HISTORICAL REMARKS:
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                   based on the book of W.A.Beeching »Typewriter« (1974)
 
In 1875 Moise Paillard founded PAILLARD in Saint-Croix / Switzerland to
manufacture  MUSIC BOXES.  By the end of the century they produced also
gramophones, record-players and radio receivers. In 1920 the firm became
a corporation, controlled by 2 families:  The Paillards and the Thorens.
A new factory was build in Yverdon to produce typewriters:  »HERMES-2«
was an office machine, the 1st with an  automatic tabulator. In 1935 the
»HERMES-BABY« was launched ( invented by G.Prezioso ) a really portable,
light-weight typewriter which became a worldwide success  ( It is said,
that also E.Hemmingway & J.Steinbeck loved their "BABY"s ). The BABY was
reduced to its essentials, but the HERMES OFFICE TYPEWRITERS were filled
for all needs:  In 1938, thanks to PAILLARD,  Switzerland became the 3rd
typewriter exporting country  behind only  USA and Germany.  In 1930 the
firm had also been manufacturing movie cameras:  The  »BOLEX«  was later
produced by the Austrian group EUMIG.  After fusion with PRECISA, beside
typewriters, also CALCULATORS were made in Switzerland, Germany & France
under the brand name  »PRECISA«.

R E M A R K ...
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BABY = 3.4 kg  + COVER (= Aluminum ) = 0.4 kg  ( better than »GROMINA« )
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impressum:
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© C.HAMANN          http://public.BHT-Berlin.de/hamann          06/12/10