Barr Portable Typewriters    Page Two
The Barr Portable was built at the Ithaca N.Y. plant of Morse Chain Company from inception until 1937, when two things happened at the same time.  The Barr-Morse Corporation sold the typewriter production, including the tooling and rights to the name, to a new corporation formed for the purpose.  This was the Barr Typewriter Corporation, which was owned by two men whose names were Koret and Kingsburg.  At the same time, this new corporation removed the production equipment for the typewriters from Ithaca and installed it in a recently vacated industrial facility in Weedsport, New York.  According to the history provided by the Leonardi Manufacturing Company, which is still in business and is headed by Ezio Leonardi Jr., Salvatore Leonardi had been in business prior to this in Weedsport with a plating business.  Leonardi was hired to operate the typewriter plant for the Barr Typewriter Corporation, and in addition rented out his plating equipment to be used for parts required for the machine specified to be so finished.  Canadian production likely ended at this time.

This "second life" for the Barr Portable lasted an extremely short time, as production of the machine was terminated in 1939, giving this operation a life of only about two years.  It has not yet been confirmed, but persistent reports received by this author indicate that the tooling to make the Barr is still actually in existence, and in the hands of a person well known in the typewriter collecting community.
Having discussed the history of the entities involved in the manufacture of these machines, we'll now discuss the various models and their mechanical features.  I have used a wide variety of sources and machines to develop this information.
It is appropriate for the convenience of reference in the following discussion to identify the differences in machines produced over time through the use of a "production phase" listing, some of which is actually directly supported by official materials published by Barr-Morse itself.  Luckily, it has actually been possible to find and identify a machine of each identified variety, either in the hands of a collector at present or in an official illustration.  Phases below are chronological top to bottom.
Above, original ad artwork which shows the optional "Typelite" mounted in the bracket found on the side of many Barr machines.
Early machines prior to serial number 2000.

Production machines in one model.

Production machines in multiple models.

Production machines in multiple models made in the last 2 years in Weedsport.

The above listing includes four phases.  The first three are products of the original manufacturer, Barr-Morse Corporation, and were made in Ithaca.  The last of the four is really a mechanical continuation of the third, but by a different manufacturer (Barr Typewriter Corporation) in a different location (Weedsport) and with some outward changes which can be found.  Production by Barr-Morse in Montreal Canada is a variant of the third phase, lasting apparently 1934-1937.  Following, we will examine each in order and show machines actually existing today, where possible, which fit each phase.
At left, a 1929 advertising brochure courtesy Chuck & Rich.  The four bank design is noted, as is the low $50 price.  The Special, as we will see in greater detail later, was the cheaper of the models offered when the company finally did begin to offer more than one model.  It would appear that the advertisement is making every effort to compare this machine to standard typewriters, operationally, yet also indicates that it is fully portable.  In fact, the machine closely predicted the size and weight of very many postwar portable typewriters.
by  Will Davis