Typewriter Expert can't duplicate Guard memos using IBM Composer

The Shape of Days Blog ^ | 9-10-04 10:34 PM | J Harrell

[handy]

When I first heard back from Gerry, I felt a little bad for having bothered him. He'd been fielding calls and letters all day, he told me, including an inquiry from CNN. But he was a trouper, willing — enthusiastic even — to help out.

I asked Gerry, in a fit of hubris, if he wouldn't mind trying to reproduce a sample from one of the CBS memos on his Selectric Composer. Just over an hour later, he emailed me back a sample, typed up on his Composer using the 11-point Press Roman type ball and scanned into his computer.

At first glance, the sample Gerry provided looks pretty darned close. The type is proportionally spaced, just like the type in the CBS memos. Gerry was also able to reproduce the now-infamous superscripted "th," though he had a disclaimer about that.

snip

The most obvious discrepancy was that the line-spacing — what typographers call leading (rhymes with "shredding") — was off. I e-mailed Gerry about this, and he replied: "Yes, if I had really tried, I could have matched the spacing (leading). The leading on the composer can be finely adjusted. Don't know if it is down to the single point level, but it probably is since you can set the leading according to the font, and the leading dial goes from something like 6pt up to 14pt."

Much better … and pretty darned close to the original. But not close enough.

[sirchtruth]

I think what is MORE obvious is the interview on H&C where Killian's son said he and his step-mom were interveiwed by CBS and they told CBS they thought Killian would NOT have written these memo's and also Killian praised Bush extensively! Killian's son further stated he thought those docs most likely were forgeries.

Funny, I don't recall any of what Killian or his step-mom stated being in the BOGUS CBS report?

Also Killian's son stated the name of the CBS producer: I believe he said, Mary Merce (sp). I saw that name here in one of the threads previously...

[tang-soo]

Check this out ... The dreaded (by CBS) post 13.

[intolerancewillNOTbetolerated]

"The left, from DUers, to Juan Williams, to Rather himself, have all been crying, "Stop worrying whether the memo is fake or not, look at what it says!" That's just insane. Completely insane. I don't know how else to put it"

Yes, insane...and so classically exemplary of the modern Democratic Party.

[Servant of the 9]

I did a lot of investigation into high end typewriters/photo-compositors in the early '70s for catalog production.
The IBM composer has far more capabilities than anything else available that would fit on even a large desk.
Since the IBM can't match the documents exactly, they are without doubt fraudulent.

So9

[merry10]

I didnt see this in your list. The adobe.pdf file I've seen is supposed to be a nth generation copy. If these are from someone's personal files and not meant to be seen, why would it look like an nth generation. If these are personal files, why would he keep xeroxes of them - if they weren't meant to be seen by anyone?

[Phantom Lord]

I have a question. Knowing how anal retentive the government is about records and record keeping, wouldn't the GAO or the USAF procurement office have the records as to what exactly was used by the office staff of that era?

I have been saying the same thing. I also question the possiblity that the ANG was using the top of the line, newest techonolgy available equipment in the office. I suspect they were using surplus junkers.

There is a thread around here someone form last night that has a 100% authentic, indisputable memo from Killian, typed by his secretary (because he didn't type) and it is not even close to what the CBS memos look like.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

Anyone who was in the Military in a flying unit during that time period knows these doc's are fakes. Pure and simple. All this expert witness BS is like picking fly feces out of pepper..utter nonsense.

The documents are fakes.

[handy]

Since the IBM can't match the documents exactly, they are without doubt fraudulent.

That's what I'm thinking. The composer is supposed to be the state of the art. Better than an IBM Selectric or executive. If an enthusiastic fanatical Composer collector can't match the memos, no way these memos are real. Remember, Killian could nit type says his wife. Then there are all the other problems with the memos... Bogus Bogus Bogus

[reg45]

This memo is phonier than a Michael Moore movie!

[OpusatFR]

What base was this in Texas? My husband was discharged (regular AF) in Texas at the same time and I still have all his official correspondence. It isn't the same type that CBS shows.

[Phantom Lord]

Here is that thread I was talking about...

May 24th Memo from Killian Office Not Similar to CBS Memo

[reg45]

Dan Rather is not fit to be a successor to Edward R. Murrow.

[nikos1121]

Hi... Did you read the article in total that is posted here. I think the most compelling proof is that the memos could not possibly have been centered on any typewriter at that time, that consistently.

Good job.

Clearly, the other MSM stations have to carry the ball on this. If they don't Rather gets away with it. IF they do, they will demand more answers.

We've done our job.

nick

[Arrowhead1952]

I found 1970s era typewriter with a 10 character per inch ball. See this post. Here

[OpusatFR]

What you posted looks the way my husband's files look.

He even has some private memos, but they are hand written. My husband didn't type either.

[not too stupid]

Here’s something that bothers me and I have not seen it pointed out before. Look closely at the CBS documents and you will see any numbers and their corresponding th or st are separated by a space, are superscripted, or follow the character l (which could be a the letter vs. a number)

Microsoft word automatically superscripts “th” and “st” following numbers.

If I was trying to prevent superscripts on Microsoft word I would skip a space or use the letter l for the number one.

It’s clear to me someone was trying to prevent superscripts and forgot to leave a space on those superscripted numbers.

[SupplySider]

The left, from DUers, to Juan Williams, to Rather himself, have all been crying, "Stop worrying whether the memo is fake or not, look at what it says!"

That's exactly what Al Sharpton and his fellow defamers argued when it turned out that Tawana Brawley had faked her attack. "It doesn't matter, racism is the important issue, it could have happened.".

[Real Cynic No More]

With all the significance of this issue, it's important to eliminate all possibilities. This analysis focused a. lot on the heading. It was common elsewhere (I did it in my business) during this era to use pre-printed stationary for many things. It was also common to have a typeset master on a metal sheet, then the master was run through offset printers to create the useable stationary to be typed on. Is it conceivable that pre-printed, typeset letterhead stock was used?

[nikos1121]

"I want to emphasize: I stand by my president. We are in a time of war, and I stand behind my president. There is not joy in reporting such a story, but my job as a journalist is not to be afraid, and when we come with facts, and legitimate questions supported by witnesses and documents that we believe to be authentic, to raise those questions no matter how unpleasant they are," Rather said Friday.


What exactly are you trying to say here Mr. Rather? If you support the president, what in God's name are you trying to accomplish here? I mean, is your point simply to try and discredit George Bush's military record? What is the point? Are there not more legitimate arguments that you can raise as a journalist?

You obtain a memo, that is not an original, written by someone who is deceased. You also produce a person who claimed years ago that he did not help George Bush get in to the guard, but who now says he did, and the man is a major fundraisor for Kerry and his own daughter discredits his story.

I mean this is yellow journalism, and you sir are no longer a journalist that has my respect.

I havn't seen your newcast in years. When I saw you last night it was pathetic. You are the National Enquire of TV Journalism.

Enough said.

nick

nick

[joesnuffy]

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain...

Just the magic on the screen....Dan Blather the Woderfull Wizard of Ooze