Mermish Typewriter
Great for Underwater Typing
Phoenix Type Develops Mermish Typewriter Using Faraday Student's Design
History and Development
The first commercially available typewriters were produced in Alaj in the early 19th century, and as such, they were all designed to type in Shugbo, the dominant language of Alaj. Due to the widespread usage of the Shugbo language, this made them useful in many other countries, including neighboring Nefrale, but usage for speakers of many other languages still remained impossible. In the mid 19th century, Phoenix Type developed a new version of the typewriter with a wider array of symbols from the Roex script, allowing people to type in several languages, including Imk, Elvish, Roex, and Mermish. Phoenix Type soon became the primary creator of typewriters. Some problems with the Phoenix design persisted for the next century however, particularly with the Mermish language, which is typically written in columns, rather than in rows. Furthermore, any Mermish who lived underwater would be unable to use a typewriter, as none of them were designed for aquatic use. This changed when Mermish Nefralen student, Mirtana Agulan, arrived at Faraday Academy of Magic in 1956. Mirtana wanted to solve the problem of the Mermish typewriter in the hope that the advent of type could be used at Mermish-language schools, such as the one she attended before being accepted to Faraday. Furthermore, having numerous relatives who lived underwater, Mritana felt that an aquatic typewriter would be used if it existed. She produced a prototype for her senior project at school, and though she sold the design to Phoenix Type, that original prototype remains in the Providence House common at Faraday School, available for any student to use.
Appearance and Function
We have Mermish newspapers, why not Mermish typewriters?
As opposed to a standard typewriter, the Mermish Typewriter does not have a cylinder on which to roll a sheet of paper, but two clamps where a thin sheet of metal can be placed. The keys then punch into the metal, creating small indentations to create the letters. Furthermore, rather than the writing surface moving with each keystroke, the typing mechanism, a box which houses the keys, moves from top to bottom with each keystroke, creating a column of type. When the typing mechanism reaches the bottom, the typist can pull a lever to return it to the top of the page, where it automatically shifts slightly to the right, allowing typists to type in columns. Agulan's design also includes a magical working which waterproofs all individual pieces of the typewriter.
Variations
Phoenix Type has plans to later release a a version of the typewriter which uses inked letters on paper, as a traditional typewriter does, but still allows the typist to easily type in columns.
The Musical Typewriter
In 1961, inspired by the unique sound of the Mermish Typewriter, Brekkan artist, Linda Howard, released a new hit single, Dylon, which features the typewriter as a primary instrument.
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