Tape-Writers Tape-Embossers

[sansenri]

I saw there is a thread on typewriters, but as much as I searched, none I could find on tapewriters, labelmakers

so I though I might start one, since these things do write despite not being fountain pens...

 

as a kid (late 60s early 70s) I had several of those Dymo plastic tape writers, which, although useful ,were made of flimsy materials and kept getting broken (at least in my hands...)

 

this was one of the decently working models, my father had this and had to defend it...

 

while this was the real cheapo that kept getting stuck I have had several of...

 

 

recently I was trying to clear up my father in law's flat

(he died a few years ago, but my wife just did not want to step into his house for quite a long while, and now that the idea should be clear up the place and possibly rent it, whenever she goes there - it was her parent's house where she lived until she grew up - she finds old memories and does not want to get rid of anything! I have to do it for her and not tell her what I am throwing away...),

and found a vintage Apsco tape embosser which looks really great.

It's in very shiny steel and fulling working as far as I can see (I have two tapes).

It's a model TE-50.

 

I new about Dymos but had never heard of Apsco. I became curious, and found out it's an American made tapembosser and the TE-50 seem to be a rare, nice looking model.

 

What might surprise you though is that through research I also found there is a museum for these things

and that is the Buffalo Waterfront Museum of Vintage Label Makers!

http://vintagelabelmakers.com/the-collection/

It's not just a website, they seem to have a real location, too far from where I am but might be worth a visit... if you are into these vintage mechanic things...

 

I am looking to sell my TE-50, not for greed, I will ask for a fair price (some of these things are selling above 100$ on the bay for the nicer steel models) just to fund my pen passion.
In fact I contacted the guy at the museum to check whether he might be interested in my TE-50 (they have a TE-25 and a TE-90 on show but my TE-50 is way nicer!). Will see.

Here are some pics of my TE-50

 

 

 

[Ron Z]

The little red one was a Radio Shack item. I bought a nice one (not Dymo) when we moved to Perkasie (near Philly) in 1968 before entering 7th grade. What a nerdy thing to do, but I still have it. I put the date that I bought it on a label inside, and its still there. The problem is finding the 1/4" tape for it.

 

When my mother couldn't find me in a store, she'd just go looking for me in the stationery department - and pens.

[sansenri]

at the end of the 60s and early 70s these things were a craze, I recall we had labels stuck all over the place, books, cassetes, shoeboxes, you name it, even when unecessary...

 

we never had such a nice tape wirter as the one found at my father in law's place though, that one really strikes as a fine piece of machinery besides the purpose of it

 

some tapes can be found on the bay

[Tweel]

When I was a kid I envied my older brother's Dymo, which he used to label e.g. his cigar boxes of H-O car parts. I found one at Goodwill a few years ago -- a "deluxe" set in a carrying case with differently colored tapes, etc. -- bought it, and used it to label some of our jumble of wall-warts. I still have it, but it's buried in storage.

 

Now I need a Polaroid Swinger...

 

https://youtu.be/e9lvcFlUBxM

Edited May 19, 2018 by Tweel

[zslane]

Today's embossing Dymo labelmakers are garbage. I bought a Dymo last year and it could not advance the tape consistently to save its life. Such a shame because I still think that kind of label can be useful even today!

[Andyroo]

I've got a Brother label printer which is the modern equivalent I suppose.

 

It was relatively cheap but pretty useful when you need a label...like for near the fuel cap on my latest car which is the first diesel I've ever had.

[Tasmith]

When I was a kid I envied my older brother's Dymo, which he used to label e.g. his cigar boxes of H-O car parts. I found one at Goodwill a few years ago -- a "deluxe" set in a carrying case with differently colored tapes, etc. -- bought it, and used it to label some of our jumble of wall-warts. I still have it, but it's buried in storage.

 

Now I need a Polaroid Swinger...

 

https://youtu.be/e9lvcFlUBxM

 

Is that a very young Ali McGraw?

[Tweel]

I don't think so... I think it's just the look of the times. The guy she's with (e.g. at 0:41) kind of looks like a cross between Bill Bixby and Dustin Hoffman.

[sidthecat]

My husband doted on the things: all the cabling in the house used to be clearly marked. Sadly, I haven’t really kept it up.