Use
This duplicator, released in 1949, was a predecessor to the modern copier. It produced 140 paper copies per minute from a single wax stencil. Its method and machine was invented in 1923 by Wilhelm Ritzerfeld of Germany; while the technology was reproduced worldwide, the best-known manufacturer was the Ditto Corporation of Illinois.
Also known as spirit duplicators—referring to use of various alcohols involved with the use of the machine—ditto machines were commonly used in the twentieth century by non-profit organizations such as churches, clubs, and schools, as its operation was relatively inexpensive. Due to the alcohol used in the production of copies, the copies had a sweet aroma that would cause the user various symptoms, including lightheadedness, dizziness, and headaches, after prolonged use.
