All the Things Boomer Kids Thought Were Normal

Before laser printers and photocopiers ruled the classroom, the distinct smell of a freshly printed ditto sheet signaled a new assignment. Known in North America as “ditto machines” and elsewhere as “spirit duplicators,” these devices used alcohol-based ink to produce copies in a distinctive purple ink.

Boomers remember the cool, damp feel of the paper and sometimes inhaling the scent just a bit too long. Teachers, artists, and zine-makers alike cherished these machines for their low cost and accessibility. While now obsolete, ditto machines were a quirky, indispensable part of mid-century communication—ghostly prints that echoed through generations of schoolrooms.