The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-07-25
TYPEWRITER TESTS
EVERY MACHINE MADE TRIED
BY GOVERNMENT.
Exhaustive Examination Given Each
Production and it Is Then
Sold at Auction.

Every typewriting machine made in
the United States is given a trial by
the United States government. There
is an unwritten rule to that effect to
encourage American invention and me-
chanics. All the various depa artments
in Washington and every navy yard
throughout the country are supplied
with the latest production of the type
writing maker. The trial given each
type of machine is an exhaustive one,
and continues until the machine is so
far gone as to be unworthy of repair.
Then it is sold at auction unuer sealed
bids, with the countless other auxili-
aries of department or bureau that are
put up at auction at regular periods,
says Washington report.
1t is claimed that no favoritism is
shown in these experiments, although
certain types which have been in use
for years in the various departments
are more extensively patronized than
those of which comparatively little is
known. The machine of one company
is found in nearly every department
and at every navy yard, and also on
the majority of warships, but this is
said to be due to the fact that it is q
superior machine, and its service has
never been found wanting. At the
navy yard in Brooklyn, there are six
machines of the one make in addition
to dozens Of others that are OH pro-
baton or fully tried. A machine un-
less unusually bad is never condemned
until it breaks down absolutely, and
even when more or less satisfied that
the make of the machine is not of the
best, the heads of departments in
variably give the inventor another
chance by buying second machine.
Some manufacturers have been
known to offer their machine free in
the hope that they might receive more
consideration at the hands of govern
ment employees, but these attempts at
influencing those who decide upon the
machines have always failed. In the
majority of the departments regular
reports as to the advantages, disad-
vantages, usage, duration of service
and other details are furnished from
time to time by those who operate the
machines. These reports do not apply
to those machines that are made by
firms whose workmanship has beenun-
der observation for years. The newer
makes only come in for an earnest sub
ject of investigation.
At the auction sales of typewriting
machines discarded by the government
the prices received are frequently so
low as to cause general surprise onthe
part of those who are not aware that
there was such sale until ithad taken
place. Machines have gone for SIS and
even So. One sold at the latter price
two years ago was resold for a better
figure to Manhattan business man,
who has had 1t steadily at work ever
since. It is still in first-class order.
The government has no room or off,
cial patience to keep damaged or worn
out typewriting machines, and this is
Aone of the chief reasons for their oc-
casional sale at what may seem low
prices. The government does not in
vest in machines Of foreign make, but
will buy for experimental purposes
and final adoption if found to be serv-
iceable any new make put on the mar
keb. o -