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Pat Black-Gould

Why is the@ symbol on typewriters? No one ever uses it? How times have changed!

It's such fun exploring history through the characters in All the Broken Angels. It's 1970 and Chris, a playwright is sitting at his manual typewriter wondering what the @ symbol is used for.


How times have changed!


The symbol, so common on computers today, was actually developed in the 1800s and had a different meaning on old American typewriters. It was used for commercial purposes, such as signifying the price of groceries: a dozen eggs @ 60 cents. That was the price of eggs in 1970. Of course, that's changed, too.


Chris also uses Wite-Out, a liquid correction fluid. You'll also see it called White-Out.

The origin of this product is interesting and fits within the book's era. White-Out was invented by Bette Nesmith Graham. Bette is the mother of Mike Nesmith, a member of Monkees, a famous rock group of the time.


Graham, a secretary, constantly made mistakes while typing and hated having to erase them or start from scratch. One day, she noticed window painters used white paint to cover up their mistakes. So why not try something similar to correcting typing mistakes?


The invention revolutionized the way people typed and corrected mistakes. Graham started selling her correction fluid to her coworkers. In 1958, she started her own company to sell it, which she named Liquid Paper. It became a popular product worldwide.


Of course, people now use computers. But guess what I've got sitting inside my desk? Bic makes a Wite-Out pen that I still use to correct errors. Not errors on computers, of course. But I have horrible handwriting. I constantly make mistakes when I sign autographs and write notes in books for folks. So I take out my White-Out and the error is erased. I guess times have changed somewhat, but I'm glad this product is still around. I also guess it's worth keeping that @ symbol around.







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