The term 'typewriter of sorts' refers to a Telex machine, which is a five-letter word. Telex machines were used in the mid-20th century as a form of teleprinter, which was an electromechanical device that allowed for the transmission of text messages over telephone lines. Telex machines were widely used in business and government offices for sending and receiving messages, and they were also used by news agencies for transmitting news stories. Telex machines were eventually replaced by fax machines and computers, but they remain an important part of communication history.