Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-11-12
PRESENT TYPEWRITER CON-
PLETED BY ADDITION.
IDEA Of A VIRGINIA BOY
He Has Accomplished What Has Puz-
zIed Mechanical Experts For Many
Years-By Means of the Space
Bar-Hands Need Not Be Re-
moved From Keyboard.

Inc problem Oh an auCOma1c car
rage for the typewriter, one over
which experts have been laboring and
experimenting for years without sue
cess, has probably been solved by
Robert Eugene Turner, Norfolk boy,
who is yet to reach his majority.
That the invention, if practicable, is
destined to revolutioniZe the modern
typewriter, is the opinion of experts,
years.
Years ago it was recognized that
the invention of an automatic car
rage return for the typewriter would
add from 25 to 80 per cent to the
speed of the operators item that
tells in the business world The man
ufacturers of the leading machines
put experts on the problem. No
stone was left unturned to solve the
problem Of the transference, redirec-
ton and control of power. 1t is SAID
that one company offered hand
some prize to the man in their en-
ploy who would discover the principle,
to be worked out later
Mr. Turner, who is a member of
the architectural firm of Hebard &
Turner, and who is lover of mathe-
NAUTICAL problems and technical ques-
tons worthy of solution had his at
tention drawn to the matter At that
time he was in his teens. He began
to think out the problem, conveying
his ideas to drawings. For three
years he studied it at spare times, day
and night.
The young inventor grasped the diff
ficulties clearly. He finally solved it,
that Of regulating the power at all
times, controlling and reversing it at
will. Briefly stated, the regulation
and control of the power is by means
of the space bar. 1t is imperative
automatically until the carriage has
gone a certain length, but by mears
of key it can be manipulated at the
will of the operator.
Like all valuable inventions, its
simplicity is the thing that attracts at
tention. 1t can be added to ma
chimes at nominal cost; it will not
affect the durability of the machine,
will not add to the cost of repairs
and is not easy to get out of order
It's speed is sufficient for all practical
purposes.
The following statement In refer
ence to the invention was made by
Mr.. Turner recently:
ct increases the mechanical con
troll of the carriage, making 1t un.
necessary for the operator to remove
his hands from the keyboard during
writing, a feature especially valuable
to touch operators.
''The mechanism causes the car
riage to return to the initial writing
point automatically when the end OF
written line is reached, and also to
return automatically from any point
in the line by pressing a special key
Means for cushioning the impact OF
the carriage to prevent a destructive
jar to the machine is amply provided
for, as we'll as an improvement in the
runways and rollers bearing the car
rage to reduce the friction to a mini
mum.
'sThe momentum attained by the
carriage in it's return stroke is utilized
! to effect the line spacing, which can
also be done from the keyboard. An
ingenious but simple device is intro
! - k1,o
automatic or manual line spacer will
adjust the other to conform in the uni
form spacing of lines"
! An interesting feature in reference to
the invention is the youthfulness OF
the inventor. When the application
for the patent was filed nearly two
years ago. or in February, of 1905, Mr..
Turner was only a little over 18
years of age. AS he began the study
of the problem several years before
this, his youthfulness can be appreci-
ated 1t was mere boy who had
undertaken to solve a serious scientific
problem.
Robert Eugene Turner was born in
Norfolk, November 26, 1886. He IS
| teh son of R. E. Turner, general SUI
perintendent of the virginia-Pilot
After leaving the Norfolk high school
he devoted his time to the study of
mechanical engineering and archi.
| lecture.
Mr.. Turner was nearly two years In
securing a patent on his invention,
but it was finally obtained through
Walter B. Burrow, patent attorney at
Norfolk Mr.. Turn RS friends are con
fident that he has a small fortune, to
say the least, in his patent.
A PoLIcEMAN'S PERQUISITE.
Il like best beat Of little two-story
dwelling houses said Policeman x.