Adopt our Remington Portable Typewriter

In 1873, E. Remington and Sons – a New York company with a history of manufacturing guns, and then sewing machines – produced the first commercial typewriter. It used the QWERTY layout, still used today, that was designed by Christopher Sholes. Five years later, the Remington Number 2 was released, giving operators access to upper and lower case characters through the use of the Shift key.

As it says on the machine, the Remington Home Portable Typewriter as shown was assembled by British labour from parts made in the US. The typewriters were assembled at Remington’s factory in London, starting in 1930.( Remington did the same thing in Australia during the 1930s, with US-made parts assembled at a “branch plant” in Sydney)

Remington‘s headquarters in London were at 100 Gracechurch Street, EC3.  The London factory where these “Home” portables were assembled, however, was nearby at 16 Crutched Friars, EC3N, close to the Fenchurch Street Station (The street name comes from the Roman Catholic religious order Fratres Cruciferi, or Brethren of the Cross. The name refers to the staff carried by the brothers, surmounted by a crucifix).

A “Home” Remington portable which belonged to a well-known British author was auctioned in London by Bonham’s on June 26, 2007. Quentin Crisp (born Denis Charles Pratt, Christmas Day 1908; died November 21, 1999) was a writer and raconteur. He had used the typewriter to write The Naked Civil Servant. It was bought at auction by a Mr Paul Frecker for £1,600. 

Each item in our collection has its own curious and unique story. Ending up at Bailiffgate they start a new life, becoming part of the history of the museum. We offer you the unique chance to help us raise essential funds. Adopt one of our fascinating items or displays, and become part of the story yourself.

Adoption costs £50 a year for an individual and £100 for a company. All proceeds go to Bailiffgate Museum to help us fund our daily running costs. Please remember that we receive no fixed grant from the government. We depend heavily upon the generosity of our supporters, be that friends, visitors or adopters.

Your donation brings you a special adoption certificate and a digital image of your object. You also receive free visits to your item and your name credited on our website if you wish. You can also have your name or that of a person you are remembering in the display near your item.

For companies, we offer your logo on our website and a name credit near the item. Also an invitation to attend our special exhibition launches events throughout the year, a special adoption certificate and a digital image of your object. There is also the chance for a photo opportunity with the item to use on your website or in local pres.

Whether as a gift for a friend, your company, or for yourself; adopting an object is a wonderful way to support your local Museum. You can adopt for one year or for several years at a time, it is up to you.

Objects are immediately available for adoption unless otherwise stated. Please note that you are welcome to nominate the name of another person to be carried on the certificate and on the display, and to have the certificate posted to another address if you wish. Just order and proceed to the Checkout page. Complete a new delivery  address if required and enter the text you require to be displayed next to the item in the Order Notes.

If your adoption is on behalf of a company, please order as normal and we will contact you to discuss the deatils of your adoption and the balance of your payment.