Keyboard Typewriters
This page will have links to see what are known as 'keyboard' machines. This denotes the fact that the operator presses a seperate key or keytop to effect the printing of each letter. The type is generally attached to a rod or bar and moved to the platen to strike the paper. The arrangement of the typebars on what is considered the first typewriter (the Sholes & Glidden) originally caused problems as the machine was not up to handling the speed that users could attain and would jam. It's thought that Sholes re-arranged the keyboard in an effort to keep recurring pairs of letters away from each other. At first, this slowed typists down, but once used to it, typists were able to gain more speed than before as the jamming was severely diminished. That arrangement, known as QWERTY is the one you're probably using right now!
There are some other machines where the type is on a single element like a golf ball or sleeve. We'll show you a little of everything. Just click on the name of the machine you'd like to see! Don't forget that our museum shows many more of these machines! Where links to videos are provided, the video is in Real format. You can download a free RealPlayer from Real.com .
Lambert ca 1902 s/n 4781 This telephone looking example was indeed awkward to use. The operator pushed on the desired fixed button on the top, causing the entire rack to swing into position. The type was on a round molded plate on the bottom of the rack and inked by brushing against a pad. The inset shows the Lambert in it's oak box. Click Lambert video to see the Lambert in action.
Williams #4 ca 1900 s/n 21966 The first machine in our collection! In the picture, you'll see how the typebars are arranged both in front and in back of the platen, and how they 'hop' off of the inking pads to the platen! The paper was rolled into the front basket and fed into the rear basket as typing was done. The inset shows the tin lid. Click Williams video to see the grasshopper-like typebars go at it!
Hammond #1 ca 1881 s/n 5614 A beautiful machine to behold! With it's mahogany piano-finish case and ebony keys, it looked more like a piece of furniture than machinery! This was done in hopes of bringing the typewriter into the Victorian home! Inset shows the lid and key found inside the works during restoration. The key wound the spring responsible for impression control. Later models had a 'key' of sorts built in. Click Hammond 1 video to see the split shuttle and impression hammer in action!
Remington 2 ca 1888 s/n 27027 This was the first commercially successful production typewriter, preceded by the fairly unsuccessful Sholes & Glidden. What made this machine so popular was the fact that it typed both upper and lower cased letters, while the Sholes was caps only. Yes, it was the same Remington of firearms and sewing machine fame out of Ilion NY. This one is shown on an original treadle style typewriter stand which was a $5 optional purchase. Note the similarity of the treadle to the sewing machine stands of the time. Not shown is the tin lid. Click to see a Remington trade card
Corona Portable- animal keyboard 1931 s/n 1C15093 What a cutie! A regular Corona Standard Portable with a twist! Animals were put on each key, which were also color coded. The machine was supplied with finger rings for a child to wear while typing; the rings corresponded to the colors/animals on the keyboard. To the best of our understanding, there are only two sets of these rings known, and we have been fortunate enough to aquire one of them (thanks Joyce!). This was a great attempt at teaching children to type by having the proper finger hit the proper key by the use of the colors and animals! Unfortunately for Corona, the timing couldn't have been worse. With the Great Depression and a costly $49.50 for the base model, it didn't fly well. It looks as though the marketing department tried the "limited number produced before Christmas" ploy, but it didn't help much. The machine was only produced for a portion of 1931, then quietly died. Click here to see the rings!
Imperial ca 1915 s/n 22289 This little beauty from Great Britain features a curved keyboard, removeable/changeable downstrike typebasket, and a shift key that when pressed, moved the entire type basket instead of just the platen! The lower picture shows the machine and extra Greek keyboard in cases.
Creelman Blickensderfer #5 ca 1897 s/n 35479 The 'Blick' 5 is generally a common machine, but little is known about the history of this particular Creelman Bros. example with it's special plate. Note the arrangement of the keys; the inventor, George Blickensderfer felt that this was the best way to arrange them based on frequency of use, and called it the 'scientific' arrangement. To buy the familiar QWERTY arrangement, it's rumored that you had to sign a release stating you understand that this was not an effective arrangement! Oak case shown in the inset.
Pittsburg Visible #10 ca 1898 s/n 23094 This later version of the Daugherty typewriter had a removeable type basket which could be interchanged for different languages and fonts. The Daugherty/Pittsburg was the first front-strike typewriter in that the type hit the platen from the front rather than on the bottom, making the work visible- hence the name! Unfortunately due to the long arc of the typebar, it wasn't very efficient. Shown with lid.
Sun #2 ca 1901 s/n 2462 This machine literally was the beginning of the end of the index typewriter due to it being an affordable ($22.50, Sears & Roebuck) lightweight typebar machine! Especially noteworthy is the inking mechanism: as the typebar approaches the platen, it strikes an inked roller, forcing the roller into an inked felt reservior. It's lack of ribbon created a very crisp impression! This particular machine has several oddities like an anodized copper paper table, natural wood spacebar and no cover on the reservoir- only a plate on top! Later models sported black paper table and spacebars, and a nickeled cover over the reservior.
Chicago ca 1899 s/n 20859 This odd machine has all the type arranged on a sleeve which was rotated and slid into place as the keys were played. This was known as 'single-element' design. To use the Chicago, the rail mechanism you see to the left had to be pulled out as shown, moving a hammer into position. The hammer punched the paper into the sleeve once the sleeve was in place- a little backwards, no? It's as amazing to watch as it is miserable to use!!
