European Typewriters / Britain / British Empire

European Typewriters / Great Britain / British Empire

British Typewriters, Ltd. of West Bromwich, England, had what we might call three production phases in its lfe. It began with standard typewriters, then began license production of the small Hermes machines in 1935, and later in 1960 was entirely bought out by SCM-Smith Corona and changed production over to the small machines of that line based on the old Zephyr / Skyriter.

BRITISH EMPIRE

Thomas Fuertig collection

This standard machine was introduced in 1924, as this company's first offering. These appear not to have been a fantastic success, although the company did survive with it for ten years before becoming a license-producer of the small, flat Hermes machine which had just appeared and caused a sensation.

Some sources indicate that this machine was built by British Typewriters Ltd., but other sources -- namely, patents -- also indicate that George Salter & Co. still had a hand in the business. It has been written that the Williams Typewriter Company's operations (the Empire thrust-action was their product) were moved to West Bromwich; it seems that either this company, or Salter, actually developed this front-strike machine.

EMPIRE PORTABLE

Will Davis collection

This machine is typical of the earliest phase of Empire Portable production. It should be noted that this machine is analagous to the Hermes Featherweight, the lighter of two versions offered at the time.