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| MOLLE No. 3 / serial 4473 / David B. Davis collection |
| Here is a fine example of the only production variant of the Molle typewriter, owned by David B. Davis, and which includes its original carrying case. The manufacturer's location is clearly labeled on the front: "Molle Typewriter Company, Oshkosh, Wis., U.S. of A." There were a number of machines produced from time to time in the state of Wisconsin (Triumph Visible in Kenosha, Harris Visible, Rex Visible and Demountable in Fond du Lac as examples) but none of them ever achieved a "top ten" position in the market. This means that Wisconsin-made typewriters are, today, quite desirable! At once, we can see that the Molle is a rather unusual-looking machine. It is smaller than photographs would make it appear -- it is even dwarfed by the Harris Visible, for example, and weighs something under twelve pounds. Note that the machine also includes a three-bank double shift keyboard, although only on the left is the FIG shift key present. The ribbon spool placement is odd, but actually workable. |
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| This machine has a rather light and easy typing action, no doubt due to its design wherein cranks are employed to operate the type bars. The exact execution of the design itself is not perfectly identical to that of the famous Smith Premier, of course, and actually in concept the entire part that runs front to back (from key stem to intermediate link to type bar) moves in a circle itself, instead of rotating on center as in the Smith Premier. The carriage shift is easy; the mountings for the carriage couldn't be simpler, and incorporate two chromed vertical rods on which the carriage moves up and down. Carriage rail bearings are rollers, with pairs of disc-type rollers located by small stamped carriers that move with the rollers. In terms of features, the machine employs only a tabulator; back-space was standard by this time. There is no ribbon selector. Having said that the machine is quite capable of functioning in somewhat the same manner as the (totally unrelated) ORGA of Germany; it would do well either as an auxiliary machine in the office, or as a working machine for the home more substantial than most portables of its day. The machine is pleasant to work with overall, even with the limitations presented to touch-typists by the three-bank keyboard. Put very simply: We liked typing on it ! (This machine was overhauled by Your Typewriter & Computer, North Olmsted, Ohio.) |
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