Company Profile

1907
As a young man, Anderson's founder, C. Elmer Anderson completes a repair apprenticeship at the Fox Typewriter Co. in Michigan for a wage of less than $1.50 per day and begins a career.

1912
Elmer Anderson vacations in Pasadena and discovers a lack of typewriter mechanics.  Having packed his tool kit, he begins fixing typewriters for local individuals and firms.  A few months later, he establishes "Anderson Typewriter Company," setting up shop in the "tin-roof loft of a stationery shop" at 49 East Colorado Blvd.

1916
Anderson takes on the coveted line of Royal and Smith Corona typewriters and soon is awarded the vast Southern California territory from San Luis Obispo County to San Diego County.  Business continues and service thrives during World War I.

1920
Anderson moves to the prime location in Pasadena on the corner of Raymond and Colorado with their telephone number: "Fair Oaks 2".  Branch stores and agents are opened up and down the coast.  The slogan becomes: "We sell and service anything that writes".  Speed typing contests are held at the Los Angeles County Fair by Anderson, a first in the industry.

1929
During the Great Depression, Anderson makes changes, such as emphasizing service, avoiding laying off any employees.  Anderson offers a free typing school to teach many Pasadena residents to type.  Anderson begins winning many national sales awards which continues up to the present.

1941
America enters World War II.  The government stops production of most office machines and limits sales and rentals of all later models to government operations.  Anderson is again largely dependent upon service and also upon the rental of older typewriters.

1942
Anderson moves to its newly purchased location at 120 E. Colorado Blvd.  Elmer's son, Donald, at age 14, starts working at the shop after school.

1945
The War ends and over the next five years many American and foreign manufacturers introduce a successful electric typewriter.  Anderson adds many other types of office equipment to their line, including photocopy machines.  "Everything For The Office" is the by-word.

1966
Upon the death of C. Elmer Anderson, son Donald and daughter Barbara become co-owners of Anderson.  Donald becomes President, while Barbara serves as Head Bookkeeper.  The siblings continue their father's tradition of active participation in the community.  A year later Anderson incorporates and establishes an Employee Profit-Sharing Plan.

1970
The "electronic era" for office machines begins.  European and Japanese products flood the market.  Within the next 10 years, electronic typewriters rapidly begin to replace the electric typewriters.  Anderson becomes one of the leaders in the sales and service of this new technology and begins handling the first commercially successful table-top computers.

1984
Barbara (Anderson) Johansen retires and other family members join the company.  Donald's son, David, becomes co-owner, after graduating from UC Davis and a short career in Geology.

1986
Xerox develops the first affordable cut sheet plain paper fax and a year later Anderson adds Xerox fax machines to their line.  Soon this becomes a prime company focus.

1991
Copiers become another core product along with fax machines for Anderson.  They become a Xerox Copier Agent.  Five years later, Anderson is takes on other manufacturers to directly support the sales and service requirements of all their customers.

1995
David Anderson, of the third generation, assumes the office of President from his father Donald, who becomes Chairman.  Two years later Anderson Typewriter changes its name to "Anderson Business Technology" to better represent the new digital technology.  Connectivity becomes the new generation of business equipment.

2000
The digital revolution continues to evolve.  New levels of productivity in the office are achieved through connectivity.  Andersons also works with their customers ensuring that all equipment is Y2K compliant.

2003
Anderson takes on Copystar by Kyocera, one of the world's largest printer manufacturers, offering copier and printer products with outstanding network capabilities and the longest maintenance lifecycles the industry has known.

The Future