Office technology has a somewhat humbler purpose than a tricked-out assault rifle or the newest encrypted radio, but even the most macho soldier knows that the technology of “bean-counters and clerks” brings efficiency and order to endeavors to which it’s applied.

Victorian gentlemen began the modern tradition of business cards by leaving “calling cards” that bore their name, address, and often a photo, drawing, and/or personal statement or motto. Better homes collected these in a book displayed near the front door, turned to the page containing the card of the most notable visitor. At TL8, business cards might be miniature CDs or DVDs, or digital files attached to e-mail or beamed from one PDA to another. Either type could contain encrypted national secrets – or a virus or other malicious software. Paper business cards are $1 per 100; CD or DVD versions cost about $0.50 each.

Totaling and tallying numbers is as important to a businessman or a scientist as bullets are to a soldier. Devices that facilitate this are part of the basic equipment for Accounting, Administration, Finance, and many scientific skills.

Slide Rule (TL5). Earlier versions existed, but the first commercially available “rules” appeared at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and were used by carpenters, builders, and even Watt himself. Slide rules grew in functionality and standardization until they became the symbol of engineers and scientists – much like the stethoscope among physicians or the spyglass for military officers. Slide rules accompanied the Apollo astronauts. They only fell into disfavor in the mid-1970s, as the pocket calculator came on the scene. Even at TL7, a slide rule is part of the basic equipment for many scientific skills. $50, 0.5 lb. LC4. Adding Machine (TL6). This mechanical gadget performs only basic arithmetic: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Its columns of buttons represent cents, dimes, dollars, tens of dollars, etc.; another button or lever selects the mathematical function. When ready to calculate, the operator cranks the handle and the machine prints the result on a slip of paper. $500, 60 lbs., LC4.

Desktop Adding Machine (TL7). Transistors let the desktop calculator shrink to the size of a small typewriter. Integrated circuits make it even smaller – about as large as a paperback book. Basic four-function models appear first, followed by “electronic slide rules” capable of logarithmic functions. A typical 1970s desktop calculator: $300, 5 lbs., external power. LC4.

Scientific Calculator (TL8). A solar-powered pocket calculator. Contemporary units are about as small as they can be. The size limit is set by the operator, who must push the buttons and read the display! $30, 0.2 lb. LC4.

In the age before automatic typewriters (p. 19) and photocopiers (p. 19), making a copy of a letter was a tedious process.

Copying Press (TL5). A letter-copying press was a common sight as late as the 1950s. The operator takes the letter to be copied and – without blotting it (the ink must still be wet) – puts it in the press. He then places a damp sheet of thin tissue on top of the letter and tightens the press. After a few seconds, he removes both the letter and the copy tissue. This makes one copy of the letter, and only a handful of copies are possible before the ink on the original dries completely. Each copy takes about 30 seconds. $100, 15 lbs. LC4.

Roller Letter Copier (TL6). This hand-cranked roller can make multiple copies of a freshly inked letter. As the device is cranked, the copies are rolled onto a continuous sheet of dampened paper, which is stored under the roller apparatus until it dries. The copies can then be unrolled and cut into individual sheets. $250, 50 lbs. LC4.

These items can often be found in an office or briefcase.

Paper (TL5). Paper was made of linen or cloth scraps until TL6, when steam-powered presses switched to wood pulp. Paper dropped from a historical price of nearly $6 a pound at TL5 to $0.50 a pound at TL6. At TL8, a ream (500 sheets) of letter-sized paper is $2, 5 lbs. LC4.

Quill (TL5). A peacock- or goose-quill pen is the most common early writing instrument. A “pen knife” is used to trim the worn nib. Later models have metal nibs. $0.50, neg. LC4.

Carbon Paper (TL6). A typewriter can make up to 10 copies simultaneously using carbon paper. $0.10, neg. LC4.

Fountain Pen (TL6). This pen stores ink in a rubber bladder. It’s filled using an eyedropper or by dipping the nib in ink and releasing pressure on the bladder. It’s a messy and cantankerous device, but it can squirt ink (or another liquid…) up to a yard away – which can be a useful distraction. $3, neg. LC4.

Paperclip (TL6). The first commercial paperclips appeared around 1900. A pair of paperclips counts as improvised equipment (-5) for the Lockpicking skill. Box of 500: $1, 0.25 lb. LC4.

Ballpoint Pen (TL7). The first leak-free ink pen was sold in the 1940s. Ballpoints rely on capillary action rather than gravity feed. $0.50, neg. LC4.

“Space” Pen (TL7). A ballpoint pen that can write in vacuum, zero-gravity, underwater, and upside down. Uses a pressurized ink cartridge with a 100-year shelf life. $25, neg. LC4.

Duplicators create copies from specially treated “masters,” which last for about 500 duplicates. The mimeograph forces ink through a stencil. The spirit duplicator (“ditto machine”) uses solvents to print from inked masters; its aromatic duplicates are familiar to school kids through TL7. A hand-cranked version of either averages 10-20 copies per minute, factoring in time spent fussing with it. $20, 25 lbs. LC4. Motorized models are 10 times as fast and as costly, and require external power.

The first practical typewriter was available commercially in the United States in 1874. After 1880, typing is always a marketable skill. After 1900, it’s practically a necessity for office employment – journalism, law, and many other professions require at least hunt-and-peck familiarity with the typewriter. For further details, see the Typing skill (p. B228). With the typewriter come new ways to gain unauthorized access to records. Used carbons, discarded drafts, and even the piece of paper typists commonly roll around the platen can yield information. A successful Forensics roll can determine whether a specific machine was used to type a particular document.

Typewriter (TL6). The familiar QWERTY keyboard dates to the early 1870s. The “shift” key was perfected in 1878, allowing lowercase (earlier models typed only in capitals!). Visible-line typing came into use in the 1880s, previous to which the typist had to lift the carriage to see what he had typed. $20, 20 lbs. LC4.

Portable Typewriter (TL6). A lighter, smaller machine. Has a protective case with storage space for paper and supplies. $35, 6 lbs. LC4.

Electric Typewriter (TL6). A major feature of these typewriters is that several can be connected in series, allowing one operator to type several letters at once. Halve weight and cost at TL7. $250, 35 lbs., external power. LC4.

Automatic Typewriter (TL6). A mainstay of large corporations and military headquarters from the 1920s through the 1950s, the automatic typewriter tackles form letters and other repetitive work. It requires a special perforating typewriter that creates the roll – similar to that of a player piano – from which it reads and types the letter. Speed is 150 words a minute. $750, 50 lbs., external power. LC4.

Electronic Typewriter (TL8). A typewriter with memory, it stores dozens of pages of prerecorded text and recalls them at the touch of button. $200, 15 lbs., external power. LC4.

Chester Carlson worked for 15 years on xerography (Greek for “dry writing”) before he finally produced a commercial product in 1950. The photocopier took off, selling 6,500 units over the next six years. Photocopying revolutionized the business world by simplifying and streamlining correspondence among decision makers.

Photocopier (TL7). Copies half a dozen pages per minute. $15,000, 650 lbs., external power. LC4.

Desktop Photocopier (TL8). A portable version that produces a dozen copies a minute. It can also print directly from a computer. $500, 30 lbs., external power. LC4.

Photocopier (TL8). Photo-quality copier that produces dozens of copies per minute. It can be networked to print from a computer. $6,500, 300 lbs., external power. LC4.