BLICK 90 / Blick Universal

BLICK 90

As detailed earlier, the Blick 90 was introduced in 1919 by the Blick Typewriter Co. and was manufactured in the same Stamford, Connecticut plant that had previously built the well known Blickensderfer type-wheel portables. We were lucky to acquire this example, serial number K 1093 recently and took it into the shop for a complete inspection and analysis.

The Blick 90 is a three-bank, double shift portable made of light-weight materials and is quite compact, being only slightly larger than the Corona 3 as modified with double shift keys. The Blick 90, however, has only one set on the left but includes a peculiar wasp-waisted body design which is manufactured of light sheet steel stampings, and has numerous cutouts or reliefs to lower weight. The machine's model number is derived from the fact that it types 90 characters. It is equipped with a margin release key (some machines of this class having either margin release levers on their carriages, or none at all) and a back-space device operated by a lever above and to the right of the keyboard. It also includes a tabulator, which is unusual for a machine of this class. Also interesting is the incorporation of a three-position ribbon selector, whose operator is located just under the carriage on the right. Either single or double line spacing is possible, selected by a simple sliding button right above the ratchet pawl mechanism operated by the crank-type return lever (mounted on the right side of the carriage.) Margin stops and tabulator stops are conveniently set due to the provision of a fold-over rack for both; this flips over the front of the paper table, and is directly in view of the typist and along the platen when so deployed. A simple catch prevents the margin and tab rack from coming loose during operation. Manual ribbon reverse, and winding, are provided for.

The machine types better than might be expected for such a light-weight machine; the action is positive and return of type-bars fairly rapid. The machine has a more refined feel than many of this class. Overall, the various mechanisms of the machine are somewhat delicate, but well engineered; nothing in the machine seems to be out of place considering the overall fit and finish.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Blick 90 is its quickly removable type-baket. This is displayed clearly in the picture at right. Two thumb screws (one each side) are loosened, and with the carriage locked in the FIG or uppermost position the type basket can be lifted up slightly, then brought forward clearing the ribbon spools and moved toward the typist out of the machine. Insertion is made easy by cast-in tangs that positively locate the segment, assuring alignment prior to tightening of the screws for securing it back in place. (Note that the emblem on the paper table is simply the type-basket, removed.)

At left, the type basket being supported by a screwdriver for closer inspection. The type basket has a riveted label below the mount of the type alignment fork stating PICA, and has on its rear the number 726 stamped in. Note that the type-bar return springs are mounted on the rear of the segment. The type-bars appear non linear in the photo above because the unit is simply sitting on the shop table and the lower extensions of the center type bars are supporting its weight, forcing them upwards. Note that at right they are in-line as if they were installed in the machine.

At right we see an early design for removable type-basket portables, by Lyman C. Roberts. This design apparently was developmental and was not produced. Note that at point 11 an extension of the key lever contacts and pushes type bar 12 but has no positive mechanical connection with it.

At left, the design modified for production and that of the Blick 90 and Roberts 90. Note that an intermediate lever has been included in the key lever / type bar mechanism, number 30. It contacts the type bar at point 31. The projection on the type bar, at point 32 is intended to lock the type bar and the key lever mechanism together during the actual operation, since the pin at 31 will enter the slot. Note that at rest they are not locked together.

This view of the Blick 90 with type basket removed is notable for several features.

First, in the area for the mounting of the type basket, the intermediate levers and the tangs or extensions thereon, shown as part 32 above are clearly visible in a dotted row inside the machine.

Second, note at the top of the picture that the margin and tab rack has been brought forward over the paper table; a scale, marked properly to be viewed with the rack in this position aids in adjustment of margin stops and tab stops.

The key on the left of the machine, approximately adjacent the left ribbon spool, is the TAB key. The key in a similar position on the opposite side is the MARGIN RELEASE key. Visible near each in this photo are the thumb screws for securing the type basket in the machine.

Other views of the Blick 90. Note the openings in the body, beside the keyboard and on the side, intended to lighten the frame. Nothing in this machine is overly heavy or excessively sturdy; everything matches the theme of light weight but solid design principle. Our view on this machine is that it is well designed, and pretty well made - but probably was not inexpensive to manufacture properly. This single factor would have been bad enough had four-bank portables, and a world wide recession not been on the horizon when it appeared.

Blickensderfer had distributed its machines in England through a company set up for that purpose by a Mr. George Rimington; this company also renamed itself Blick Typewriter Co. sometime around the same time that the US company did which may indicate some level of investment by the US firm. Even if it had none, the failure of Blick Typewriter Co. in the US and transition to L.R. Roberts Typewriter Co. did not see the end of the British firm. Instead, it retained the name Blick Typewriter Co. and quickly began to import the German-made Klein-Adler, which it sold as the Blick Universal.

The Blick Universal is a three-bank double-shift machine whose shift is by carriage motion; both shifts are downward from the normal position. The machine is built on the thrust-action principle and not the conventional type-bar principle, following the original design of Wellington Parker Kidder for the Empire/Wellington and as also built by Adlerwerke, in Germany.

The machine offers visible writing, and a back-spacer key mounted on the upper right of the keyboard. Ribbon reverse is by tightening or loosening the screws on the ribbon spool tops. Single and double line-space are available, as is a ratchet lockout. Margin stops are on a rack in front of the carriage, below the print point and ribbon spool height.

Although not as crisp as most type-bar machines, the typing action is pleasant enough and the machine is quite workable for most light jobs and occasional writing. Ribbon quality is paramount with this machine, since the force of impact is rather less than most conventional type-bar machines.

The Blick Univeral was sold only through the end of 1923, or perhaps just earlier. At that time, Blick Typewriter Co. was in the midst of a deal with Geo. Salter to manufacture a new, four-bank front strike standard at the full $100.00 price for such machines. That machine, the BRITISH, failed in the marketplace, essentially spelling the end of the Blick Typewriter Co. Its former supplier in the US, L.R. Roberts Typewriter Co. had already preceded it in liquidation.

BLICK UNIVERSAL

Typing on the Blick Universal for simple testing in the shop proved pleasant enough that the machine was taken in for more exhaustive testing. The action is quite smooth, and return of the type bars is more rapid than one might assume simply by virtue of the design (considering that gravity cannot aid their return.) Operation of the machine at sustained moderate speed was proven out by both myself and my brother, Dave, and both of us agreed that if we had been alive at the proper time to consider purchase of one of these machines brand new, considering the competition, we might well have actually purchased one.

One of the more interesting tests was performed when we noticed that the key spacing, center to center and the overall keyboard dimension of this machine was smaller than on more modern machines but also noticed that this did not seem to hamper operation very much -- noteworthy considering our lack of comparative typing time on such three-bank double-shift machines. Measurements taken on various machines proved out that the spacing of the key levers in a row on the Blick Universal is 11/16", while on the standard Monarch No. 3 (available in the shop at the time) the spacing is 3/4" and on the Harris Visible No. 4 it is 25/32". This reduction in spacing makes the overall rows shorter; the "home row" of keys on the Blick Universal measures 6 7/8" while that on the Monarch No. 3 measures 7 3/8" end to end.

(Blick Universal serial 215957, Will Davis collection.)

FOOTNOTE. As a matter of interest, although Blickensderfer in the US made its name with the familiar little type-wheel portable so well known, it did attempt to build a true $100.00 standard typewriter. This machine, the Blick-Bar (seen in an illustration below from Peter Weil) was surrounded by controversy its whole life and ultimately was sold to Harry A. Smith shortly after George Blickensderfer's death in 1917 .. and apparently the sale was at a loss. Years later, the Blick Typewriter Co. of London England attempted to get Geo. Salter to build for it a machine known as the BRITISH. This failed, and so did Blick Typewriter Co. but the machine itself reappeared shortly as the BRITISH EMPIRE, an example of which in the Thomas Fuertig collection is shown (courtesy the European Typewriter Project.)

Our only consideration in displaying standard typewriters in a series otherwise devoted to portables is the fact that both firms, separately and at different times did in fact make serious effort to enter the competitive market for standard typewriters but did so separate from the portables just shown. In the case of the US firm the standard machine preceded the Blick 90; in the case of the British firm the standard followed the end of all other production or distribution.