Typewriter Video Series - Episode 153: Center Justifying Text

[@totheknee]

Why do I love typewriters so much? I remember using my grandfather's (RIP) typewriter every chance I got back in the '80s. Such an amazing invention...

[@machopolitan1]

In China, we were instructed as following on centering: (right margin figure - left margin figure)/2=the number of spacebar hits before you hit the first key.

[@totheknee]

Beautiful.

[@klausphotobaer5754]

Fascinating simple, yet effective 👍 Thank You for sharing !

[@UberSchluh]

I was just center justifying some text for a cover page earlier today! Your method is fantastic, but I also formulated my own: Count the amount of text that can be held between the margins (let's say 80 characters), divide that by half (40). Now, write down the text you want to write on some scratch paper, count the number of characters in that line (let's say it's 16, including spaces) & then divide that by two (8). Now, take 40-8; which equals 32. Now press the space bar 32 times, & type the text; which will be centered with 8 characters on the left half of the paper, & 8 on the right half. Quite a bit of annoying arithemtic, hence why I think you're method is better & more convenient.

[@totheknee]

2:13 - Do you know of any videos demonstrating Vannevar Bush's fully justifying typewriter that he patented in 1942? I'd love to see it in action, but I don't know where to even look...

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I do not know if his machine was built.

[@Lysander-Spooner]

My IBM Wheelwriter has a built in function that does it automatically. The culmination of typewriter technology before it ended.

[@somedudecalledben]

Fantastic video. I assumed it'd be something along these lines. This technique makes a lot of sense.

[@Steven-vl7rn]

Thank you, I had been trying to work out center-justifying my headings .

[@cl9826]

I have been reading old magazines from the early 1900s lately and I'm trying to figure out how they printed them fully justified back then. Hard to imagine it was worth all the effort.

[@hezvandermeij]

Sir this is such a smart method?! Thank you

[@Naolslager]

Excellent video instruction. Thank you. I may have to acquire ab abacus!

[@devinreese1397]

You find the center of your paper. Then you count the number of lines and spaces in each line. If even you determine the number is, find the center space which is in the center of your line, then you backspace 1/2 the line and start there, and then write forward the second half. If the number is odd, you start with the center letter and do the same thing. It might go without saying: If your line contains one letter, like perhaps "A," as in a title starting with A, then, you just put A in the center.

[@chillaxTF]

Fantastic video. Lovely abacus as well :)

[@itrstt66]

if you take a halfway written paper of the typewriter, how do you put it back again keeping the line spacing?? if by any chance know of some tutorial appraoching this matter please do share. Thank you in advance

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I haven’t yet made a video about this, but my initial take is: First make certain you feed the paper in straight. Second, make note of the line indicator on the card guide, how close it is to the bottom of the row of typed characters. Then, when reinstalling the paper after being removed, square up the paper like you did earlier, then adjust the vertical position so the bottom of the printed lines matches your card guide indicator. You can usually do this with the line spacing variable feature on the left platen knob. To adjust the left-to-right position, loosen the paper release and adjust the paper left or right to line up the print position with the previously typed text.

[@aswintgopal]

Thank you sir. Great tip.

[@zinlinnhtike8691]

Thanks, Sir!

[@somebuilds]

Thank you!

[@lucasbarletta2986]

Can you do a video on right justification? I've been trying to do it with dates on letters.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Yes, that's a great topic. Thank you.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

There's no real shortcut to right justification, you have to move the carriage to the right margin, then backspace once for each character (and space) on the line. Then type the line, it'll end at the right margin.

[@mkeysmith4027]

can you make a video of right and full justification if its not too hard for you

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I’ll cover that soon. Thank you for watching.

[@mkeysmith4027]

awesome cant wait to learn@@Joe_VanCleave