Clack-clack-pling!

Ettore Sottsass, Perry King: Valentine Typewriter, 1968/69

The typewriter by Ettore Sottsass and Perry King was an absolute hit in the 1960s and 1970s. It does not work with electricity or rechargeable batteries but purely mechanically: the keyboard is similar to that of a computer or mobile phone. But, for each symbol, a small hammer must be operated, which then prints the respective letter onto the paper that has been wound into the typewriter.

Many other functions must be adjusted using levers, small wheels and switches, for example the line spacing or the margins. When you insert different colour ribbons, you can print red, blue or black letters.

As a ‘writing machine’, the Valentine is clearly a predecessor of our PCs in terms of word processing – but no extra printer was needed.

Maybe you can find someone who still has an old typewriter? But a handwritten letter will also be a pleasure!

Here you can listen to what a famous "typewriter song" sounds like.