Before computers, typewriters ruled the business world. Underwood was among the most influential brands, revolutionizing office work and written communication.
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The 19th century saw the birth of typewriters, with various designs emerging. The Sholes and Glidden Type Writer introduced the QWERTY keyboard in 1873.
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John Thomas Underwood founded the Underwood Typewriter Company in the 1890s after initially supplying ribbons and carbon paper to Remington.
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Launched in 1900, the Underwood No. 5 was the world’s first modern typewriter, selling over 2 million units.
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Key innovations included front-strike typing, improved shift keys, and a more durable build, setting the standard for future typewriters.
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By the early 1900s, Underwood expanded into Europe, setting up manufacturing units in England and Germany.
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The 1930s brought financial struggles. While Underwood survived, competitors and new technologies loomed.
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IBM introduced electric typewriters, leaving manual typewriters like Underwood struggling to keep up.
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In 1959, Italian typewriter giant Olivetti acquired Underwood, marking the beginning of the end for the brand.
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By 1963, Underwood ceased to exist as an independent brand. The once-thriving company had faded into history.
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Today, Underwood typewriters are collectors' items, cherished for their historical value and craftsmanship.
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Underwood's downfall teaches a lesson in innovation—complacency can lead even the strongest companies to obsolescence.
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