ditto machine
Purple-ink duplicator
A ditto machine was a low-cost printing device used primarily in schools from the 1940s through the 1980s.
It transferred ink from a master sheet to copies through a spirit duplicating process, producing distinctive purple text with a characteristic solvent smell.
Students of that era remember the freshly run sheets and their fading, slightly blurred print.
The technology was largely replaced by photocopiers.
Solvent-based document copier
- stencilCutout pattern for painting
- mimeographStencil-based copying device
- duplicatorReproduction apparatus
- masterAuthority or controller
drum · roller · crank · hand-operated · manual · analog · mechanical · copying
spirit duplicator
Solvent-based document copier
- stencilCutout pattern for painting
- mimeographStencil-based copying device
- duplicatorReproduction apparatus
master · drum · roller · crank · hand-operated · manual · analog · mechanical · copying · reproduction
school
Place of instruction
- classroomEducational instruction space
- teacherOne who instructs others
- officeProfessional work location
1950s · 1960s · 1970s · vintage · retro · obsolete · smell · aroma · sniffing · childhood
copy
Identical reproduction made
- duplicateExact replica of original
- reproductionCopying or procreation
- facsimileExact reproduction of original
replica · carbon copy · reprint · imprint · smudge · faded · purple · worksheet · handout · newsletter
- obsolete techfloppy disk, VHS, dial-up modem, cassette tape, floppy disks
- vintage officetypewriter, mimeograph, dictaphone, Rolodex, filing cabinet
- printing equipmentlaser printer, photocopier, copier, digital copier, multifunction printer
- printingprinting press, letterpress, printing, lithographers, offset printing
- reproductionreproduction, birth, baby, egg, sperm
- zineszine, zines, fanzine, fanzines, e-zine
ditto machinephotocopier
Document reproduction machine
xerox machine · laser printer · digital printer · letterpress · inkjet printer
ditto machinedigital copier
Electronic document reproduction device
PDF · email attachment · network printer · Google Docs · file sharing