Which device was used for practically all writing up to the 1980s?

I'd have guessed pens. I guess typing and writing are not the same to me.

In a song by Del Amitri there is line “Secretaries cover typewriters and put on their coats” . I recently said to my wife that soon someone would have to explain what a secretary was and what a typewriter was . The future has come to pass!

Leapfoot, typing and writing is not the same to, ANYBODY!

it goes to show you that the old things are still use in to days modern world.. but sadly there a lot of things are long forgotten and no longer in use...

I was the only boy in typewriting class back in the day. I was pretty good and also the teachers pet! 😀 I had so much fun in that class. I’m pretty sorry on a computer keyboard though. Who moved the letters again? 😂

Barb, I like your comment very much. Those items are still very useful. I carry pen and paper with me at all times to jot down notes or reminders. Very surprising how few other people do though.

Hmm, we did have pens and pencils to write with

i dont use a typewriter

I remember having to type 40 words a minute with no mistakes to pass typing class. the pianists did 3 times that

I understand that when the typewriter was being invented, the great problem that kept being encountered was clashing keys, so that was how the keyboard ended up in the strange order it is - the least number of clashing keys!