SECOR No. 2   (Richard Polt collection)

According to Michael Adler, only about 7000 units were produced.  This is a No. 2; the No. 1 differed in that it typed 76 instead of 84 characters.  They were noted at the time for a number of novel design features, which included a highly precise but totally removable escapement mechanism.  They also incorporated a design of decimal tabulator of some note for its day. 

The Secor Visible appeared around 1905 or 1906,  No. 2 and No. 3 in 1908, and all production ended by 1916.  The factory was in Derby, Connecticut, and had formerly been the Williams Typewriter Company's plant. 

This is a good example of a machine that attempted to be opportunistic, was well reviewed in contemporary publication, but which failed quickly.

Secor No. 2 at right courtesy Richard Polt; s/n 5380, manufactured 1913.
As an aside, printed sources differ on the changeover from Williams Typewriter Co. to Secor Typewriter Co.  Some list the end of Williams' original production as 1905 or 1906; one lists sellout to Secor in 1909.  However, we have here crops from two patents granted to Jerome Secor, who was filing patents for frontstrikes as an assignor to Williams Typewriter Co. as early as 1903, with grant dates though 1907.
What does this mean?  Well, for starters, it means that Williams was working on frontstrike visible standards before it failed and was sold to Jerome Secor.  The relevant dates on the patents are the "grant" dates, which means that the assignor must be officially filed by that time.  We see the grant dates through 1907, which seems to indicate that the company was still Williams Typewriter Co. as of that time.  This makes the one printed reference of the changeover, Williams to Secor, having been 1909 seem correct --- meaning that there should be early Secor machines either built officially as Williams products, or else simply not labeled, or subcontracted.  If that isn't the case, then Secor Typewriter was simply using Williams' factory space during the overlap period, and was separately funded.  Interesting, isn't it?
SECOR No. 1

Thomas Fuertig Collection

This is the rare No. 1 Secor, notable immediately by its oddly shaped frame in front of the space bar, which carries decals not only on its front but also on its top.  Serial no. B-3964.
SECOR No. 2

Thomas Fuertig Collection

Tom sends along also this shot of his No. 2 Secor for comparison.  The lever for operating the decimal tabulator is immediately obvious, and distinctive, on the left front of the machine.  Serial no. 6168.
The SECOR Typewriter Company, under the auspices of designer Jerome Secor, attempted to break into the market with a conventional frontstrike machine but failed almost immediately.  Our evidence shows, though, that the design was first developed under the auspices of the Williams Typewriter Company.  Let's take a look.