The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-11
TYPEWRITERS' TRAITS.
PeCuliaritieS Of the Work Of Different
Persons.
Individuality of Experts-The Differ
ence Between One and Three-Finger
Operators -Doctoring Machine.
From the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star.
The type written page has no individu-
atty for most persons, but close study
of the subject shows many interesting
characteristics, by which the work of
different machines and different Operat-
ors can be distinguished.
The Evening Star a few months since
introduced type-writers into the re-
porters' room to the number of
about a dozen. Every piece of
copy now handled by the compositors is
typewritten and, of course, much easier
to read than the original and character
istic pencilings Of the reportorial staff
Without going outside of the Star build
ing, therefore, very satisfactory invest
igation of the individuality of type-writ-
ers can be maze. At s o'clock every
morning the full force of reporters is
hard at work hammering the machines,
preparing over night copy and whipping
into shape original ideas and bright news
items.
An expert typewriter CHANGED to wan
der into the room while the news gather
ers were at their work and to one of the
staff pointed out the characterics of each
man as to his work on the machine. He
said:
FIRST FINGER OPERATORS.
''That gentleman in the center aisle can
kill a machine in six months. Amid all
this noise l can pick him out. He is what
we call first finger operator l can
safely venture the prediction that he has
never looked into the book of instructions.
He will, of course, in time make an ordi-
nary operator as to speed, but shOuldn t
like to foot his bills for repairs The first
fingers are intended for certain keys, like
wise the second and third and the thumb
should always strike the space bar.
Without looking over the gentleman s
shoulder in question | can tell that he is
covering everything with his first two
fingers His work will never become uni
form, as the side keys will always be
struck lighter and the center ones heavier
than is really necessary.
Over there in the last row is another
first finger man. He doesn't strike the
keys quite as hard as the gentleman first
referred to, but that is because he is a
novice as yet. When he masters the key
board his violence will be equally marked.
He, TOO, strikes the space bar with his
first finger.
Take the man directly in front of me
He shows Improvement in his work. but
like the other two, has stunned the book
of instructions This man has advanced
to the stage of using his second finger.
and l can guarantee that his work is bet
ter than the other two. How can ] tell
that he has not followed the book OF in
structionsi Very easily He doesn't use
his thumb for the space bar. That is the
one universal mark Of an expert on the
machine The gentleman over there in
the corner handles his hands well, and
notice uses his thumb If you will watch
him for a few minutes you will see that
the work appears to 90 much easier with
him. In fact, he can lay back on the
machine, a position the other three men
cannot take owing to the first finger
movement.
The gentleman at the window is also a
frst-fnger operator and his periods will
always perforate the paper He places
several pieces Of paper in the machine at