The nightmare scenario for reporters today is watching a nearly completed article vanish from the computer screen, lost in the grasp of cyberspace.

Nearly as dire is not receiving time sensitive responses to emailed interview questions, again because the electronic gods chose to defy the sanctity of deadlines.

Neither, however, was an issue back in the day, as the kids say.

That’s because newspaper composition – as were most writing tasks throughout the business world – was done on typewriters.

Manual typewriters were the staple of the old Channel Town Press office on Morris Street...