Reliance (1915)

The Reliance Typewriter 
 
Year of production:  1915
 
Company:  The Reliance Typewriter Co., U.S.A.
 
Serial No. 52471
 
The Reliance Visible typewriter is a heavy machine introduced in 1915 by Montgomery Ward. 
 
There are two versions of the Reliance. One is described as the “old style,” which closely matches its predecessor, the Pittsburg Visible; the other is the “new style”.
 
The Pittsburg Visible had been manufactured by the Pittsburg Visible Typewriter Company.
 
Somehow, Reliance (or Montgomery Ward) acquired the rights to the Pittsburg, and marketed it as an inexpensive alternative to more widely sold machines.  
 
Priced at $48.50, the “old style” machine was about half the cost of other typewriters.  The “new style” machine was more expensive and sold for $65 in 1915.
 
Potential customers could try the machine during a free 30-day free trial.
 
One distinctive feature of the Reliance was that the typebasket could be swapped out.  Various typefaces could be acquired for $30.