Go to Life in the fast lane--where's the on ramp?
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You never fail to fascinate me with your many true life stories.
You are a serious person of interest but in an awesome way! 
posted by
Sherri_G
on December 9, 2020 at 5:49 AM
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You could have played a part in Dolly's 9 to 5.
This is such an amazing piece of history that you have shared. I can see you at your desk, writing and then jumping up and running errands. 
posted by
Sherri_G
on December 9, 2020 at 5:48 AM
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Re: start your own press
Dear Shams-i-Heartsong - at 85 I no longer have the endurance to do that. The once a week writing prompts for the Main Street Center's Facebook page, composed on computer and sent to them by email - and the little reports on Blogit are as close as it will get these days. 
posted by
Pat_B
on December 9, 2020 at 3:35 AM
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start your own press
posted by
Shams-i-Heartsong
on December 9, 2020 at 2:23 AM
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It's amazing how far we have come in such a short time.
posted by
Annicita
on December 8, 2020 at 5:43 PM
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Re: Ditto machine / camera
A ditto machine is like a small offset printing press, but this one's cylinder uses ditto fluid to print from a typed master copy onto paper fed through the roller. The camera was about 3 feet square, mounted on a frame attached to a 6 foot table. At the other end of the table is the frame that holds the page to be photographed. The metal plate in the camera picks up the image and it is developed in a tray using electro magnetic toner. It was all done manually then - but this same process takes place inside the big xerox machines in use these days.
posted by
Pat_B
on December 8, 2020 at 4:34 PM
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What a time it was then! So different in many ways in the tasks that were done. Is that camera the same as a "ditto" machine? I remember hearing the teachers talk about running things like tests off on a ditto machine. Women had to wear high heels then and no one thought a thing of how hard it must have been to stand for long periods of time copying documents or walking here and there bringing coffee to their bosses...
posted by
Sea_Gypsy
on December 8, 2020 at 3:43 PM
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It seems like working in the 18th -19th century,but it isn't really all that long ago. how things have changed in our life times.
posted by
Kabu
on December 8, 2020 at 10:15 AM
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Re: Ciel
Yellow pads & pencils work really well when we're not near the 'puter and an idea hits. Did you know the first big time writer to use a typewriter was Mark Twain? I read that on an exhibit at the Mark Twain museum in Hannibal, MO many years ago.
posted by
Pat_B
on December 8, 2020 at 8:46 AM
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If word-processors had not come along, I would never have developed as a writer! Mediocre typist at best, and tending to handle frustration poorly! All my writing was long-hand, often pencil on a yellow pad.
posted by
Ciel
on December 8, 2020 at 8:15 AM
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Re: Goldiec
I don't think wite-out had been invented at that time, my memory is vague - I used it plenty in future years, up to and including now...
posted by
Pat_B
on December 8, 2020 at 7:24 AM
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Pat, I'm amazed at how much work a Secretary had to do to copy letters, etc. I know using carbon paper can be very messy! Did you ever have to use white-out?
posted by
Goldiec
on December 8, 2020 at 7:16 AM
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