New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24
POPULARITY or THE TYPEWRITER.
SCORES OF MACHINES IN THE MARItET-FrrrY
THOUSAND PERSONS DERIVE A LIVELIHOOD


THOUSAND PERSONS DERIVE LIVELIHOOD
FROM ITS USE IN NETWORK CITY.
No modern labor-saving device for the office
has met with a greater degree Of success or
popularity than the typewriter. Its invention and
Introduction in commercial life are among the
dtumphs of the nineteenth century. 1t can be
said to have revoutiOniZed the office methods
OF almost the entire country. The typewriter
has completely altered the trade of the sta
TONER and has been the cause of new styles OF
furniture for commercial purposes 1t has en-
tered the realm formerly controlled by pencil.
pen and ink. and given these time-honorcd and
necessary articles a hot fight for first place
Since the typewriter came into general use the
manufacturer Of Office supplies has been obliged
10 rack his brains to keep pace with the changed
conditions. The ink manufacturer has turned
his attention to making ribbons for the ma
chimes Paper dealers have found a large and
growing demand for paper of light weight to
replace the old style of thick Congress" In
almost less time than II takes to tell the whole
industry has become most important and far
reaching
Like the sewing machine the inventive genius
was turned loose in all parts of the coun-
try. and the Patent Office at Washington has
had its hands full From the first machine
which was put on the market many years ago
TO the numerous kinds which are found
scattered in offices in every State of the Union,
there has been a constant straining of skill and
genius to create the most perfect machine to
meet all requirements. There are fifty or
more manufacturers each with machine which
It is claimed is superior to all others. There
are visible and invisible writing. double-key
banks and single banks heavy and light
machines. There are machines with quick and
slow action machines designed for letter-writ
ing and those for manifolding and other heavy
work. machines for bookkeeping. for legal pur-
poses and so on. The name OF a mans type
writer has grown to be almost as much topic
for dispute as the nameplate of bicycle
Among the many different styles there is one
which has won distinct success account of
Its ightness and small size. This little machine
appears to be able to do all the heavy work
Of the more ponderous and unweldy machines.
and yet 1t takes up but little room and can be
carried around like a small grip. 1t has become
popular with newspaper men and others who
find themselves doing a great deal of writing
In different places where it would be impossible
to have any Of the heavy machines carried to.
1t is almost impossible to estimate correctly
the number Of typewriters in use in New-York
City. 1t would be safe TO place the number
around thirty thousand. or the fifty or more
different types that are and off the market
from one years end to the other there are
about six which are considered standard, and or
this number two have been leaders for some
time. But there has been general shifting
around in the relative merits Of the different
makes. and such are the numerous additions
and projections that are being constantly made
that any day new king may be proclaimed.
II is said that in New-York City there is an
army of fifty thousand persons who derive their
living through the use Of the typewriter