Brain Teasers
Not a Typo
Other
Other brain teasers don't fit into any other category, so they can be unique and challenging.Other
Who or what is:
Etaoin Shrdlu
Etaoin Shrdlu
Hint
Seen daily by over a thousand people - sitting at a machine - in the United States in the 1980's. Title is also a hint.Answer
These are the twelve most frequently-used written characters - in sequential order - in the American-English alphabet (according to the inventor - Ottmar Mergenthaler - of the linotype machine).They appeared in sequence (top-to-bottom) on linotype keyboards. A linotype machine was used to set newspaper type by entering the text on a keyboard which triggered the machine to create the "line" of text ("line-of-type") in hot metal (lead alloy).
Enter "linotype" in Wiki (or other search-engine) to see a pic of the keyboard and to read how the machine operates.
In 1980 there were over 1000 daily newspapers in the United States using such a machine.
Hide Hint Show Hint Hide Answer Show Answer
What Next?
View a Similar Brain Teaser...
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Solve a Puzzle
Comments
This teaser was submitted by me - requested to be in "Trivia" - but Editors felt it to be more appropriate in "Other".
So please treat it as a trivia topic.
BB02
So please treat it as a trivia topic.
BB02
To post a comment, please create an account and sign in.
Follow Braingle!