LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – If this trusty old typewriter could talk, what would it say?

The Smith Premier No. 2 typewriter was manufactured from 1899 to 1940 by the Smith-Premier Typewriter Co. in Syracuse, New York.

The company was formed by several brothers named Wilbert, Monroe, Lyman Cornelius and Hurlburt Smith.

Their advertisements touted the fact that it was an extremely functional and versatile machine in which every character had its own key.

The Smith-Premier company's factory produced guns before their first typewriters were manufactured. The brother named Wilbert Smith laid down the capital for their typewriter endeavor, after an employee of their gun factor named Alexander T. Brown invented their model typewriter.

It wasn't long before writing machines won out over weapons, and they discontinued manufacturing shotguns altogether in 1888.

In 1893 the Smiths united with the Union Typewriter Co. who had several rivals, such as Densmore, Yost and Remington. These machines were also known as blindwriters, since you could not view what you were typing.

The Smiths and their cartel of typewriter manufacturers were able to hold their places as tops in sales, until the company called Underwood invented a typewriter in which you could see what you were typing. What a concept!

Early on, typewriters were touted for their efficiency in offices, and typing services were provided – for a cost – at their headquarters.

A name change for the company came about in the early 1900s, to now be called the Standard Typewriter Co.

In 1914 the Corona model was a successful model, so the company changed their moniker once again, to the Corona Typewriter Co.

The name Smith-Corona was used starting in 1926 when the production of portable typewriters began.

The Smith-Premier Co. produced both standard and portable typewriters up until 1940.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.