15. Noiseless typewriters

A range of noiseless typewriters which were developed from the 20s onwards is displayed here. Through targeted use of certain noise-damping materials such as rubber and by using special lever mechanisms, the noise created when typing can be significantly reduced in part, which means that users can concentrate more on their work. The typebars were no longer flung against the rollers with force on the noiseless typewriters. These worked more on the principle of pressing against the type. Peter Mitterhofer recognised this problem when he fitted the typebar on his typewriters with a leaf spring so that they struck nearly noiselessly. The first “Noiseless” typewriter was produced in the USA in 1915.
However, the machine was not as successful as anticipated until this company was overtaken by Remington and the machine was further developed in technical terms and also marketed more effectively. On a licence basis, the same model was also launched on the market under the brands Smith-Premier and Underwood. The version of the Remington-Noiseless Portable, the not so successful noiseless portable machine, was subsequently manufactured by Smith Premier and Underwood. The similarly designed Continental – Silenta by the Wanderer factory in Chemnitz came onto the market in Germany in 1934: a technical precision engineering masterstroke which was the high point of German typewriter development.
Originally designed as a noiseless typewriter, it soon advanced to become the chief secretary’s typewriter, which became extremely popular so that the interest in the Remington-Noiseless began to wane.