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A typewriter as detective

“It is a curious thing that a typewriter has really quite as much individuality as a man’s handwriting. Unless they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that in every case there is some little slurring over of the ‘e,’ and a slight defect in the tail of the ‘r.’ There are fourteen other characteristics, but those are the more obvious.” — Sherlock Holmes in “A Case of Identity” (1891)

From the Illustrated Phonographic World, April 1895 —

And the plot thickens! A further piece, May 1895 —

Indexed at Women and the typewriter at Type-Writer.org.

© 2018, Mark Adams. All rights reserved.

{ 1 comment… add one }
  • Richard P December 17, 2018, 4:05 am

    How great that the insights of Sherlock Holmes helped to solve a case in the real world. I’m sure it wasn’t the only time.

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