Canon Fodder: Part Two

Electronic 2 Minutes

So why did Canon (and Sharp for that matter) neglect to mention electronic typewriters in their company history?

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Following their huge 1988 investment in the Costa Mesa plant in California – and faced with stiff competition from U.S. manufacturers such as IBM and Xerox and the Olivetti Corporation (America) – did Canon fail to make an impact in the American electronic typewriter market (despite their advertising claims to the contrary)?

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If so, having enjoyed huge success in other areas, especially cameras and copiers, no need for them to mention the failure of their electronic typewriter side-projects.

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Canon daisywheel for compact/standard electronic typewriters (front and back)

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 Mini Canon daisywheel for portable electronic typewriter (right)

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Or does Canon’s abridged history merely reflect the fact that electronic daisywheel typewriters failed to emerge as a technology of the future?

Yes, that’s probably it, plus the fact that Canon were never fully committed to daisywheel typewriters or letter quality printing (not that this came across in their 1986 advertising) …

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As their company history shows, Canon were busy pioneering bubble-jet and laser printing technologies …

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Which makes it all the more surprising how good these AP series daisywheel typewriters are. Canon, I take my hat off to you …

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(I knew that badge I bought a few years ago wasn’t money completely wasted …)

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Extracts from: Canon to Shift Typewriter Work to Costa Mesa (March 24, 1988|DAVID OLMOS | Times Staff Writer)

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Canon AP100 (no LCD)

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Canon AP1500 (LCD)

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Canon AP200 electronic typewriter (no LCD)

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Canon AP300 electronic typewriter (small LCD)

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Canon AP360 electronic typewriter (wide LCD)

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Canon AP400 electronic typewriter (no LCD)

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Canon AP500 electronic typewriter (large LCD)

Canon Ap550

An RSX232-C serial interface enables the AP 400/500 to function as a conventional typewriter or computer output printer in word processing functions for personal computers. This interface feature is provided as an option. When the interface is employed, the local (off-line) mode function enables the AP 400-500 to operate as an electronic typewriter; the remote (on-line) mode provides compatibility with Qume and Diablo typewriter printers. The AP 500 can also operate as an intelligent terminal while the AP 400 functions as an I-O typewriter-printer. 1983:

http://www.readabstracts.com/Computers-and-office-automation-industries/Canon-Units-Enhance-Functionality-of-Electronic-Typewriter-Printers.html

Canon AP800

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Canon AP7010

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Canon AP160-II/AP6100

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Canon AP8010 (above)

Canon Fodder: Part One

Canon Consumables

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Published by Steve K

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7 thoughts on “Canon Fodder: Part Two”

  3. I have an AP500 with the upgrade card and I was wondering if you have any images of the AP500 I/O Card upgrade? I’m thinking about rebuilding the interface to something more modern.

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  4. Pingback: Olivetti et al | writelephant

  5. Cool, thanks for the info on Canon in regard to the printwheel phase. I happen to like the printwheel technology, I keep 2 writers ready to go at a moments notice- my Panasonic R320 and my Brother SX-4000.

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  6. Those wedges and word processors were really neat when they came to market. I still find the flexibility of the wedges interesting. A few passed through my hands. None ever stayed in my collection.
    I remember when Olivetti built their huge factory in Susquehanna Township near Harrisburg, PA. The factory is still there, but Olivetti did not stay long. I am told they made word processors and calculators there.

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