Without being able to go back in time to the 1980s and experience an e.t. as it was when it was new, it's difficult to judge the merits of a particular brand and model of e.t. based on the one second-hand model you own. Identical when new, any two electronic typewriters that rolled of the … Continue reading E.T. Twinning (Part One) →

The Panasonic KX-E508 compact electronic typewriter is strictly business, lacking any of the frills and idiosyncrasies of, say, the Olivetti ET Compact 70. The spartan styling and faux metallic silver-grey finish of the KX-E508 is the same styling and finish that Matsushita applied to its Panasonic KX-R series portables; portables like the KX-R250: Viewed individually, … Continue reading Panasonic KX-E508 →

I finally found an instruction guide for my Panasonic RK-T28 cup wheel typewriter. It's actually the instruction guide for a higher-spec RK-T40, but gives directions on how to change the cup wheel. I already knew you had to push the print carrier all the way to the right, so that the cup wheel ended up … Continue reading RK-T Science 2 →

In Japan, Matsushita earned themselves the nickname Maneshita (Copy Cat) due to their tendency to maneru (copy) the technologies marketed by their rivals. NEC Spinwriter "thimble" printers, for example, may have been the inspiration for Panasonic RK-T series "cup wheel" personal electronic typewriters introduced in 1984. Likewise, Brother AX-series personal electronic typewriters of the mid … Continue reading Panasonic KX-R305 →

In terms of size, the Panasonic RK-T28 cupwheel electronic typewriter is one of those machines (reasonably lightweight and with a carry handle) that sits on the boundary between the portable and compact categories. However, since a true definition of "compact" is synonymous with "semi-professional", the performance of the RK-T28 leaves it firmly in the portable camp. … Continue reading RK-T Science →