In many business houses the typewriter is used in conjunction with the stencil duplicator (see DUPLICATING METHODS), and here a warning is necessary. There are excellent typewriters on the market, which arc not good machines with which to cut stencils ; and if the purchaser intends to make use of his machine for duplicating purposes, he should be careful to select a type writer with a free, powerful, tvpe-bar action ; one, in filet, which impresses its type cleanly on the wax sheet from which the duplicate copies are subse quently taken. Here again the obvious test is for the operator to make a trial himself of the capabilities of the machine in this direction before purchase.
The application to the typewriter of the two-colour ribbon has proved a great convenience to many users. A two-colour ribbon indicates a single ribbon by means of which it is possible to write in either one or two colours; the change from one colour to another being made by the movement of a lever, the turning of a knob, the pressure of a key, or by some other simple device. Two-colour ribbons are useful for several purposes. In such a com bination as purple and red, for instance, the purple can be used for ordinary correspondence, and the red for emphasised passages ; or the red may he used for indicating credit items on invoices. Another very useful application of this idea is found in the ribbon furnished with a purple copying and black record section. Solicitors and others find it a decided convenience to be able to use the same ribbon for letters (which are subsequently copied in the letter-book) and for documents of a more permanent character. At the same time there are quite a number of firms who have little use for a two-colour ribbon equip ment, and it must be admitted that, generally speaking, the single-colour ribbon wears better, and gives better and more consistent work. The advan tages of the two-colour ribbon offset this, but only in cases where such advan tages are manifest to the purchaser.
The same quality which makes a typewriting machine useful in duplicating also gives it the power of taking a number of carbon copies of letters and other documents. In billing (see article on BILLING- MACHINE), to which allusion has been made, it is necessary to take several copies of the original invoice. Obviously a good billing machine must possess strong manifolding qualities; it must have a reliable tabulator and feed-rolls permitting the easy insertion and removal of a number of forms. There are several type writers which can be used both as correspondence and billing machines, and where invoicing plays h prominent part in the routine of an office, the prin cipal will he well advised in endeavouring to mate the two fields of utility. He will probably find opposition from his staff, but unless the objections are well grounded (and very often they are not) he will find it worth while to have the system installed.
The price of a typewriting machine is naturally a consideration with most purchasers. It may be stated here that, as a general principle, it is wisdom to pay a fair price for a good machine, more particularly where such machine is called upon to perform a good deal of hard work. The standard machines are listed at much the same figure, and, rumour notwithstanding, they are not likely, for a host of reasons, to become cheaper in the future. A. good machine which will turn out nice-looking work for a period of from seven to ten years, with an economical upkeep bill, is not dear at twenty pounds odd. At the same time, the impartial observer must admit that there have been placed on the market within recent years typewriting machines selling at a more moderate figure, and with excellent testimonials for essential qualities. The business man whose work is comparatively light may certainly do well to carefully consider the claims of these lower-priced machines. So far, the majority of business men have pinned their faith to the standard type writing machine, and there is no reason to quarrel with their decision in the light of existing circumstances.
Most typewriter manufacturers have adopted the custom of sending out machines on examination or trial for a limited period. The principle is in the main a good one, from the purchaser's point of view, although it is obvi ously impossible from such a trial to discover whether a machine will survive the great test of time and service. In this case the reputation of the company nm,t supply the necessary guarantee. The purchaser who has a number of machines on trial should keep himself as free as possible from the salesman's influence in making his decision. If he can depend on the disinterested advice of his operator, he should take the fullest advantage of it, for, after all, the operator ought to have a voice in the selection of the machine she will be called upon to work. Let each salesman give a complete demonstra tion of his machine, taking care that the operator fully understands and appreciates the points traversed. When the demonstration has been given the purchaser should be free from his influence, and should review the merits of the competing machines in relation to the work his typewriter will be required to accomplish, and the advice set forth in this article. When the decision has been once made, let it stand. Above all, pay no attention to the salesman who deliberately attempts to belittle a rival machine. Such an attempt is bad salesmanship, and is usually a confession of the weakness of his own cause.