Harris / Rex / Demountable pg. 3

Here's another ad for the Rex Visible sent to us by Jim Dax. The boss obviously appreciates the fine quality of the copy generated from the machine. We can be sure that the advertisement is meant to make us think that the product is every bit as good as that obtained from machines which would have cost a great deal more. This was one of the many advertising angles used in selling both the Harris and Rex machines.

"Never before has it been possible to buy a typewriter even approaching in quality the wonderful HARRIS Visible for less than $100.00. Never before has any manufacturer of such a typewriter employed the same simple, economical, common sense selling methods by which other merchandise and staple products are sold. By selling the HARRIS direct from the factory, we save you MORE THAN ONE-HALF the usual price.
    Do you know that nearly $50 of the $100 charged for other machines goes to pay the expense of maintaining scores of salesrooms, and branch offices, including repair "service" departments (for the particular benefit of buyers in the large cities), hundreds of managers and salesmen, and other unnecessary expenses?
    It is not possible to build a finer typewriter than the HARRIS Visible. Then how can ANY typewriter be worth $100.00?
    Never again will business men of careful judgement pay $100 for any typewriter. Think of it! For less than the price of a second-hand ("rebuilt") machine you can own the newest, latest improved typewriter on the market, with a lifetime guarantee against any defect or weakness so often concealed in rebuilt machines."

Herman Price sends the ad at right, with selected copy reproduced below.

Detail from the advertising folder sent by Herman Price. It's undated, and is actually produced with the name and address of Empire Type Foundry, known otherwise for its Linowriter conversions. This folder, then, could have been customized for any dealer.

Below, the copy below the picture at left is reproduced.

This is the 'outer' side of the leaflet from Herman Price. I should note that every defense of the three-bank double-shift layout is made, with reference to the Oliver. Also notable, in the large picture seen earlier, is reference to "scientific key-lever action" which is said to be superlative in performance of manifolding. Certainly, every machine made some statement to this effect, but we will inspect later just what this scientific design actually comprises. Most significant, and seen at the top of the center panel, is the lifetime guarantee on this machine. This exceeds the later ten year guarantee made (in 1916) for the descendant Rex Visible, which was stated to be the longest ever given on a typewriter. One easily suspects that the Harris guarantee predated that of the Rex, and that Mr. Ballard of the Rex Typewriter Co. simply 'failed to remember it.'

Harris / Rex / Demountable pg. 3

Advertising and Features

Of course, this machine has been referred to by the late Paul Lippman as -- well -- overly plain. In a recent interview given to ETCetera, Lynda Beckler stated that her Harris Visible No. 4 was perhaps the most unnoticeable machine in her collection.

Is the Harris design unique? Yes, and no. For starters, it was not the only three bank double shift standard machine. The Oliver design, as referred to by Harris advertising, sold over a hundred thousand machines with this keyboard arrangement. In that sense, the Harris / Rex isn't unique. It should be noted, though, that this was the only widely sold front-strike, three-bank double-shift standard.

One note of interest surrounds the sales of the Harris by Sears. We now have here, thanks to Ernie Jorgensen and Peter Weil, copies of two original Harris manuals. One was published by the Harris Typewriter Manufacturing Company, with no date, and the other is an updated version of the same manual, but published by Sears, Roebuck and Company, and dated 1920. It would seem as if Sears had the machines on hand well after the exit of the Harris firm.

Next page: Full historical details.

"Full standard size; rich and beautiful design. Note the solid panels completely enclosing the back and sides. Extra-width carriage (11 inches) without extra charge. Other manufacturers ask $5.00. Universal keyboard--double shift. Only three rows of keys, 28 in number, printing 84 characters. Greatest visibility; writing line always in plain sight. Lightest touch; human fingers cannot tax the unlimited speed of the HARRIS Visible. Instantly removable platen. Right- and left-hand shift keys, with shift-key lock. Latest improved tabulator; reliable and practical. Back-spacer key. Segment shift; scientific key-lever action produces sharp, powerful blow for heavy manifolding. Lightest touch. Perfect, permanent alignment; beautiful, clear-cut copy; standard pica type. Marginal stops with release key. Ribbon reverse lever on keyboard, etc. etc.

to see artwork from a 1918 Rex Visible sales brochure!

At left, cover of instruction manual for the Rex Visible No. 4 provided by Peter Weil. The cover has a sticker applied at the bottom indicating that the original machine was sold through W. H. Barrell, Ltd. Portsmouth, England who as stated were "office furniture specialists" and "typewriter agents and repairers." Date unknown, but late enough that the machine has the lever-type front mounted ribbon selector.

This illustration brings up a good point surrounding the decoration and paint found on various Harris and Rex machines. Some machines may have the name HARRIS or REX above the keyboard and centered, but some do not (and never did.) This Rex, like most, has no gold paint bead on its paper table; all Harris machines did originally. Later in Rex production, the ornamental paint all over the typewriter is simplified and then omitted, making very late Rex machines appear quite plain.