Greatest Typewriter"
The definitive resource on the history of the Densmore Typewriter. From models to features and more.
FEATURES
The Densmore Typewriter was a very innovative machine in its day. This here is a guide to its many features, some of which are quite ahead of their time.
Ball Bearings
The Densmore is the first machine that I know of to use ball bearings on every typebar. By placing ball bearings on each typebar, combined with the sublever that pushed instead of pulling the typebar, it was nearly impossible for regular use to wear out the typebar joints. With the models 4, 5 & 6 ball bearings were added to the escapement starwheel, escapement rocker, carriage rollers and the shift mechanism.
2 and 3-speed Escapement
With the introduction of the improved Densmore models in the mid 1890s came one of notable features. The multiple speed escapement. On models 1 and 2 there are 2 dogs on the escapement rocker. The lower one is the normal setting. If you tighten the screws on the lower rocker and loosen the top dog it is now ready to use the high speed setting. With the 4, 5 & 6 it was improved even further, adding a third setting and controlling it all with a small lever on the back of the machine,
Typebar Alignment
Backspacer
One of the main selling points of the Densmore was it near perfect text alignment. This was achieved by having all typebars mount through a steel plate with square holes Due to the fact that the square holes in the plate and the typebars having square mountings, perfect text alignment was achieved.
The models 4, 5 and 6 introduce the backspacer. One of the only upstrike machines with such a feature.
Removable Carriage
The Densmore typewriter has a easily removable carriage. The carriage lifts right off the machine (which is why so many Densmores are missing their carriages today) The platen frame also lifts out of the carriage frame.