The Fox 3 Upstrike, ca. 1900 (5 views) M60 Home     Fox Home

This photo is a view of the Fox 3 taken from slightly above and from the right quarter. The Maltese cross style logo with its red fox head at its center is located in the middle of the paper table. The shift arm is at the right of the platen, and the space bar is situated at the front between two shift keys. The frame is a lovely Art Nouveau design with thin, parallel gold and blue stripes, and the Fox name centered at the front of the frame's top plate, highlighted with a small bit of scrollwork to the left. The Fox typewriter was named after William R. Fox, president of the Fox Machine Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Fox was not just a name on the letterhead, however. In 1879, while living in Connecticut, Fox patented what was possibly was the first workable "universal" miter trimmer. About 1880, Fox moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, later to open the Fox Machine Company. When first established, the company's principal products were machines used in the wood working industry, for which many patents were issued, and it was still manufacturing in 1915 when Mr. Fox sold both it and his typewriter company.

In the late 1890s, the Fox Machine Company expanded into typewriter production, enjoying quick success with their upstrike machines. At the time, William Fox was involved in a bitter and long-running feud with a competitor, William Perkins, who formerly had employed Fox. It was an ugly battle. In 1894, Fox teamed up with Glen Barrett, who had been working independently on adding machine and calculator designs, and the two began to work together on a typewriter.

In 1898, the first Fox typewriters were produced and enjoyed quick success due to their speed and several unique design features. In 1902, the Fox Typewriter Company was organized and went on to produce the Fox front-strike typewriter. William Fox sold the company before the Fox portable was produced.
This view, showing more of the right side of the machine, reveals its full beauty. The curves that are designed into every line of the machine are lovely, adding grace to the growl. Here we have a photo showing the top plate and carriage mechanisms. Also seen at the top of the keyboard is the company name and location, and the machine's model number. The keys are black with white lettering and slightly cupped tops.
Even from the back, usually the least glamorous view of a typewriter, the Fox continues its lovely lines as the typebar cover runs the width of the machine and is an oval shape and pinstriped. The near legendary escapement is located at the upper right and the bell at the upper middle. There are two tab stops on a bar that runs across the top rear of the frame plate.
Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional TOP