RANK XEROX 800 ELECTRONIC TYPING SYSTEM PROMO FILM 1970s WORD PROCESSOR VS. TYPEWRITER XD60484

Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website This British film promotes the Rank Xerox 800 Electronic Typing System, which was introduced on October 7, 1974 and targeted at large corporate clients. The 800 was an early word processor, and the first ever launched by Xerox. It used magnetic cards and/or magnetic tape storage, which was a somewhat awkward solution to the memory problem. At the time of its release, the 800 was considered a major product development in the emerging “word processing“ and office productivity class. It boasted an impressive operating speed of 350 words per minute, twice the speed of competitive systems already on the market (notably the IBM Mag Card II). It was also the first system to provide a wide selection of interchangeable typeface print wheels. However, the 800 was not a great success, in part because it was not sold as a standalone machine. Instead, the machines were only available on a leased basis, typically as part of a much larger system. Rank Xerox was a joint venture between the Xerox Corporation of United States and the UK’s Rank Organisation, to manufacture and market Xerox equipment in Europe (and later in Africa and Asia). The film was created not just to introduce the Xerox 800, but to educate viewers about the concept of word processing -- and the new workflow that it provides which is much more efficient. The film begins with a look at office work in the 20th Century, with shots of a secretary using a series of typewriters (1:00) from manuals to more modern electric typewriters including an IBM Selectric (1:25). The narration focuses on how an executive works with his secretary to achieve productivity, through dictation, document preparation, markup, etc. Turnaround time is very important, but when documents need to be amended and retyped, there are enormous costs in terms of productivity. At 5:05, various Rank Xerox photocopiers and printer systems are shown. The “revolutionary“ 800 typewriter keyboard is shown at 5:23. At 5:45, a secretary types on the 800, which prints at 350 words per minute. The draft is saved on a magnetic tape or card. At 6:50, after the executive reviews the draft, the secretary uses a search button to find text that needs alteration, and makes adjustments. At 7:39, the 800 is shown printing in reverse, which also increases speed. At 7:50, the executive hangs up a green phone, and views the final copy of the printed document. At 8:20, the secretary loads a new magnetic cassette tape into the 800’s processing unit. We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit