The smell of Mimeographs and Dittos - Life in America

Mimeographs and ditto machines were popular copying technologies in the 1950s and 60s. The mimeograph, patented by Thomas Edison, became widely used, while the ditto machine, introduced in 1923, was favored in schools for its low cost. Both machines evoked nostalgic memories, particularly their distinct smells, before being replaced by modern copiers.