The Ordway new era., 1906-11-02
INVENTION OF A Boy
IT MAY REvoLUTIoNIzE THE
PRESENT TYPEWRITER.
Virginia Youth Has Accomplished
That Wich Has Puzzled Mechan-
leaI Experts for Many
Years.

Norfolk, Va.-The problem OF an
automatic carriage for the typewriter.
one over which experts have beer
laboring and experimenting for years
without success. has probably been
solved by Robert Eugene Turner. a
Norfolk boy. who is yet to reach his
majority. That the invention, II
practicable, Is destined to revolution
ize the modern typewriter. is the
opinion Of experts, men who have
studied the problem for years.
Years ago 1t was recognized that
the invention Of an automatic car
riage return for the typewriter
would add from 25 to 80 per cent.
to the speed Of the operators-an item
that tells in the business world. The
manufacturers of the leading ma
chimes put experts on the problem.
No stone was left unturned to solve
the problem of the transference, re-
direction and control of power. 1t
Is said that one company offered a
hand some prize to the man in their
employ who would discover the prin-
ciple, to be worked out later.
Mr.. Turner, who is member of
the architectural firm of Hebard &
Turner, and who is lover of mathe-
matical problems and technical ques-
tions 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 1t at spare times. day and
night.
The young inventor grasped the DIFF
ficulties clearly. He finally solved
1t. that OF regulating the power at
all times, controlling and reversing
1t at will. Briefly stated. the regula-
tion and control of the power is by
means of the space bar. 1t Is unop-
erative automatically until the car
riage has gone certain length. but
by means of key II can be ma
nipulated at the will of the opera
tor.
Like all valuable inventions, its
simplicity is the thing that attracts
attention. 1t can be added to ma
chimes at n nominal cost; 1t 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.
Its speed Is sufficient for all practical
purposes.
The following statement In refer
ence to the invention was made by
Mr.. Turner recently:
at Increases the mechanical con-
troll OF the carriage. making 1t un-
necessary for the operator to remove
his hands from the keyboard during
writing. feature especially valuable
to touch operators.
"The mechanism causes the car
riage to return to the initial writing
point automatically when the end of
a written line is reached. and also
to return automatically from any
point in the line by pressing special
key. Means for cushioning the i'm
pact OF the carriage to prevent de-
structive jar to the machine is amply
provided for. as well as an improve.
ment In the runways and rollers bear
ing the carriage to reduce the fric.
ton to n minimum.
THE momentum attained by the
carriage in its return stroke is util-
iZed to effect the line spacing, which
can also be done from the keyboard.
An ingenious but simple device is
introduced. so that the setting OF
either the automatic or manual line
spacer will adjust the other to con-
form In the uniform spacing OF
lines"
An interesting feature in reference
to the invention is the youthfulness
Of the inventor. When the appli-
cation for the patent was filed nearly
two years ago, or in February, of
1905. Mr.. Turner was only a little
over is years of age. As he began
the study OF the problem several
years before this. his youthfulness
can be appreciated 1t was mere
boy who had undertaken to solve n
serious scientific mathematical prob
lem.
Robert Eugene Turner was born In
Norfolk November &c, 1886. He is
the son of r. +. Turner. general gu
perintendent of the Virginian-Pilot.
After leaving the Norfolk high school
ne devoted his time to the study of
mechincal engineering and architec-
.ure.
Mr.. Turner was nearly two years
in securing a patent on his inven-
.ion, but 1t was finally obtained
through Walter b. Burrow. patent at
torney at Norfolk. Mr.. Turner's
friends are confident that he has
small fortune, to say the least. In
his patent.