PART 177
Monroe Myron Schwarzschild was born in Manhattan on Christmas
Day 1886. I like to think of him as a big, fat, jolly sort of chap with a long white
beard and a preference for red clothing, someone who once a year brought gifts
and joy to children.
The last bit may be at least partially true. Monroe
Schwarzschild and his busy law firm secretary – and later his wife – Belle Scheuer
invented the famous “Busy Secretary” typewriting doll toy, which doubtless became a joyfully received children's Christmas gift over the ensuing 40 years or so.
The patent was issued on this day (November 16) in 1915.
Belle Scheuer, born in Lancaster, New York, on January 9, 1890, was
a stenographer working for Schwarzschild when the two came up with this enduring typewriter
toy. Monroe said to busy Belle one day, “You’re a doll”, and the idea grew (I made
that up). With the proceeds from their invention’s immediate success, the pair
got married on August 15, 1916, almost exactly one year after they had applied
for the typing doll patent.
The Schwarzschilds sold the rights to their design to Louis Marx.
In its most familiar form today, the typewriting toy was made in the 1950s by a Marx subsidiary
in Japan, Linemar Toys.
The battery-operated tinplate red-haired, wide-eyed,
yellow-skirted Busy Secretary sits in a red chair at a detailed tinprinted desk and
typewriter. Oddly, although this was a Marx toy, the typewriter is branded a Tom Thumb.
One of these sold on eBay for $250 in September.
Busy Belle doesn't look so happy here ...
... Maybe it's because she's put on some weight
(and lost the real hair)?
She definitely doesn't like the new hair style
and colour, or the downsized desk ...
And the new dress is just plain silly.
Oh, dear, Belle, what happened?
Truly funky rhythm! Is she yours?
ReplyDeleteYes indeed she is Georg. I have two, actually, one headless for the time being (until I find and reattach her head!). Have a look at one that was up for sale with the deflated face! Poor thing ...
ReplyDeleteNow I got one, too!
ReplyDeleteYes, I saw it Georg, I love what you were able to do to get it working and change the script. Very clever, well done! I should send you my headless version, I still have the head but haven't managed to reattach it yet. I had to put a suitable hat on her head because her hair had got all mussed up. The hat actually looks quite fetching!
ReplyDelete