The Washington times., 1902-08-01
Theories of Early Invent
or in Advance of
Mechanics.
MACHINE NEVER PERFECTED
First Invention in 1929 Called a Typo
grapher-Was a Primitive Affair
Not Until 1874 That Machines Came
Into General Use.

A Census Office expert, in a recent re-
port on the manufacture of typewriters
in the United States, states that the
idea of a mechanical letter writer seems
to have first occurred to an English
man. The earliest record of patent
granted for such q device is of one
granted by the English government to
Henry Mil, in 1714.
This invention was described by the
sanguine inventor as ian artificial ma
chine or motive for impressing or trans
cribing letters, singularly or progress
sively. one after another in writing,
whereby all writings whatsoever may
be engrossed on paper or parchment so
neat and exact as not to be distinguish
ed from print"
But the theories of the inventor were
in advance of the mechanical skill of
his time, and the machine was never
perfected. 1t was not until well along
in the nineteenth century that any ac-
tual progress was made. In the year 1888.
Frenchman, Xavier Progrin, of Mar
seilles was granted a patent for a writ
ing machine by his government. Xavier
made the modest claim that it would
print almost as rapidly as one could
write with an ordinary PEN
Called Typographer.
The first typewriter invented IN the
United States, called the "typographer,"
was patented in 1929. by William Austin
- al ole IN,
ventor of the solar compass. This ma
chine was primitive affair, and could
be manipulated only slowly. No prac
teal results were accomplished by the
Burt machine, and today it is known
merely as the starting point of q great
American Industry.
In 1S43 Charles Thurber, of Worcester,
Mass, patented a writing machine which
produced good results in every respect
except speed. This machine was con-
structed with a horizontal wheel, on the
periphery OF which were number of
perpendicular rods having types at the
bottom and finger keys at the top. In
operating this machine the wheel was
turned until the rod bearing the desired
letter was directly over the printing
point. when. by pressing the key, the
character was printed on the paper, be-
ing aided in the alignment by fixed
guides.
Ratchet and Pawl.
ratchet and pawl device served to
move lengthwise the cylinder bearing
the paper. thus producing the proper
letter spacing, while interlinear spac-
ing was secured by turning the cylinder. |
An linked roller. over which the face Of
the type passed. produced the linking. |
Although this machine was failure be- |
cause of its lack of speed. it will readily |
be seen it embodied some of the prin- |
ciples involved in the construction of |
the modern typewriter
Another step in the evolution of the |
present day typewriter was the inven-
ton of A. Ely Beach, of New York, who |
in 1s47 and 1856 secured patents on 4
machine involving the system of type
bearing levers arranged in circle,
swinging toward and printing at
common center. The linked ribbon. and
also the bell indicating the end of the
line, were features of this machine
which, although slow in action, embod-
led principles which have since been
successfully utilized and are today
prominent features Of the typewriting
machine.
Type Bearing Hammers.
In 1857 DR.. S. W. Francis, of New
port. r. l., patented machine provided
with a circle of type-bearing hammers
attached to a keyboard Pressure on
a key caused the type to strike upward.
making an impression on the paper
through an linked ribbon. the printing
point being the center of the circle.
This machine was fitted with the bell
attachment and also with coiled
spring which moved the frame bearing
the paper, rewinding when the frame
was drawn back after reaching the end
of the line. 1t was large and cumber-
some, and only one was ever construct
ed under this patent.
1t was not until 1874 that the type
writer was placed on the market for
general sale Like many other invep-
tions which have grown to be consid-
cred Indispensable, the typewriter was
first greeted by the public with skepti-
cism. The use of the machine involved
such radical changes in certain methods
Of business that It's advantages had 10
be clearly demonstrated before ;he
business world would accept It.
Only Capital Letters.
The first machines wrote only with {
capital letters. and were otherwise i'm
perfect. but these imperfections were ,
soon remedied. Even then but few per-
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