[Fictionary] TROFFER results

[Hutch]

On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 8:42 PM, J-J Cote <jjcote at alum.mit.edu> wrote:
[snippety]
> troffer - n. - (obs.) The lever mechanism on a "Noiseless" typewriter
> (patented by W. P. Kidder in 1914 and marketed from 1917 until the late
> 1930's) that decelerates the typebar before impacting the ribbon and paper.
> by Hutch.  Elliott 2 = 2 points
> Nick: I don't know enough about typewriter mechanisms to be sure of this
> one.
> Elliott: Typography-related def #2.  How is it supposed to transfer ink if
> it hits *gently*?  And the name ``Kidder'' makes me suspicious.  One point
> for creativity anyway.
[snippety]

The "Noiseless" typewriter was, in fact, patented by one Wellington
Parker Kidder in 1914 and marketed by the Noiseless Typewriter
Company, then Remington, then Underwood until AT LEAST 1929 (Underwood
got the rights in 1929). From the Wikipedia description:

In a conventional typewriter the type bars are decelerated at the end
of their travel simply by impacting upon the ribbon and paper.
So-called "noiseless" typewriters have a complex lever mechanism that
decelerates the typebar mechanically and then presses it against the
ribbon and paper in an attempt to render the process less noisy. It
was not particularly successful; it certainly reduced the
high-frequency content of the sound, rendering it more of a "clunk"
than a "clack" and arguably less intrusive, but the grandiose claims
of the advertising--such as "A machine that can be operated a few feet
away from your desk - And not be heard"--were entirely without
foundation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typewriter#.22Noiseless.22_designs

I'm afraid the too-subtle joke was labeling a definition about a
typewriter as "obs." *G*

BB,
Hutch

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