“Basic Typing Methods” is a 1943 black-and-white Encyclopedia Brittanica film produced under the supervision of the Bureau of Aeronautics for the Division of Personnel Supervision and Management. “The typewriter has greatly influenced the business, commercial, and economic progress of the nation. Today, typewriters enable women and girls to perform military and industrial services as important as those performed by men,” the narrator explains starting at mark 00:26, as we see women seated at desks and typing away. From there, the film begins its history lesson, at mark 00:50 demonstrating the first typographer from 1829, followed by other devices including a Remington, an 1884 Hammond typewriter, and a portable Corona typewriter. We see a wide carriage typewriter at mark 01:40 followed by other devices including a card-punch typewriter. More scenes follow of women at typewriters as they’re commended for helping industry and the war effort via their work — though sometimes that work is hampered by a typewriter shortage and a shortage of “experienced personnel.” To combat that problem, we learn at mark 02:30, the film was created to demonstrate proper typing techniques “essential for superior typing.” From there the film follows an “international award-winning” typist as she puts her talents on display and offers a tutorial on the various types of machines available including those made by Remington, Royal, Underwood, Woodstock. Good posture is stressed at mark 04:43 as is foot placement on the floor for proper balance. The familiar lesson of finger placement on the “home row” of keys is addressed beginning at mark 09:40, as is a review of a fingering chart.