The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-06-09
TYPEWRITER EXPERTS.
A New Sort Of Technically for Turios
70 GraDpls with.

~ @AeBka VIII
The widespread use Of typewritinq
machines has resulted in furnishing
employment for a long list of persons
who do not operate the machines per
sonally. There are the manufactur-
ers Of typewriter paper, the makers
Of ribbons, brushes and erasers, the
makers Of patent key tips and finger
protectors and of a dozen different
sorts Of copyholders, and the great
number of men and women required
in the sale of these and scores Of other
articles familiar to typewriter oper-
ators. The repairer, or typewriter
doctor" as he is called, is an extreme
" busy and useful person, and it
would be very difficult to get along
without him; yet it is doubtful if even
the most skillful repairer can hope to
gain the distinction that is credited
to another figure, whose profession is
of comparatively recent birth, known
technically as the typewriter ex-
pert"
Only recently the services Of three
typewriter experts were employed at
the trial, in the general sessions. of
James B. Kellogg for grand larceny
and conspiracy in connection with the
E. s. Dean company. It was sought
to determine by the character of the
typewriting of a document whether
a specific paragraph Of it had been
written when the document itself was
made or had been inserted some time
afterward. The experts told in detail
of the popularity Of typewriter oper-
ators in manipulating their machines
and of the effect that exposure to the
atmosphere was likely to have upon
typeWriting after a certain time.
The addition of this new sort of
expert to the great number Of those
who are supplied to elucidate some
of the vexed problems Of iuries was
first made about four years ago at a
hearing in New Jersey. There was
then introduced-a receipt for money
alleged to have been paid on account
of a mortgage. The body Of the re-
ceipt was typewriter, and the plain
tiff contended that the signature to
it was a forgery. An expert type
writer was called and testified that
the do ment was not written on any
Of the machines in the complainant
office.
While it is generally admitted that
in some cases Of a simple nature the
opinion Of a typewriter expert may be
9f advantage in settling a question Of
there is an impression among
many members of the E'typewriting
fraternity that the ability Of such
experts is grossly overestimated. In
asmuch, they argue, as typewriting
consists merely in depressing keys
on a given machine strike type
uniform shape and size, there can,
IS a rule, be found no trustworthy
characteristics of the writer.
SFor anyone" AYERS a veteran op- (
in this city, 'however familiar.
ne may be with typewriters and type
writing, to pick out the identical ma
chime on which a certain document !
vas written is absolutely impossible. Z
One might as well expects an au-round (
machine man to tell which of !
hundred machines ofthe same make I
a given piece Of sewing. The :
work. Of a cheap, toy typewriter is, of
course, easily distinguishable from t
hat of a high-class one, and the work !
# any one Of the three or four mod r
Is of typeWriters in most common :
Use also has its characteristics. By I
simple adjustment Of the tension of ?
typewriter it is possible to so dis
use the work of a machine that even n
he most scrutinizing observer would i
e unable to identify it. y
mo two persons typewrite exactly h
like, yet it is a fact that the work Of y
operator, executed on a given ma =
hlne at different times and under
hanged circumstances, often varies. ..
! appearance. Machines that will
in perfect alignment when only
ne or two sheets Of paper are inserted
! a time may be thrown badly out Of L
ne By the insertion Of several sheets. h
hich will abnormally increase the 81
re Of the roller. A rapid writer may 81
his keys so as to tumble the o.
pc and completely disguise his p
ork And a change Of ribbon often Il
feets a result which would some il
mes deceive the %cleverest expert. in
Among the small number of So Il
He'd standard typewriting ma 81
lines no two have precisely the in
me size and form Of tyne. and a. ut