Barr6

Barr Portable Typewriters Page Five

Production machines in multiple models. This is the familiar production of the machine, available in essentially two, but actually three models. The Barr Universal was considered to be the "normal" machine, while the Barr Special was a stripped, budget machine. There was also a wide-carriage machine available, with 13 inch line of writing, which was in reality a modification of the Barr Universal.

Only one machine of the wide carriage type is known to us. However, here we have an original illustration of this variety, seen to be a modification of the Barr Universal, since the machine has a ribbon color selector. This machine, in 1929-1930, was equipped with a tabulator device with ten stops -- apparently by this drawing a multi-stop version of the lever operated device seen earlier. It was also only available in black enamel paint.

Barr Special, S/N 2P1103, Peter Weil collection.

This Barr Special is, we believe, the next available machine in date order above mine which can be shown. The Barr Special was aimed at students, or those wishing to buy a sturdy and reliable but non-gadget-festooned machine. It was not offered with ribbon selector or tabulator.

It is known that the breakout of separate models happened after serial number 2521 and before serial number 8871. The machines also began to carry labeling on their paper tables in this time. Few are known actually to exist which carry both the label on the front of the machine, above the top row of keys, and also on the paper table -- as seen in the instruction manual illustration at left. This manual is actually the manual issued with Peter Weil's machine seen above. Note that no ribbon selector is shown, and that there is neither the odd paragraph / tabulator device seen earlier on S/N 2521, nor the later key-operated tabulator. Note that the shift lock key is still abreast the third row of keys in this illustration, as it is on the machine. The key operated tabulator is apparently a very late addition to the Barr-Morse phases of production. Artwork at right courtesy Chuck & Rich.

Barr Special, S/N C3P548. Tilman Elster collection.

Here is Tilman's Barr Special, which follows the norm of being stripped. The Special also does not include a left side carriage release, or variable line spacer as usually found on the Barr Universal. One very interesting feature seen here is the position of the shift lock key. Here, the shift lock key is right above the right side shift key. Thus, this machine was produced after the key-operated tabulator was developed. If this were a Barr Universal, built with the optional tabulator, then the tab key would be abreast the third row of character keys.

Barr Universal

Barr Universal, S/N B4U926. Tilman Elster collection.

This is a fully loaded Barr Universal, with the key operated tabulator. Note that the other relevant identifying features of the main production phase of the machines are retained. These include the white keytops with black legends, smooth-finished enamel paint (in a variety of colors,) the lever type locks for the ribbon spool covers, and the Barr-Morse label on the front of the frame. The vast majority of Barr patent machines will have these features. Only very early and very late machines deviate from these spotting and identifying features. It would seem also as if the vast majority do not have a label on the front of the machine above the top row of keys, as well.

We see again the 1929 advertising artwork for the Barr Universal, made prior to the introduction of the key operated tabulator. Note the shift lock key abreast the third row of keys. The illustration does appear to show the paragraph / tabulator lever on the carriage, even though it is not labeled or mentioned. It may be that it was deleted from the machines, but the illustration was not airbrushed to remove it; reference to it was, perhaps, simply deleted. I should also say that the "Typelite" added onto this machine would certainly be an interesting and rare find, and that I know of none at this time having survived.

To reiterate, in the fullest proper terminology, we may assign the label of "Barr Typewriter" to machines built before the split into separate models, since this is the label they carry. Following this, we may identify the "Barr Universal" as the main production model, with the "Barr Wide Carriage Portable" being higher in price, and the "Barr Special" being lower. Cost to the customer for the Barr Special in mid 1930 was $50.00, while that of the Barr Universal was $65.00 and the Barr Wide Carriage Portable was $80.00. One wonders whether or not the label of "Barr Special" was intended to be directly competitive with the label of the contemporary version of the old folding Corona, which at this time was the "Corona Special." It then would follow that the "Barr Universal" could be considered the equal of all four-bank machines then on the market.

Barr Wide Carriage Portable

Barr Special