Filled Counter
Definition
An enclosed space within a letter (the interior of 'e', 'o', 'p') that has become partially or fully occluded by accumulated ink and debris on the type slug, producing a characteristic solid or partially-solid impression.
- Location
- Interior of letters like e, o, p
- Cause
- Ink and debris accumulated on the type slug
- Appearance
- Solid or partially solid impression
- Field
- Typewriter examination
Common questions
Why is a filled counter useful for identifying a specific typewriter?+
Ink and debris buildup develops gradually and unevenly across individual type slugs on one particular machine, so the specific shape of filling on a given letter becomes a repeatable, machine-specific defect useful for matching a document to that typewriter.
Does a filled counter appear consistently on every document from the same machine?+
Not necessarily; debris accumulates and can be cleaned or dislodged over time, so the degree of filling can change between documents typed on different dates, meaning examiners weigh the pattern against the estimated time gap rather than expecting an identical mark every time.
Related terms
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- Individual Characteristic
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- Out-of-Alignment Character
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- Pitch
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- SWGDOC
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- Typebar
- A pivoting lever carrying a metal type slug that strikes the ribbon and paper when a key is depressed on a mechanical...