FOX portable typewriters
by Will Davis with information and photos from Peter Weil, Richard Polt, Herman Price, Jim Dax; further assistance from David A. Davis and David B. Davis
As has been related in many other places, the Fox Typewriter Company introduced its first portable typewriter in 1917, many years after having entered the typewriter business.  In so doing, it joined a then-new trend wherein major typewriter manufacturers in the U.S. offered both standard and portable machines.  We'll take a look at these machines, in our familiar photo-montage format; we've rounded up all the usual suspects to help us with this latest feature.
APRIL 2008
FOX PORTABLE No. 1

On the right we have our first illustration, which is a patent drawing showing the initial concept for the folding Fox portable.  To be brief, since it's often told, the machine was designed to collapse from the shape you see here into a more portable size envelope; the carriage dropped down behind the machine to accomplish this.  The Corona Typewriter Company had been producing for some time its well-known portable in which the carriage folded forward over the keyboard, and because of the popularity of this machine it was clearly assumed in some circles that a successful portable had to either collapse or fold into about the same size when stored, or else had to be about the same size when in operation (if it didn't fold.)  The Fox design is essentially a member of the former group.
It was related in the compendium of then-achieved typewriter history published by TYPEWRITER TOPICS in the early 1920's that a lawsuit was filed by Corona, against Fox.  It is stated in that volume that the suit was attributable to the new Fox machine's folding feature; it is then stated that manufacture was discontinued. 

If we look more carefully at the situation we see one overwhelming fact, which is the very existence of the patent still on file today in 2008, by Fox, for its folding typewriter.  Had Corona proven infringement, the patent would have been withdrawn.  That is was not withdrawn implies that either Corona lost, or else that Fox terminated the legal process by agreeing to drop production of the folding machine (which of course it did, as we will see.)  One indication that Fox responded to Corona's suit can be seen when we compare the drawing to the photo at left; note the backspace key outriggered from the carriage, on the right side of the machine in the drawing which does not appear on any production machines.  On production machines, it's in the keyboard -- on the folding Corona, it's just as seen in the original patent drawing for the folding Fox.
Above, Jim Dax's Fox Portable No. 1, serial number 421.
Fox Portable No. 1, serial number 1364, David B. Davis collection

Let's stop here in our historical discussion and examine one of these Fox No. 1 machines closely.  Dave and I took our Dad's machine into the DTW shop yesterday and gave it a complete examination which we'll describe below.

The machine is seen here in the case, with the lid open; lever operated hold down latches either side keep it in place in the case base.  A front aligning tab (different from the patent drawing, again) and a rear blade which engages a slot in the carriage rail further secure the machine in its case.
At right, we see the clip in the case lid used originally to hold the cleaning implements.  A large Fox decal has been placed behind it; perhaps originally it was on the case exterior.  It is not glued.
Here is the machine removed from the case, carriage raised.  This operation is performed through use of the two half-circle chromed operators seen one on each side.  Various ways can be used to operate these, such as with the index finger while the thumb is placed on the side or else by the thumbs with the fingers beside the keyboard.  The operation, once figured out is easy and quick.

Note that the carriage movement and ribbon movement operations must be triggered from the typewriter's main section; for this purpose, several disengaging mechanical interfaces (to use a modern term) are used.  For example, at the top right of the machine's base a prong sticks out of a slot; this moves up and back when the backspace key is depressed, and this hits a matching tab on the carriage to operate backspacing.  A bail running across the whole upper rear of the machine spaces the carriage.
Unlike the standard Fox machine, the portable includes a slotted segment for the type bar mounting -- but like the standard, the portable is segment shifted.  Here we see Dave pointing to the right-side hinge mounting for the segment, which is considerably forward of the segment itself.  In an interesting arrangement, both the CAP and FIG shift keys are mounted on the same tuning-fork shaped key stem, with a hinge at its base where it connects to the shift lever.  When the CAP key, closer to the typist is depressed, the dual keystem rotates slightly forward on that hinge, which pulls a reach rod connected right underneath the FIG keytop.  This engages a travel stop so that the segment moves up only half way.  Pressing the FIG keytop doesn't rotate the keystem assembly, and so the segment moves up twice as far, to the Figure shift position.  The shift lock is simply a rotating, lockout or interference type lever with a labeled keytop.

Next we see the carriage raising and lowering mechanism.  Near the front is the half-circle shaped operating end, or key.  It can be seen that in the lever on which this is mounted there is a slot with two lock positions, which engage a cam protruding from the side of the machine.  The parallel lever assembly causes the carriage to raise and lower in an arc, the whole time remaining level to the table.  This allows for a simple design of mechanical interface for carriage operating controls.

The machine on test proved to have an extremely rapid type-bar return speed, and while not in top operating shape it's clear that this machine would have been very, very fast in operation.  Further features not mentioned are a three-position ribbon selector (just below the print point), single carriage release on the right, variable line spacing and a backspace key in the keyboard (which we like above any other style.).
The Fox Portable No. 1 strikes us as a well-made, solid machine.  It's light, well within the range of competitive machines of the day (of which we have a number, seen elsewhere on the sites) but not so light or flimsy as others and without any over-engineering or delicacy.  It would have been a good, working machine.

We found a couple of interesting things with this machine.  On the left, we see Dave holding up what appears to be a replacement space bar; a wood screw matching the holes underneath it (which match perfectly the mounting hole spacing on the original style space bar on the machine) was also found rolling around in the case.  Perhaps the machine has had more than one space bar in its life; when we got the machine it had the space bar on it that you see here, which appears from all indications to be the original style.
Also found in the case was a letter, dated December 23, 1953.  It was sent from the Douglas M. Hale Typewriter Sales & Service Co. to a Mrs. Groves.  It was written by Hale himself, and tells Mrs. Groves that "this old style little portable typewriter is for you, provided it suits you."  He says he'll see her after the holidays to tell her all about it.  So, in 1953 this little typewriter, already having had one life became a Christmas gift to someone else.  The envelope even has a little Christmas-theme sticker on it, with three candles.  You just can't beat things like this to give life to a machine.  Oh, and for you sharp-eyed collectors out there the typewriter on the letterhead is a Smith-Corona Skyriter.
FOX PORTABLE No. 2

After having produced approximately 8,000 No. 1 portables, Fox Typewriter Company introduced its No. 2.  On the right we see the earliest known Fox Portable No. 2, owned by Richard Polt with serial number 10017. 

Richard owns all models of Fox Portable and his examination of the No. 1 and No. 2 machines side-by-side reveals two things:  First, there are a number of minor design and construction changes between the two machines which in most cases are simple.  Second, the major change is the addition of a margin release feature on the No. 2, which interestingly is combined in an operative sense with the margin release key.

Serial numbers of surviving machines indicate that less than 2,000 of these No. 2 portables were made before Fox changed to a heavily modified design.