The Early History of the Typewriter

7/21/2019 The Early History of the Typewriter

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The Early History of the Typewriter

CHRISTOPHERLATHAM SHOLES

“The Father of the Typewriter ”

Born Feb. !" #$%ie& Feb. '" #$(.

The hi)tory of in*ention i) a+way) an intere)tin, )-be/t" &ea+in, a) it &oe) 0ore &ire/t+y with the phi+anthropi/

an& h-0ane pha)e of /hara/ter. Mi++ionaire 0er/hant)" 0an-fa/t-rer) an& /aptain) of in&-)try who ha*e )pr-n,-p &-rin, the pa)t ha+f /ent-ry ha*e a//-0-+ate& their /o++o))a+ wea+th thro-,h their abi+ity to 0a1e the be)t -)eof the 0ateria+ whi/h nat-re ha) )o +a*i)h+y be)towe&2 an& yet how +itt+e /o-+& they ha*e a//o0p+i)he& witho-t theai& of the tho-)an&) of -)ef-+ app+ian/e) fro0 the +ea)t to the ,reate)t whi/h ha*e entere& a++ 3e+&) of in&-)try inthi) won&erf-+ a,e of in*ention.

It i) to the patient toi+ of the in*entor who in hi) +aboratory or wor1)hop ha) e0 bo&ie& the pro&-/t of hi) brain inthe perfe/tion of a 0e/hani)0 whi/h ha) in-re& to the bene3t an& happine)) of 0an1in& that the wor+& owe) it)

,reate)t &ebt of ,ratit-&e an& honor.

In fo++owin, thi) )i0p+e narrati*e of the in/eption an& &e*e+op0ent of the 3r)t pra/ti/a+ typewriter the rea&er i)a)1e& to p-t a)i&e a++ tho-,ht) of the 0any e4/e++ent typewritin, 0a/hine) that 5oo& the 0ar1et to&ay" ea/h withit) own /+ai0 of pe/-+iar e4/e++en/e o*er it) /o0petitor" whi+e we re*ert ba/1 to a ha+f /ent-ry" when nothin,

e4i)te& to rep+a/e the painf-++y )+ow an& te&io-) 0etho& of re&-/in, tho-,ht to writin, by 0ean) of pen an& in1"

an& fo++ow the &etai+) of the /reation an& &e*e+op0ent of a 0e/hani)0" /r-&e an& /-0bro-) in it) 3r)t wor1in,)"

b-t &e)tine& in ti0e to /reate a re*o+-tion in the /on&-/t of a6air) in a++ part) of the /i*i+i7e& wor+&.

The narrati*e ,row) o-t of the re/o++e/tion of one who i) the on+y per)on now +i*in, of tho)e who /o0po)e& the+itt+e ,ro-p who wat/he& the /on)tr-/tion of the 3r)t typewriter fro0 it) 3r)t in/eption to it) )-//e))f-+ /o0p+etionin the +itt+e 0a/hine )hop in the /ity of Mi+wa-1ee &-rin, the +ate )-00er an& fa++ of #8'.

THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TYPEWRITER

So0eti0e &-rin, the 0onth of 9-+y" #8'" whi+e e0p+oye& a) /hief operator in the o:/e of the ;e)tern <nion Te+e,raph Co0pany in the /ity of Mi+wa-1ee" ;i)." Mr. C. Latha0 Sho+e)" who0 I ha& 1nown for )o0e year)" /a++e&

at the o:/e an& a)1e& for a )heet of /arbon paper" )o0ethin, whi/h wa) rare+y -)e& in tho)e &ay)" e4/ept in

0a1in, &-p+i/ate /opie) of A))o/iate& Pre)) report) re/ei*e& by te+e,raph for the &ai+y pre)).

<pon /o0p+yin, with hi) re=-e)t he /a)-a++y re0ar1e& that if I wo-+& /a++ at hi) o:/e the ne4t &ay at abo-t noon

he wo-+& )how 0e )o0ethin, that he tho-,ht wo-+& be intere)tin,. >nowin, that Mr. Sho+e) . po))e))e& a

re0ar1ab+e in*enti*e ,eni-)" ha*in, been the 3r)t to /on/ei*e of the 0etho& of a&&re))in, new)paper) by

printin, the na0e) of )-b)/riber) on the 0ar,in" an& ha*in, +ater in*ente& a 0a/hine for pa,in, b+an1 boo1) an&the /on)e/-ti*e n-0berin, of ban1 note)" I wa) prepare& for an e4hibition of )o0ethin, no*e+ in thi) in)tan/e.<pon /a++in, at hi) o:/e the ne4t &ay in the Fe&era+ b-i+&in, where he then o//-pie& the ,o*ern0ent po)ition ofCo++e/tor of the Port of Mi+wa-1ee" I fo-n& hi0 in /o0pany with a ,ent+e0an e4p+ainin, a +itt+e pie/e of 0e/hani)0on the tab+e before the0" the ba)e of whi/h /on)i)te& of a pie/e of pine boar&" abo*e whi/h" )-pporte& by woo&enpe,) wa) a rin, r-&e+y fa)hione& o-t of woo& with a a/1 1nife" on the e&,e of whi/h wa) )et fo-r other pe,)

)-pportin, a /ir/-+ar pie/e of ,+a))2 on the )i&e of the rin, wa) pi*ote& a )0a++ bra)) bar abo-t two in/he) in+en,th" on the -pper en& of whi/h wa) /-t the +etter “w.” Beneath thi) bar an& on the woo&en ba)e wa) a:4e& anor&inary Mor)e te+e,raph “1ey” arran,e& in )-/h 0anner that by )tri1in, the ro-n& b-tton en& of the 1ey a )0arttap with the 3n,er the type bar wa) =-i/1+y thrown -p a,ain)t the /ir/-+ar pie/e of ,+a)) abo*e" )tri1in, it e4a/t+yin the /enter. By ho+&in, a pie/e of /arbon paper with a thin pie/e of white paper a,ain)t the pie/e of ,+a)) an&



0o*in, it )+ow+y with one han& whi+e the 1ey wa) bein, )tr-/1 rapi&+y with the other han&" a re,-+ar an& perfe/t+ine of w?) wa) pro&-/e& )i0i+ar to thi)@

Home of First Typewriter

A few &ay) after thi) o//a)ion the a/t-a+ /on)tr-/tion of the 0a/hine wa) be,-n" in a +itt+e )hop in the Ho0e ofFir)t northern part of the /ity Typewriter whi/h wa) 1nown a) >+ein)te-ber?) 0a/hine )hop.

ha& be/o0e ,reat+y intere)te& in the in*ention fro0 the 3r)t" rea+i7in, in a &i0 way the i0portant part that it

wa) to perfor0 in )-per)e&in, the pen in a++ bran/he) of b-)ine))" an& e)pe/ia++y in the +ine of wor1 for whi/h I wa)preparin," a) a )horthan& /o-rt reporter2 an& in or&er to &e0on)trate it) pra/ti/a+ wor1 Mr. Sho+e) pro0i)e& 0ethe 3r)t 0a/hine that wo-+& +ea*e the )hop.

The /on)tr-/tion of the 3r)t 0a/hine wa) nat-ra++y a )+ow pro/e))" near+y a++ of it) part) bein, entire+y new to thewor10en" an& a) ea/h pie/e re=-ire& to be 0a&e by han&" it ne/e))itate& the 0o)t /aref-+ )-per*i)ion" e)pe/ia++ythe /a)tin, of the type p.$ bar) an& the /-ttin, of the +etter) on the0" the )+ottin, of the &i)1" the arran,e0entof the ba)1et in whi/h the type bar) wo-+& re)t" an& the a&-)t0ent of the *ario-) &e*i/e)" 0o)t i0portant ofwhi/h wa) the 0a1in, an& a&-)t0ent of the +itt+e )tee+ “&o,” with it) e)/ape0ent whi/h /ontro++e& the a/tion ofthe paper /arria,e.

Ea/h of the)e pro/e))e) wa) wat/he& with a+0o)t breath+e)) intere)t by the two or three intere)te& )pe/tator) who0a&e their &ai+y pi+,ri0a,e of a 0i+e or 0ore to the &in,y +itt+e 0a/hine )hop in whi/h the wor1 wa) bein, /arrie&on. I ha*e been -)in, the wor& “0a/hine” in thi) /onne/tion" be/a-)e it wa) the on+y na0e by whi/h it wa)&e)i,nate& at that ti0e. The a&option of a )-itab+e na0e" howe*er" wa) bein, &i)/-))e& at thi) ti0e by Mr. Sho+e)an& hi) a))o/iate). “Printin, 0a/hine” wa) 3r)t )-,,e)te&" b-t the na0e &i& not 0eet with fa*or a) &e)/ribin, thewor1 it wa) &e)i,ne& to a//o0p+i)h. “;ritin, 0a/hine” wa) a+)o )-,,e)te&" b-t a) the wor1 wo-+& be in printe&+etter) the wor& “writin,” )ee0e& inapp+i/ab+e. At +en,th Mr. Sho+e) )-,,e)te& the na0e “typewriter.” Thi) wa))-be/t to the )a0e obe/tion" an& there wa) )o0e &i)/-))ion a) to whether the na0e “printin, 0a/hine” wa) nota better na0e after a++" b-t “typewriter” wa) an -n-)-a+ na0e an& ha& a -ni=-e )o-n&" an& )o it wa) 3na++ya&opte&" an& then for the 3r)t ti0e wa) hear& a na0e" )o-n&in, o&&+y eno-,h at that ti0e" b-t whi/h ha) nowbe/o0e )o /o00on thro-,ho-t the /i*i+i7e& wor+& that we won&er that any other na0e wa) tho-,ht of.

O-r intere)t in the wor1 be/a0e 0ore an& 0ore ab)orbin, a) it pro,re))e&" an& the *ario-) part) /o0p+ete& an&a))e0b+e&. The 1ey) were of b+a/1 wa+n-t" abo-t three in/he) +on, an& a =-arter of an in/h wi&e" with the +etter ofthe a+phabet to whi/h it wa) atta/he& painte& in white on ea/h 1ey whi+e between ea/h 1ey wa) a )pa/e )-:/ientto in)ert )horter 1ey) )i0i+ar to the b+a/1 1ey) of the piano" whi/h were -)e& for the 3,-re) an& p-n/t-ation

0ar1). The 3,-re) ran fro0 to $" the +etter “I” bein, -)e& for the 3r)t 3,-re an& “O” wa) -)e& for the /ypher.A&&e& to the)e were the )e0iD/o+on" the &o++ar 0ar1" the hyphen" the perio&" the /o00a an& interro,ation point"an& a &ia,ona+ )tro1e whi/h wa) -)e& for the parenthe)i). The 1ey) bein, atta/he& to the type bar) an& wor1in, in-ni)on with the /arria,e 0o*e0ent enab+e& -) for the 3r)t ti0e to te)t the wor1 of printin, wor&) an& )enten/e).;e were then in the 0i&)t of an e4/itin, po+iti/a+ /a0pai,n" an& it wa) then for the 3r)t ti0e that the we++ 1nown)enten/e wa) ina-,-rate&"“ow i) the ti0e for a++ ,oo& 0en to /o0e to the ai& of the party2” a+)o the openin,)enten/e of the %e/+aration of In&epen&en/e" “;hen in the /o-r)e of h-0an e*ent)"” et/." whi/h )enten/e) wererepeate& 0any ti0e) in or&er to te)t the )pee& of the 0a/hine.

At abo-t the ti0e of the /o0p+etion of the 3r)t 0a/hine" in the +ate fa++ of #8'" I re0o*e& fro0 Mi+wa-1ee to St.Lo-i)" at whi/h p+a/e Mr. Sho+e) in a//or&an/e with hi) pro0i)e )hippe& to 0e the 3r)t 0a/hine that went o-t ofthe )hop. It arri*e& in St. Lo-i) abo-t the 0i&&+e of 9an-ary" #8#. In the 0eanti0e I ha& be/o0e /onne/te& withthe )horthan& 3r0 of ;a+bri&,e G A++en who were the on+y *erbati0 reporter) in the /ity at that ti0e.

Note: Sin/e the writin, of thi) paper I ha*e re/ei*e& the fo++owin, /+ippin, fro0 the St. Lo-i) Star" &ate& 9an-aryth" $#" whi/h /orroborate) the abo*e )tate0ent a) to the &ate of the )hip0ent of the 3r)t 0a/hine to St.Lo-i). Thi) ite0 appear) -n&er the hea& of

an& rea&) a) fo++ow)@ “At thi) ti0e the 3r)t pra/ti/a+ typewriter 0a&e it) appearan/e in St. Lo-i). The )0a++ ite0rea&)@ ?A Printin, Ma/hine;e )aw to&ay in the o:/e of Me))r). ;a+bri&,e" A++en G ;e++er" phono,raphi/



reporter)" a 0a/hine for printin," whi/h they -)e in tran)/ribin, their note). It i) the in*ention of Hon. C. L. Sho+e)of Mi+wa-1ee" pra/ti/a+ printer an& pro0inent /iti7en. It i) /apab+e of printin, 3fty wor&) a 0in-te" the i0pre))ion)bein, a++ in /apita+ +etter). It) prin/ipa+ a&*anta,e i) in pro&-/in, +e,ib+e /opy" an& wi++ be a oy to printer) who now+abor with the ba& pen0an)hip of writer).? ”

Thi) ite0 i) &ate& 9an-ary " #8#" whi/h wa) 0ore than 3*e year) before the 0an-fa/t-re wa) t-rne& o*er tothe Re0in,ton Ar0) Co." I+ion" . .

In the 0eanti0e Mr. Sho+e) with the +itt+e 0ean) that he /o-+& obtain ha& 0an-fa/t-re& )e*era+ 0a/hine) in the>+ein)te-ber 0a/hine )hop" ea/h e0bo&yin, )o0e new feat-re a) the wor1 pro,re))e&" whi/h wi++ be )hown in Mr.Sho+e)J +etter) whi/h fort-nate+y ha*e been pre)er*e&" an& whi/h wi++ appear +ater.

%-rin, the winter of #8# )horthan& reportin, wa) in it) infan/y in St. Lo-i)" e)pe/ia++y a) to it) -)e in the /o-rt inreportin, te)ti0ony. The +awyer) +oo1e& with )-)pi/ion on )horthan&" whi/h they /on)i&ere& *ery -nre+iab+e"probab+y by rea)on of the /r-&e wor1 of no*i/e) with no )1i++ or e4perien/e in the wor1 of /o-rt reportin," an& o-re6ort) &-rin, that )ea)on were prin/ipa++y /on3ne& to atte0pt) to per)-a&e +awyer) to aban&on their o+& 0etho&of ta1in, )/rap) of te)ti0ony in +on,han&" an& afterwar&) &i)p-tin, with ea/h other a) to -)t what the witne)) ha&)tate&" -nti+ with the ai& of the ro-,h note) that the -&,e ha& ta1en to,ether with hi) re/o++e/ion of what wa)te)ti3e& they were 3na++y ab+e to pat/h -p a bi++ of e4/eption).

%-rin, the entire /o-rt )ea)on of that year by 0-/h per)-a)ion we )-//ee&e& in )e/-rin, the reportin, of two an&a ha+f /a)e) in /o-rt. The “ha+f /a)e” whi/h in*o+*e& )o0e two h-n&re& tho-)an& &o++ar) ha& been r-nnin, )e*era+&ay) before they wo-+& /on)ent to ha*e the ba+an/e of it reporte&" an& we probab+y wo-+&n?t ha*e )e/-re& that

/a)e" were it not for the fa/t that Mr. A++en" ha& )t-&ie& an& ,ra&-ate& a) an attorney at +aw in a Ma))a/h-)ett)/o-rt before /o0in, to St. Lo-i)" an& ha& a )o0ewhat inti0ate a/=-aintan/e with the 0e0ber) of the St. Lo-i) barwhi/h wa) /on)i&erab+e a))i)tan/e to -) in )e/-rin, wor1.

A f-nny +itt+e in/i&ent /o0e) to 0y 0in& ri,ht here" whi/h i++-)trate) another obe/tion whi/h we ha& to en/o-nterin tho)e ear+y &ay) of )horthan&" in /onne/tion with the /o00er/ia+ en& of it" an& the horror with whi/h o-r rather0o&e)t /har,e wa) re,ar&e& by the -nfort-nate /+ient) who were re=-ire& to pay o-r bi++). In thi) ha+f of a /a)e o-rtran)/ript wa) nat-ra++y =-ite *o+-0ino-)" in*o+*in, a) it &i& abo-t three &ay) )o+i& noteDta1in," an& when Mr. A++enpre)ente& o-r bi++" &-+y /erti3e& by the attorney" to the &i,ni3e& pre)i&ent of the /orporation" a ,ent+e0an of theo+& )/hoo+" he )t-&ie& it /aref-++y fro0 be,innin, to en&" in/+-&in, the in)tr-/tion) to pay it" )i,ne& by hi) /ho)enattorney who)e wor& wa) +aw to hi0" then /a++e& hi) boo11eeper an& &ire/te& hi0 to 0a1e o-t a /he/1 for thea0o-nt" whi/h wa) abo-t K(" an& after )i,nin, the /he/1 an& re/ei*in, the re/eipte& bi++ he )ai& to Mr. A++enwith the -t0o)t ,ra*ity" “I wo-+& +i1e to a)1 yo- one =-e)tion. %oe) anybo&y e*er e0p+oy yo- ,ent+e0en 0orethan on/e”

In thi) /on&ition of a6air) we /ertain+y fare& *ery poor+y )o far a) the +e,a+ wor1 wa) /on/erne&" b-t we were 0-/h0ore fort-nate with o-r new)paper wor1" whi/h wa) an i0portant feat-re in tho)e &ay)" when the winter /o-r)e of+y/e-0 +e/t-re) an& a++ 0eetin,)" whether po+iti/a+" profe))iona+ or re+i,io-)" were reporte& in f-++ for the Mi))o-ri%e0o/rat" an e*i&ent 0i)no0er for a Rep-b+i/an paper" whi/h wa) the +ea&in, 0ornin, &ai+y in St. Lo-i)"now theSt. Lo-i) +obeD%e0o/rat. A&&e& to thi) new)paper wor1" howe*er" wa) a +on, i0pea/h0ent tria+ of a /ir/-it /o-rt

-&,e o-t in the )tate" whi/h Mr. ;a+bri&,e ha& reporte& &-rin, the pre*io-) year" an& ha& been ho+&in, hi) note)-nti+ the 0eetin, of the +e,i)+at-re" when the tran)/ript wa) or&ere& by the )tate" an& with that wor1 we p-t in the0o)t of o-r ti0e &-rin, the winter.

Practical Wor of First !achi"e

It wa) on that /a)e that we ha& the opport-nity of te)tin, the pra/ti/a+ wor1in, of the 3r)t typewriter" an& I a0

happy to )ay that in )pite of Pra/ti/a+ ;or1 of /r-&e wor10an)hip in Fir)t Ma/hine )o0e of it) part) we

were ab+e to &o /on)i&erab+e wor1 with it. A) the tran)/ript wa) prepare& for the printer it &i& not re=-ire the neatwor1 that wo-+& ha*e been &e0an&e& in &epo)ition) an& tran)/ript) of te)ti0ony an& /o-rt pro/ee&in,).

One of the prin/ipa+ obe/tion) to the -)e of the 0a/hine for &epo)ition) an& tran)/ript) of /o-rt te)ti0ony wa) thefa/t that in the /on)tr-/tion of the 3r)t 0a/hine it wa) tho-,ht ne/e))ary to -)e *ery thin paper" an& in or&er to,et a )ati)fa/tory i0pre))ion that the type )ho-+& 3r)t )tri1e the paper an& ,et it) i0pre))ion thro-,h the paperfro0 the in1 ribbon pa))in, o*er it" )o that a+tho-,h the 3r)t typewriter wa) a *i)ib+e 0a/hine" it wa) 0a&e )o fro0the fa/t that it wa) tho-,ht that on+y in thi) way /o-+& the wor1 be &one. So0eti0e afterwar&)" howe*er" when thero++er too1 the p+a/e of the 5at paper fra0e it wa) fo-n& that by p-ttin, the in1 ribbon ne4t to the type in)tea& ofbetween the paper an& the p+aten a ,oo& i0pre))ion /o-+& be obtaine& on paper of any thi/1ne))" b-t in &oin, )othe *i)ib+e feat-re ha& to be aban&one&. ;hen thi) wa) &i)/o*ere& Mr. Sho+e) +a-,he& o*er hi) own obt-)ene))

an& that of hi) a))o/iate)" that they )ho-+& ha*e been )o +on, in &i)/o*erin, thi) )i0p+e +itt+e /han,e whi/h 0a&e)o 0-/h &i6eren/e in the /hara/ter of the wor1.

To tho)e fa0i+iar with the 0o&ern typewriter with a++ it) +ate)t i0pro*e0ent) it i) in&ee& a won&er that a 0a/hineof the /r-&e /on)tr-/tion that I ha*e atte0pte& to &e)/ribe wo-+& &o any 1in& of pra/ti/a+ wor1. It ha& no bearin,)of 3ne+y po+i)he& )tee+ in whi/h ea/h type bar /o-+& re)t an& &o it) wor1 proper+y. The type bar) were )i0p+y pie/e)



of )trai,ht bra))" with the +etter) /-t on the en&" the type bar bein, fa)tene& in the )+ot by a +ar,e bra)) wire )et ina ,roo*e in)i&e the /ir/+e of the &i)1" an& a) 0ay we++ be i0a,ine& there wa) 0ore or +e)) )ti/1in, of the type barin the )+ot" in)tea& of =-i/1+y ret-rnin, to it) p+a/e after bein, )tr-/1" an& it wa) not an -n/o00on thin, to 3n& afew type bar) b-n/he& -p in the /enter" whi/h of /o-r)e )toppe& a++ operation) -nti+ they /o-+& be prie& apart an&,otten ba/1 into their p+a/e) preparatory to a fre)h )tart.

Then" too" the /+o/1Dwor1 0otor wa) not a+way) e=-a+ to the o//a)ion" an& we wo-+& ha*e to in/rea)e it) power bya&&in, to the +ea&en wei,ht a a/1 1nife or a paper wei,ht or a pair of )hear) or whate*er 0i,ht be at han& for thep-rpo)e2 thi) a&&e& wei,ht wa) )o0eti0e) too ,reat for the /or&" whi/h wo-+& o//a)iona++y brea1" +ettin, thewei,ht &own with a /ra)h" an& in )-/h /a)e) it wa) *ery ne/e))ary to 1eep one?) toe) o-t of the way or )-6er )o0e

rather )erio-) /on)e=-en/e).

The 0a/hine a+)o ha& a habit of )t-tterin," )o to )pea1" o//a)ione& by the )ti/1in, of the type bar in the )+ot whi/hI ha*e &e)/ribe&" whi/h wa) e4tre0e+y annoyin, when one wa) in a h-rry. For in)tan/e" p.N( when one )tarte&o-t on a )enten/e /o00en/in, with the +etter “T” in p+a/e of the )enten/e we wo-+& ha*e a +on, row of T?)"in&i/atin, that the T ha& )t-/1 in the )+ot" an& the other +etter) were ha00erin, -p a,ain)t it in a *ain atte0pt to&o their &-ty. Then a,ain" at ti0e) the +itt+e )tee+ “&o,” with it) e)/ape0ent wor1in, ba/1 an& forth in the rat/hetwhi/h /ontro++e& the 0o*e0ent of the paper fra0e wo-+& fai+ to &o it) wor1 proper+y" an& the /arria,e wo-+& -0pan in/h or two" or perhap) ha+f a +ine" )toppin, with a )-&&en er1" whi/h wa) /a+/-+ate& to 0a1e one ner*o-)" to)ay the +ea)t.

I ha*e been &e)/ribin, the a/tion) of the 0a/hine in )o0e of it) wor)t 0oo&). B-t &on?t i0a,ine for a 0o0ent thatthi) wa) a /ontin-o-) a6air. There were ti0e) when e*erythin, wor1e& bea-tif-++y" an& the )pee& that /o-+& be

,otten o-t of it at )-/h ti0e) wa) )o0ethin, 0ar*e+o-)" e)pe/ia++y when we ,ot onto that fa0i+iar )enten/e" “owi) the ti0e for a++ ,oo& 0en to /o0e to the ai& of the party.” ;hen we ta+1 abo-t “,rea)e& +i,htnin,"” why" itwa)n?t p.N in it at a++. I wont )ay b-t that o-r e4pert typi)t" Mr. M/-rrin here" if he ha& been there with hi) +itt+e)pee&D&o, an& hi) hairDtri,,er a&-)t0ent an& wa) in a 0oo& for &oin, )o0e of hi) )t-nt)" 0i,ht po))ib+y ha*ebeaten -) -)t a tri5e" b-t he wo-+& ha*e ha& to h-0p hi0)e+f to &o it.

Primiti#e Typewriter Ri$$o"

p.N It 0ay be intere)tin, at thi) re0ote perio& to note the 0anner in whi/h we pro/-re& an& prepare& o-r in1ribbon) in tho)e pri0iti*e typewriter &ay)" when one be/a0e worn o-t an& -)e+e)). In tho)e &ay) we /o-+&n?tte+ephone for a b+a/1" b+-e" or p-rp+e re/or& or /opyin, ribbon an& a few 0in-te) +ater beho+& a 0e))en,er at the&oor with a +itt+e tin bo4 /ontainin, the be)t -pDtoD&ate arti/+e wrappe& in oi+e& paper with an en*e+ope of tin foi+"an& a ree+ with whi/h to atta/h it to the ribbon &e*i/e. o" in&ee&. On )-/h o//a)ion) it be/a0e ne/e))ary to *i)itthe neare)t &ry ,oo&) e)tab+i)h0ent an& )e+e/t a bo+t of )i+1 or )atin ribbon whi/h wa) the on+y 0ateria+ that we

/o-+& 3n& to an)wer the p-rpo)e" an& ha*in, p-r/ha)e& it" we wo-+& b-y a pint bott+e of b+a/1 in1 an& po-r it intoa wa)h bow+" an& after -nro++in, the bo+t of ribbon we wo-+& i00er)e it in the in1 an& a++ow it to re0ain -nti+ it wa)thoro-,h+y p.NN )at-rate&" an& then towar&) e*enin, before ,oin, ho0e we wo-+& ta1e it o-t of the in1 an&)trin, it ba/1 an& forth o*er the /hair) an& other f-rnit-re" an& +ea*e it to &ry o*er ni,ht. It wa) anythin, b-t ap+ea)ant ob" an& wo-+& har&+y ha*e been a++owe& in o-r 0o&ern o:/e) with their 3ne o-t3t of 0aho,any f-rnit-rean& Br-))e+) r-,)" b-t in tho)e &ay) of ro-,h" bare 5oor)" bo4 woo& )to*e)" )aw&-)t /-)pi&or) an& ;in&)or /hair)an& )0o1eDb+a/1ene& wa++) )-/h operation) /o-+& be /arrie& on" a) Mr). Partin,ton wo-+& )ay" “with perfe/ti0p-rity.”

In the 0eanti0e Mr. Sho+e) an& hi) a))o/iate) were &oin, e*erythin, within their power to f-rther i0pro*e an&perfe/t the 0a/hine" an& )o0e ti0e +ater I re/ei*e& a +etter fro0 Mr. Sho+e) )-,,e)tin, that I )en& 0y 0a/hineba/1" to be rep+a/e& by another /ontainin, the +ate)t i0pro*e0ent). Thi) wa) &one" an& )o0eti0e afterwar&) theperfe/te& 0a/hine wa) re/ei*e&" e0bo&yin, a n-0ber of /han,e)" in the fa++ of #'(. Thi) 0a/hine wa) a ,reat/ontra)t" /o0pare& with the for0er one" an& )o far &i6erent in it) o-t)i&e appearan/e p.N! a) to be har&+yre/o,ni7ab+e. The 0a/hine *arie& b-t an in/h or two in )i7e fro0 the pre)ent typewriter" b-t the iron fra0e in)tea&of bein, open at the )i&e) wa) in/+o)e& with thin woo&en boar&) han&)o0e+y po+i)he&" painte& an& *arni)he&"whi/h ,a*e it a *ery neat an& attra/ti*e appearan/e.

I ha*e 0any ti0e) wi)he&" howe*er" that the 3r)t 0a/hine whi/h wa) 0an-fa/t-re& -n&er the patent of #8# ha&been pre)er*e& inta/t. It wo-+& ha*e been a 0o)t intere)tin, an& *a+-ab+e re+i/ a) an e4hibit in thi) &ay" whentypewriter) are 5oo&in, a++ part) of the /i*i+i7e& wor+&2 b-t the ori,ina+ 0a/hine to,ether with )e*era+ other) whi/hwere 0a&e &-rin, the e4peri0enta+ )ta,e of the wor1 wa) -n&o-bte&+y bro1en -p an& re+e,ate& to the )/rap pi+e"e4/ept tho)e part) that /o-+& be wor1e& into other 0a/hine).

It i) )o0ewhat a0-)in," howe*er" in. pa))in, one of o-r e+e,ant+y appointe& typewriter )a+e)roo0) to 3n& a0on,the +ate)t -p to &ate 0a/hine) e4hibite& in the p+ate ,+a)) )how win&ow a )orry +oo1in, p.N o+& )pe/i0en thatwo-+& appear to ha*e pa))e& thro-,h 3re an& water" bearin, in pro0inent +etter) the +e,en& “The Fir)t

Typewriter"” 1nowin, it to be a type of 0a/hine that wa) 0an-fa/t-re& f-++y ten year) +ater than the one I ha*eatte0pte& to &e)/ribe.

;e a+)o 3n& here an& there a per)on referre& to in the &ai+y pre)) a) bein, the one who operate& the 3r)ttypewriter.



A few year) a,o an arti/+e appeare& in" the S-n&ay e&ition of the Chi/a,o Trib-ne" ,i*in, the na0e an& re)i&en/eof a ,ent+e0an in the ea)t who wa) /re&ite& with the &i)tin/tion of ha*in, po))e))e& an& operate& the 3r)ttypewriter that wa) 0an-fa/t-re& )o0eti0e abo-t the year #'# A )tate0ent wa) )ent to the Trib-ne at the ti0e,i*in, the fa/t) brie5y a) to the &ate on whi/h the 3r)t typewriter wa) /on)tr-/te& an& the na0e of it) in*entor"whi/h wa) o0itte& fro0 the )tate0ent" whi/h the writer probab+y tho-,ht wa)n?t worth 0entionin,. Thi) /orre/tionwa) ret-rne& to the writer with a po+ite note fro0 that re+iab+e o-rna+ to the e6e/t that a r-+e p.N8 of the o:/eprohibite& the p-b+i/ation of /orre/tion) of that /hara/ter" whi/h of /o-r)e )ett+e& the b-)ine))" )o far a) that

o-rna+ wa) /on/erne&" an& in a++ probabi+ity the ,ent+e0an" who happene& to be a 0an of )o0e note" i) )ti++0o&e)t+y wearin, hi) honor) an& enoyin, the fa0e whi/h )o0e enterpri)in, writer ha& thr-)t -pon hi0.

O//a)iona++y too" there are )o0e of o-r +a&y typewriter operator) who are wont to /+ai0 that &i)tin/tion. ery +ate+ya yo-n, +a&y who ha& re/ent+y /o0e to St. Lo-i) fro0 Chi/a,o /+ai0e& to ha*e bro-,ht the 3r)t 0a/hine fro0 that/ity to St. Lo-i)" b-t ina)0-/h a) the yo-n, +a&y /o-+&n?t ha*e been o+&er than (" an& the 3r)t typewriter wa)b-i+t f-++y twenty year) before )he wa) born" the *a+i&ity of her /+ai0 i) )o0ewhat &o-btf-+. Probab+y" if the tr-thwere 1nown there i) a +a&y in thi) a-&ien/e to&ay who 0ay ri,ht+y /+ai0 to ha*e operate& the 3r)t typewriter thatwa) 0an-fa/t-re&" &-rin, the winter of #8#.

!achi"e Impro#e% i" &'()

p.N' The )e/on& 0a/hine whi/h wa) )ent to 0e in the fa++ of #'( wa)" a) I ha*e )tate&" )o &e/i&e&+y &i6erentfro0 the 3r)t /on)tr-/tion that it wi++ bear a &e)/ription a) to )o0e of it) part). In the 3r)t p+a/e" the r-&e woo&en1ey) /ontaine& in the 3r)t 0a/hine were rep+a/e& by 0eta+ ro&) with a thin bra)) b-tton on whi/h the +etter or3,-re wa) /-t an& painte& b+a/1. The /onne/tin, wire) in)tea& of r-nnin, &own to tri*et) near the 5oor ran &ire/t+y

fro0 the en& of the 1ey to the type bar abo*e" an& in)tea& of the p+ain )+ot in the bra)) &i)1" whi/h ha& ,i*en -) )o0-/h tro-b+e in the 3r)t 0a/hine the type bar) were )et in )tee+ bearin,)" *ery 0-/h the )a0e a) we )ee in the+ate)t 0o&ern /on)tr-/tion. The /arria,e 0o*e0ent an& paper ho+&in, &e*i/e wa) )o wi&e+y &i*er,ent fro0 the3r)t /on)tr-/tion that it wi++ re=-ire )o0e e4p+anation. In)tea& of the 5at paper fra0e there wa) a r-bber ro++er"whi/h *arie& fro0 the ro++er now in -)e" p.N# bein, twi/e a) +ar,e in /ir/-0feren/e" an& in)tea& of 0o*in,+atera++y fro0 +eft to ri,ht in printin, the +ine) the ro++er 0o*e& forwar& with ea/h )tro1e of the 1ey" in the )a0eway that it now 0o*e) in /han,in, the +ine)" whi+e the +ine wa) /han,e& by the ro++er 0o*in, &own the )pa/e of a+ine on the ro& after it ha& /o0p+ete& a re*o+-tion. In other wor&)" the 0o*e0ent of the ro++er in printin, an&/han,in, the +ine wa) e4a/t+y the re*er)e of the pre)ent /on)tr-/tion. The paper wa) the )a0e +en,th a) the ro++er"an& wa) /-r*e& aro-n& it +appin, o*er )-:/ient+y to a++ow a 0ar,in" an& )e/-re& at the en&) by )tee+ /+a0p) *ery0-/h +i1e the an1+e ,-ar&) that a bi/y/+e ri&er -)e) to&ay. otwith)tan&in, thi) pe/-+iar arran,e0ent of the paperon the ro++er the wor1 a//o0p+i)he& wa) *ery )ati)fa/tory an& far )-perior to the 5at paper fra0e. Bear in 0in&that thi) wa) away ba/1 in #'(" an& &-rin, the three year) fo++owin, whi+e the /on)tr-/tion wa) bein, /arrie& on-n&er Mr. Sho+e)? &ire/tion other i0portant /han,e) were 0a&e" p.N$ re)-+tin, in the paper pa))in, -n&er anor&inary )i7e& ro++er the )a0e a) i) &one to&ay.

Of the a))o/iation between Mr. Sho+e) an& Mr. %en)0ore who /a0e -pon the )/ene for the 3r)t ti0e in #'(" twoyear) after the 0an-fa/t-re of the 3r)t 0a/hine p.!' I /an )ay +itt+e or nothin," e4/ept that I re0e0ber abo-tthat ti0e Mr. %en)0ore /a0e to St. Lo-i) to )ee 0e an& )ati)fy hi0)e+f in re,ar& to the pra/ti/a+ wor1 that ha&been &one on the 0a/hine an& obtain a te)ti0onia+ fro0 0e in re,ar& to it) wor1. I afterwar&) +earne& that heobtaine& fro0 Mr. Sho+e) a ri,ht to 0an-fa/t-re a 0a/hine -n&er hi) patent for a )tip-+ate& )-0" an& )o0eti0eafterwar&) I )aw a /ar& with a /-t of a 0a/hine that wa) 0an-fa/t-re& -n&er the na0e of %en)0ore G Porter an&wa) bein, -)e& in a /o00er/ia+ )/hoo+ in Chi/a,o" of whi/h Mr. Porter wa) the prin/ipa+. The 0a/hine /ontaine&the )a0e feat-re) a) the Sho+e) 0a/hine)" e4/ept that it &i)pen)e& with the +on, wire) r-nnin, fro0 the 1ey) tothe botto0 of the tab+e atta/he& to the tri*et) an& then/e to the type bar) a) pre*io-)+y &e)/ribe&. I -n&er)tan&that thi) 0a/hine wa) 1nown a) the “/anti+e*er” 0a/hine" an& wa) operate& by 0ean) of )hort )ti6 wire) r-nnin,+atera++y with an& )o+&ere& to the en&) of the 1ey) an& /onne/te& with the type bar) in )-/h 0anner a) to throwthe0 -p a,ain)t p.!' the paper a) ea/h 1ey wa) )tr-/1. I a0 -nab+e to &e)/ribe the 0a/hine in &etai+" ne*er

ha*in, )een it. The prin/ipa+ e6e/t of the /han,e wa) to re&-/e the +e*era,e between the 1ey) an& the type bar))e*era+ in/he) an& /on3ne the 0o*e0ent to a )pa/e of not 0ore than two or three in/he) in &epth" whi/h wo-+&)ee0 to be an i0pro*e0ent" b-t the 0a/hine &i& not pro*e a )-//e)) for the rea)on" a) I -n&er)tan&" that it wa)fo-n& that the wire) were -nab+e to )-)tain the +atera+ )train" an& wo-+& nat-ra++y be/o0e bent o-t of )hape" an&for that rea)on it) 0an-fa/t-re wa) aban&one&. In the 0eanti0e" howe*er" Mr. Sho+e) /ontin-e& to 0an-fa/t-rehi) 0a/hine)" an& the pro/e)) of e*o+-tion wa) ,oin, on" +oo1in, a+)o towar&) re&-/in, the )i7e of the 0a/hinean& ,ettin, a++ it) part) into the )horte)t po))ib+e /o0pa))" whi/h wa) the re)-+t of the 0a/hine )ent to 0e in thefa++ of #'(" whi/h I ha*e a+rea&y &e)/ribe&. I wi++ /+o)e the rea&in, of thi) /orre)pon&en/e by rea&in, the +a)t+etter in 0y po))e))ion whi/h wa) written in the )prin, of #'N" at the ti0e that Mr. Sho+e) fo-n& p.!$ hi0)e+f/o0pe++e& by +a/1 of 3nan/ia+ 0ean) to aban&on the /ontro+ of the 0an-fa/t-re of the 0a/hine an& p+a/e it inother han&).

Ori*i"al Feat+res I" Prese"t !achi"es

otwith)tan&in, the *a)t i0pro*e0ent) that ha*e been 0a&e in the 0e/hani/a+ 0o*e0ent an& )-periorwor10an)hip" an& the 0any +itt+e in,enio-) &e*i/e) whi/h ha*e been a&&e&" an& /hara/teri7e the typewriter of thepre)ent &ay" )ti++ we 3n& that the 0ain feat-re) whi/h /on)tit-te& the in*ention are the )a0e now a) tho)e/ontaine& in the 3r)t typewriter" whi/h /on)i)t) of the /ir/-+ar &i)1 or 0eta+ rin, aro-n& whi/h are h-n, the typebar)" ea/h )tri1in, at a /o00on /enter" the ribbon 0o*e0ent an& 0o*e0ent of the paper /arria,e /onne/te& withthe 1ey) by the -ni*er)a+ bar" the )prin, 0otor whi/h wa) )-b)tit-te& by Mr. Sho+e) in p+a/e of the aw1war& /+o/1



wor1 0o*e0ent with the wei,ht" whi/h wa) a tro-b+e)o0e feat-re of the 3r)t 0a/hine" an& a+tho-,h the /han,e inthi) feat-re i) not referre& to in the +etter) whi/h ha*e been pre)er*e&" it wa) &one away with in the 0a/hine thatwa) )ent to p. 0e &-rin, the fa++ of #'(. Thi) /han,e" howe*er" wa) p-re+y 0e/hani/a+" an& wa) nat-ra++y)-,,e)te& by the e*o+-tion of the /+o/1 fro0 the wei,ht to the )prin, 0otor. A++ of the)e feat-re) were the re)-+t of 0-/h )t-&y an& e4peri0ent on the part of Mr. Sho+e) an& hi) a))o/iate) &-rin, the 3*e year) that inter*ene&before t-rnin, o*er the 0an-fa/t-re of the 0a/hine to the fa/tory at I+ion. The rea+ in*ention" howe*er" /on)i)t) inthe /ir/-+ar 0eta+ rin, or &i)1" with the type bar) )tri1in, at a /o00on /enter whi/h i) fo-n& to&ay in a++ type bar0a/hine). I 0ay a&& a+)o" that )in/e the 0an-fa/t-re of the 0a/hine pa))e& o-t of Mr. Sho+e)? per)ona+)-per*i)ion he )ti++ /ontin-e& to wor1 on i0pro*e0ent) -p to the &ay of hi) &eath in #$(" ,i*in, the bene3t of hi)wor1 to the /o0pany to who0 he ha& t-rne& o*er the 0an-fa/t-re in #'N.

,isco+ra*i"* Feat+res

p.8 The &i)/o-ra,in, feat-re /onne/te& with the 0an-fa/t-re of the 3r)t 0a/hine)" an& whi/h it )ee0e&i0po))ib+e to o*er/o0e" wa) the /r-&e wor10an)hip whi/h ten&e& to i0pe&e the a/tion of the 0a/hine" whi/hre=-ire& )0ooth an& /ertain 0o*e0ent of it) 0o)t &e+i/ate part). The wor10en in the +itt+e 0a/hine )hop &i& thebe)t they /o-+& with the i0perfe/t app+ian/e) at han&2 b-t it wa) +i1e tryin, to 0a1e a wat/h in a b+a/1)0ith )hop"an& it wa) on+y after repeate& an& heroi/ e6ort) to o*er/o0e the)e ob)ta/+e) that Mr. Sho+e) wa) /o0pe++e& tore+in=-i)h per)ona+ /ontro+ of it) 0an-fa/t-re an& p+a/e it with the Re0in,ton /o0pany at I+ion" . ." a) )tate& inhi) +a)t +etter. Pre*io-) to thi) he ha& e4pen&e& with the ai& of hi) 3nan/ia+ ba/1er) +ar,e )-0) of 0oney in anen&ea*or to perfe/t hi) in*ention to the e4tent of pro&-/in, a thoro-,h+y re+iab+e wor1in, 0a/hine that wo-+& 3n&fa*or with the p-b+i/" in whi/h p.' e6ort I a0 to+& that he e4pen&e& a++ of hi) pri*ate f-n&)" e*en to the )a/ri3/eof hi) +itt+e ho0e in or&er to rai)e the ne/e))ary 0ean) for the attain0ent of that en&. Fai+in, in that en&ea*or he0a&e a /ontra/t with the Re0in,ton Ar0) Co0pany" where )1i++e& wor10en were e0p+oye& with a++ the app+ian/e)

at han& for wor1in, in )tee+ in the 0an-fa/t-re of their 3re ar0).

It wa) the)e &efe/t) that /o0pe++e& -) to aban&on the -)e of the 3r)t 0a/hine in o-r re,-+ar wor1. The )e/on&0a/hine that wa) )ent to 0e in the fa++ of #'( a+tho-,h a ,reat i0pro*e0ent on the 3r)t one an& *ery we++a&apte& to /orre)pon&en/e an& or&inary +i,ht wor1 wa) )ti++ )-be/t to i0pe&i0ent) an& )toppa,e) ne/e))itatin,0ore or +e)) &e+ay in repairin, an& re0e&yin, the &i:/-+tie)" an& a) ti0e wa) an i0portant e+e0ent with -) wewere /o0pe++e& to ret-rn to the o+& 0etho& of preparin, o-r tran)/ript).

Thi) i) a++ that /an be )ai&" )o far a) the writer?) per)ona+ re/o++e/tion) are /on/erne&" a) to the ear+y hi)tory of thetypewriter. A 0o)t intere)tin, *o+-0e /o-+& p.# ha*e been written by tho)e who at the ti0e ha& f-++ 1now+e&,eof a++ the &etai+) /onne/te& with the 0any e4peri0ent) that were trie& an& aban&one& fro0 ti0e to ti0e" an& then-0ero-) &i)appoint0ent) that re)-+te& fro0 the e6ort) that were 0a&e to )-r0o-nt the ob)ta/+e) that aro)ehere an& there" )tan&in, in the way of the 0an-fa/t-re of an ab)o+-te+y re+iab+e 0a/hine that /o-+& be pa))e& into

the han&) of the or&inary operator an& -)e& for 0onth) witho-t a hit/h or brea1 of )o0e 1in&" o//a)ionin,*e4atio-) &e+ay)" whi/h nat-ra++y 0i+itate& a,ain)t the -)e of the 0a/hine" an& I 0ay )ay here that it wa) near+yten year) after the wor1 wa) -n&erta1en in an e)tab+i)h0ent where the 0o)t )1i+f-+ 0e/hani/) were e0p+oye&with a++ the ne/e))ary app+ian/e) for a//o0p+i)hin, the 3ne)t wor1 in )tee+" that a 0a/hine wa) 0an-fa/t-re& thatwa) entire+y &e*oi& of the &efe/t)" whi/h )too& in the way of it) ,enera+ -)e.

Perso"al Notes

p.$ In thi) /onne/tion it i) proper that )o0ethin, )ho-+& be )ai& of the +ife an& /hara/ter of the 0an who)ein*enti*e ,eni-) ha) +i,htene& the +abor) of )horthan& reporter) an& 0ateria++y +en,thene& their +i*e). Spea1in, for0y)e+f" I ha*e no &o-bt b-t that witho-t the *a+-ab+e ai& of the typewriter I wo-+& ha*e been +ai& on the )he+f" )oto )pea1" year) a,o" a )-6erer fro0 writer?) /ra0p or )o0e other ai/tion )-perin&-/e& by o*erwor1" an& I ha*eno &o-bt that 0any other) of o-r profe))ion /an bear te)ti0ony to the )a0e e6e/t.

;ith tho)e who were )o fort-nate a) to 1now Mr. Sho+e) &-rin, hi) +ife" the a/=-aintan/e wa) one whi/h /arrie&with it the 0o)t p+ea)in, re/o++e/tion). O+& re)i&ent) of Mi+wa-1ee wi++ re0e0ber hi) appearan/e on the )treet" hi)ta++ )+en&er 3,-re" hi) +on, 5owin, hair an& hi) re0ar1ab+y /+ear bri,ht eye)" with that farDaway +oo1 in the0pe/-+iar to 0en of hi) ,eni-).

Hi) ,enia+ nat-re i) re5e/te& to )o0e p.8( e4tent in the few e4tra/t) that ha*e been rea& fro0 hi) +etter). He wa)a &e*otee of the roya+ ,a0e of /he))" an& ne*er )o happy a) when )eate& at the boar& oppo)ite an opponentworthy of hi) )tee+. A =-iet *ein of h-0or ran thro-,h hi) or&inary /on*er)ation" an& he wo-+& fre=-ent+y =-otepa))a,e) fro0 the poet)" paraphra)in, the0 in a ,rote)=-e )ty+e whi/h wa) /a+/-+ate& to /a-)e tho)e worthie) tori)e -p in ri,hteo-) in&i,nation at the -nwonte& +iberty that ha& been ta1en with their +ine)" b-t ne*erthe+e))inten)e+y a0-)in,. He wa) a+)o an in*eterate p-n)ter. The p-n /rept into hi) or&inary /on*er)ation in the 0o)tnat-ra+ way an& he wa) ne*er ,-i+ty of /aref-++y pa*in, the way for a /hoi/e+y pre)er*e& )pe/i0en of that/hara/ter whi/h i) a 0o)t e4a)peratin, feat-re of )o0e of o-r wo-+&Dbe wit).

A) an i++-)tration of hi) happy fa/i+ity in that +ine" a frien& at one ti0e a//o0panie& hi0 to hi) 0o&e)t ho0e" whi/hwa) +i,hte& with 1ero)ene +a0p)" whi/h wa) the bane of a++ ,oo& ho-)e1eeper) in tho)e &ay)" an& -pon enterin,the front &oor he behe+& a p.8 +ar,e ,rea)e )pot on the ha++ /arpet /a-)e& by the &rippin, fro0 a han,in, +a0p.Rai)in, hi) eye) to the /ei+in, he bro1e o-t with Byron?) we++ 1nown apo)trophe" “e i)+e) of ree/e" ye i)+e) of



ree/e" ;here b-rnin, Sappho +o*e& an& )an,.” In the 0i&)t of a ,a0e of /he))" )eein, a /he/1D0ate +oo0 -p inthe &i)tan/e he wo-+& h-r+ &e3an/e with o+&)0ith?) /o-p+et" e0be++i)he& in r-)ti/ )ty+e"

“E?en tho-,h that /+o-& were th-n&er?) w-)t" An& /har,e& to )=-a)h hi0" +et it b-)t.”

A 0an of 0o)t ,ent+e an& 0o&e)t &e0eanor" he wa) not +a/1in, in 0ora+ /o-ra,e when o//a)ion re=-ire& it. Atone ti0e &-rin, the /i*i+ war we were +-n/hin, at a re)ta-rant at the /apita+ of ;i)/on)in. The re)ta-rant wa) 3tte&-p with )0a++ booth) in whi/h patron) /o-+& enoy their 0ea+) in )e0iDpri*a/y. A) we were waitin, for o-r or&er twoo:/er) of the -nion ar0y pa))e& -) an& )at &own in the a&oinin, /o0part0ent" when one re0ar1e& to the other“That?) the fe++ow who wrote -) -p in hi) paper an& )ai& we ran +i1e white /at) p.8 at ;i+)on?) Cree1.” There0ar1 wa) 0a&e in a +ow tone" an& 0i,ht ha*e been pa))e& by with one +e)) )en)iti*e of per)ona+ /riti/i)0" b-tMr. Sho+e)? =-i/1 ear /a-,ht it" an& ri)in, at on/e he appeare& at the entran/e of the booth with the =-e)tion “Areyo- a++-&in, to 0e" )ir” The o:/er wa) nat-ra++y ta1en aba/1 with the )-&&en appearan/e of the ta++ for0" an&the =-e)tion propo-n&e& in the 0o)t =-iet e*en tone" an& )o0ewhat &e3ant+y rep+ie&" “;e++" yo- are the e&itor ofthat paper" an& I )-ppo)e yo- are re)pon)ib+e for it) )tate0ent).” Mr. Sho+e) rep+ie&" “o- are *ery 0-/h 0i)ta1en)ir. I ha& nothin, to &o with the p-b+i/ation of that )tate0ent" an& if I ha& )een it in ti0e it ne*er wo-+& ha*e beenp-b+i)he&. I ha*e too 0-/h re,ar& for the boy) who are 3,htin, o-r batt+e) whi+e we are enoyin, the /o0fort) ofo-r ho0e) to a++ow the0 to be )+an&ere& in the p-b+i/ pre)).” The e4p+anation wa) 0a&e in )-/h a 0an+y way an&with )-/h e*i&ent )in/erity that it /a++e& forth a 0o)t prof-)e apo+o,y" an& after a few p+ea)ant re0ar1) p.8N inwhi/h Mr. Sho+e) e4pre))e& hi) re,ret that hi) a,e pre*ente& hi0 fro0 )er*in, in the 3e+& in &efen)e of hi)/o-ntry" the two )eparate& the be)t of frien&).

I ha*e note& with )o0e anoyan/e )tate0ent) whi/h ha*e been 0a&e +ate+y in arti/+e) written in /onne/tion with

the in*ention of the typewriter to the e6e/t that “C. L. Sho+e) who a))i)te& in perfe/tin, the typewriter wa) a0e/hani/ by tra&e.” A )hort ti0e a,o a frien& )ent 0e a /+ippin, fro0 a )o-thern paper in whi/h an o+& ,ent+e0anin hi) $!th year wa) /+ai0in, the &i)tin/tion of bein, the ori,ina+ in*entor of the typewriter" ha*in, ,i*en hi)&e)i,n to “a 0e/hani/ na0e& Shoa+) who &e*e+ope& the 3r)t Re0in,ton 0a/hine.” Another 0ention ha) been0a&e )ti++ 0ore re/ent+y whi/h )po1e of “a /r-&e 0o&e+ of a 0a/hine in*ente& by Sho+e) an& +i&&en" two0e/hani/) of Mi+wa-1ee"” a ter0 whi/h /annot be )tri/t+y app+ie& to either of tho)e ,ent+e0en" an& whi+e-n&o-bte&+y Mr. Sho+e) with hi) &e0o/rati/ i&ea) wo-+& ha*e fe+t honore& in bein, p+a/e& in that /ata,ory if )-/hwa) the fa/t" I ta1e the p.8! +iberty of /opyin, the fo++owin, brief )1et/h whi/h appear) in “The ationa+Cy/+ope&ia of A0eri/an Bio,raphy” p-b+i)he& )o0e ( or year) a,o@

“Chri)topher Latha0 Sho+e)" in*entor" wa) born in Co+-0bia /o-nty" Penn." Febr-ary !" #$. Hi) an/e)tor) wereew En,+an&er) an& )er*e& with &i)tin/tion in the Re*o+-tionary ar0y. Hi) ,ran&father on the 0aterna+ )i&e wa) a+inea+ &e)/en&ant of 9ohn A+&en.

“At the a,e of fo-rteen yo-n, Sho+e) wa) apprenti/e& to the e&itor of the Inte++i,en/er" %an*i++e" Pa." to +earn theprintin, tra&e" b-t at the a,e of # &eter0ine& to oin hi) brother" then +i*in, in reen Bay" ;i). A year +ater" whenb-t $ year) of a,e he too1 /har,e of the Ho-)e 9o-rna+ of the Territoria+ Le,i)+at-re an& /arrie& it to Phi+a&e+phia"a +on, o-rney at that ti0e" to be printe&. At the a,e of ( he went to Ma&i)on" an& too1 /har,e of the ;i)/on)inIn=-irer" owne& by hi) brother Char+e)" an& in #!( at the a,e of " e&ite& the So-thport" afterwar&) >eno)ha

Te+e,raph" an& fo-r year) +ater be/a0e the po)t0a)ter" p.8 re/ei*in, hi) appoint0ent fro0 Pre)i&ent Po+1.Later" &-rin, hi) re)i&en/e in Mi+wa-1ee he wa) po)t0a)ter of that /ity" an& )ti++ +ater wa) appointe& to thepo)ition of Co00i))ioner of P-b+i/ ;or1)" an& Co++e/tor of C-)to0). He wa) for a +on, ti0e e&itor of the Mi+wa-1ee%ai+y Sentine+ an& the ew).

“It wa) whi+e he wa) Co++e/tor of C-)to0) in #88 that he be/a0e intere)te& with an o+& frien& na0e& So-+e in the0a1in, of a 0a/hine for /on)e/-ti*e n-0berin," e)pe/ia++y on ban1 note) an& pa,e) of b+an1 boo1)" at whi/h ti0ehi) attention wa) &ire/te& to an arti/+e p-b+i)he& in an En,+i)h o-rna+ re,ar&in, writin, by a 0e/hani/a+ &e*i/e" by

9ohn Pratt.

“;ith a =-i/1 int-ition he )aw the po))ibi+itie) of a re*o+-tion of the han&+in, of the pen. Fro0 that 0o0ent he&e*ote& hi) who+e ti0e an& tho-,ht to the i&ea whi/h ha) ,i*en to the wor+& the typewriter.

“Thi) won&erf-+ /reation i) the re)-+t of hi) in*enti*e ,eni-). In #8' the 3r)t /r-&e in)tr-0ent wa) 0a&e" an& in#'N the p.88 in*ention wa) )o far perfe/te& a) to warrant the pro&-/tion of 0a/hine) on a +ar,e )/a+e. Thewor+& ha) fe+t the bene3t. For a +on, ti0e the 3nan/ia+ ret-rn) were )0a++ an& Mr. Sho+e) who wa) to re/ei*e aroya+ty on ea/h 0a/hine" &i)po)e& of hi) ri,ht for a /o0parati*e+y )0a++ )-0. Later he in*ente& )e*era+i0pro*e0ent)" whi/h" with an e4/e)) of /on)/ien/e /hara/teri)ti/ of the 0an" he ,a*e to the per)on) in /ontro+ ofthe 0an-fa/t-re.

“In a&&ition to hi) in*enti*e power)" Mr. Sho+e) &i& 0-/h a) an e&itor an& po+iti/ian. He witne))e& the e*o+-tion ofthe )tate of ;i)/on)in fro0 it) wi+& be,innin,)" an& /ontrib-te& no )0a++ )hare in )hapin, the +aw) that were

ne/e))ary to )et the new )tate ,o*ern0ent in )-//e))f-+ 0otion. He )er*e& in the )tate Senate in #!#D$ fro0Ra/ine Co-nty" an& in #SDN repre)ente& >eno)ha Co-nty" in the +e,i)+at-re. In #8D' he wa) )tate )enator"bein, pre)i&ent pro te0 for 0ore than a year.



“He wa) a 0an of )-/h ,enero-) )y0pathie) that he nat-ra++y too1 to the )i&e of the 0inority. Hi) innateabhoran/e of p.8' wron, an& /r-e+ty 0a&e hi0 an abo+itioni)t" an& he wa) one of the 0o)t a/ti*e fo-n&er) of theRep-b+i/an party in the State. He &i)+i1e& the &etai+) of b-)ine))" an& the pain)ta1in, ne/e))ary to 0a1e 0oneywa) hi) parti/-+ar a*er)ion. He wa) a 0an of e4/e))i*e ten&erne)) of /on)/ien/e" *iewe& fro0 the -)-a+ b-)ine))point of *iew. It wa) be/a-)e of thi) that he &i& not reap the pe/-niary rewar& of hi) in*ention of the 3r)ttypewritin, 0a/hine. He +i*e& to )ee the wor1 of hi) ,eni-) a//epte& thro-,ho-t the wor+&" an& hear the p+ea)in,/o0p+i0ent ren&ere& hi0" that he wa) “the father of the typewriter”

A" I"corr+pti$le Le*islator

p.8# There i) one notab+e /ir/-0)tan/e /onne/te& with Mr. Sho+e)? p-b+i/ +ife whi/h i) not referre& to in thi) briefbio,raphy" b-t whi/h &e)er*e) 0ention in thi) /onne/tion" a) i++-)tratin, hi) )ter+in, hone)ty an& inte,rity" an& hi)hi,h i&ea+ of the &-ty of a repre)entati*e towar&) hi) /on)tit-ent) whi+e a/tin, in that /apa/ity. I refer to it with)o0e he)itan/y" for the rea)on that it )erio-)+y in*o+*e) the /hara/ter an& rep-tation of /ertain 0en who ha&hitherto )too& *ery hi,h in the State of ;i)/on)in" an& whi+e 0y 0e0ory 0ay be at fa-+t a) to the 0inor &etai+) ofthe tran)a/tion" the 0ain fa/t) are 0atter) of hi)tory" whi/h /annot be )-//e))f-++y /ontro*erte&.

Away ba/1 in the ear+y (?)" when the rai+roa&) were p-)hin, their way into the new State" a )/he0e wa)/on/o/te& in /onne/tion with the b-i+&in, of a rai+roa& fro0 Mi+wa-1ee to LaCro))e" whi/h wa) to ,i*e p.8$ thepro0oter) /ertain *a+-ab+e +an&) a+on, the ri,ht of way thro-,h the State of ;i)/on)in. In or&er to /arry o-t thi))/he0e it wa) ne/e))ary to obtain a-thority fro0 the State Le,i)+at-re" an& a bi++ wa) fra0e& e0bo&yin, thene/e))ary +e,i)+ation" whi/h wa) intro&-/e& &-rin, the )e))ion" an& wa) afterwar&) 1nown a) the LaCro))e Lan&rant. The 0ea)-re wa) what i) /o00on+y ter0e& a “)tea+”" an& the pro0oter) we++ 1new that it /o-+& not be

/arrie& thro-,h in the or&inary way. In or&er to fa/i+itate it) pa))a,e a )erie) of bon&) were i))-e& )e/-re& by thi)+an&" whi/h wa) e4/ee&in,+y *a+-ab+e. The bon&) were in &eno0ination) of 3*e tho-)an& &o++ar) ea/h" an& wereinten&e& for &i)trib-tion a0on, the 0e0ber) of the +e,i)+at-re with the p-rpo)e of in5-en/in, their *ote) in fa*orof the bi++. The)e bon&) were =-iet+y pa))e& aro-n& a0on, the 0e0ber) by an a,ent of the )yn&i/ate" an&a//epte&" with the -)-a+ re)-+t" an& the bi++ wa) pa))e& an& )i,ne& by the ,o*ernor" an& th-) be/a0e a +aw. It wa)one of the wor)t /a)e) of who+e)a+e p.'( bribery e*er 1nown in the hi)tory of +e,i)+ation" in*o+*in," a) it &i&" noton+y the 0e0ber) of the Le,i)+at-re" b-t the ,o*ernor hi0)e+f" who re/ei*e& a +ar,e )hare of the bon&).

The fa/t) in /onne/tion with thi) &i),ra/ef-+ pro/ee&in, /a0e to +i,ht )o0e two or three year) afterwar&) in a+e,i)+ati*e in*e)ti,ation" an& re*ea+e& the fa/t that b-t one 0an in the entire a))e0b+y ref-)e& the bribe" an& hi)na0e )tan&) o-t in the hi)tory of the State of ;i)/on)in a) a bri,ht parti/-+ar )tar" where a++ e+)e i) &ar1.

The na0e of that 0an i) C. Latha0 Sho+e). He in&i,nant+y )p-rne& the bribe" whi+e other) a//epte& it" an& with itin )o0e /a)e) +ai& the fo-n&ation of what in tho)e &ay) wo-+& be ter0e& a fort-ne.

Mr. Sho+e) ret-rne& to hi) /ontit-ent) a) poor in p-r)e a) when he +eft the0" b-t he pre)er*e& hi) p-rity an&inte,rity" an& )a/re&+y 1ept in*io+ate the oath whi/h he ha& ta1en when he entere& the ha++) of +e,i)+ation a) a)er*ant of the p-b+i/.

Thro-,ho-t hi) p-re" b+a0e+e)) +ife he /are& nothin, for 0oney" e4/ept a) a 0ean) of pro*i&in, for the )i0p+ewant) of hi) p.' fa0i+y an& hi0)e+f. He on/e re0ar1e& to a frien& in hi) fa/etio-) way that he ha& been tryin, a++hi) +ife to e)/ape fro0 bein, a 0i++ionaire" an& tho-,ht he ha& )-//ee&e& a&0irab+y in that re,ar&.

The +ife of Chri)topher Latha0 Sho+e)" re,ar&e& fro0 the /oar)e an& )or&i& )tan&point of the b-)ine)) wor+& wo-+&not be prono-n/e& a )-//e))" b-t *iewe& fro0 the hi,her an& nob+er )tan&ar& by whi/h a++ h-0an +i*e) are0ea)-re& in the eterna+ year) of o&" hi) +ife wa) a ,ran& an& ,+orio-) )-//e))" far e4/ee&in, a++ the 0ateria+wea+th whi/h ha) been pro&-/e& in thi) a,e of 0-+ti0i++ionaire)" in that he &e*ote& hi) o&D,i*en ,eni-)" not for

)e+3)h ,ain" not for hi) own enri/h0ent at the e4pen)e of other)" b-t for the bene3t of 0an1in&" an& for thewe+fare an& happine)) of f-t-re ,eneration).

APPEN,I- .co"te"ts/

p.'N E4tra/t fro0 the Pro/ee&in,) of the #th Ann-a+ Con*ention of the ationa+ Shorthan& Reporter)?A))o/iation.

Photo,raph of B-ria+ Lot of the In*entor of the Typewriter.

Photo,raph) of Mo&e+) of the Fir)t Typewriter on whi/h the Patent wa) ,rante& 9-+y !th" #8#.

Re)o+-tion) A&opte& at the $th Ann-a+ Con*ention at C+e*e+an&" Creatin, the Sho+e) Mon-0ent Co00i))ion.

APPEN,I-

E4tra/t fro0 the Ann-a+ Pro/ee&in,) of the ationa+ Shorthan& Reporter)? A))o/iation at Phi+a&e+phia" Pa." A-,. 8"$8.



Se/retary ;e++er@

I ha*e a 0atter here whi/h I thin1 wi++ intere)t o-r 0e0ber) an& I pro0i)e to be *ery brief" an& not en/roa/h -ponthe re,-+ar or&er thi) afternoon.

%-rin, o-r (th ann-a+ /on*ention whi/h wa) he+& in Mi+wa-1ee in $(# a n-0ber of o-r 0e0ber) too1 o//a)ionto *i)it a +itt+e 0a/hine )hop in the northern part of the /ity in whi/h wa) /on)tr-/te& the 3r)t typewriter &-rin, the)-00er an& fa++ of #8'.

They fai+e&" howe*er" to *i)it another )pot" no +e)) intere)tin, an& rep+ete with )a/re& 0e0orie) of the 0an who)ein*enti*e ,eni-) 0-)t a+way) +in1 hi) na0e in the en&-rin, /hain of ,reat in*entor) of the nineteenth /ent-ry.

In Fore)t Ho0e Ce0etery" Mi+wa-1ee" )-rro-n&e& by the 0any 0a,ni3/ent an& i0po)in, 0on-0ent) whi/h&i)tin,-i)h p.'' that bea-tif-+ /ity of the &ea&" i) a na0e+e)) ,ra*e" with nothin, to note the )pot" )a*e the

)i0p+e /orner +ot 0ar1er) whi/h are fo-n& on e*ery b-ria+ +ot" p+a/e& there by the /e0etery a-thoritie) to 0ar1 thebo-n&ary +ine that )eparate) it fro0 other +ot).

Probab+y no per)on" e4/ept the few &e)/en&ent) of the fa0i+y wo-+& thin1 of ta1in, the tro-b+e to )ear/h o-t thi)0o&e)t ,ra*e2 an& yet beneath the )-n1en 0o-n& are the bone) of one who)e in*enti*e ,eni-) ,a*e to the wor+&that won&erf-+ 0e/hani)0 1nown a) the typewriter.

It wa) hi) brain that /on/ei*e& the 0ain feat-re) of an in*ention whi/h ha) +i,htene& the +abor an& a&&e& to the

/o0fort an& happine)) of /o-nt+e)) tho-)an&) of yo-n, 0en an& wo0en who are to&ay earnin, an in&epen&ent+i*e+ihoo& in 3e+&) of -)ef-+ne)) /reate& by thi) in*ention3e+&) of +abor far e4/ee&in, the 0o)t )an,-inee4pe/tation of the patient in*entor who wa) )tr-,,+in, to pro&-/e a 0e/hani)0 whi/h ha) to&ay fo-n& it) way intoe*ery part of the /i*i+i7e& ,+obe.

Cr-&e an& /-0bro-) a) wa) the 3r)t atte0pt at re&-/in, to a pra/ti/a+ wor1in, 0o&e+ the pro&-/t of hi) brain"ne*erthe+e)) the 0ain prin/ip+e of the in*ention wa) there" an& it &i& it) wor1" &e)pite the 0any han&i/ap) that&e*e+ope& &-rin, it) p.'# /on)tr-/tion in the +itt+e wor1)hop that ,a*e it birth.

The in*entor not on+y /on/ei*e& the 0ain prin/ip+e) of the in*ention" b-t at the )a0e ti0e /hri)tene& it" by ,i*in,it a na0e" whi/h )o-n&e& o&&+y eno-,h at the ti0e" b-t ha) )in/e be/o0e a ho-)eho+& wor& thro-,ho-t the wor+&"“The Typewriter.”

He perfe/te& hi) in*ention )o far a) po))ib+e with the r-&e 0a/hinery in the han&) of wor10en -n)1i++e& in the0an-fa/t-re of it) 0o)t &e+i/ate part)" an& patient+y +abore& in an e6ort to /on)tr-/t a 0a/hine that wo-+&a//o0p+i)h the wor1 an& 0eet with fa*or with the p-b+i/" ai&e& in the 3r)t p+a/e by the pe/-niary a))i)tan/e of afrien& who)e intere)t wa) en+i)te& to the e4tent of f-rni)hin, the ne/e))ary f-n&) for the 3r)t tria+ of the in*ention"an& afterwar&) pra/ti/a++y )a/ri3/in, hi) own 0o&e)t ho0e in or&er to pro/-re f-rther f-n&) for /arryin, on thewor1" -nti+ he wa) /o0pe++e& to t-rn it o*er to a fa/tory in the ea)t" who)e 3ne wor1 in )tee+ 3na++y bro-,ht it to a0ar1etab+e )ta,e" after whi/h he )ti++ /ontin-e& the wor1 of perfe/tin, )o0e of it) 0o)t intri/ate part)" proppe& -pin hi) be& &-rin, the +a)t )ta,e) of a +in,erin, i++ne))" ne*er /ea)in, hi) wor1" -p to the ti0e of hi) &eath.

S-/h" in brief" i) the )tory of the 0an an& hi) wor1He &ie& a poor 0an" )o far a) the wor+&?) wea+th i) /on/erne&.He +eft a herita,e that ha) been the 0a1in, of 0i++ionaire) an& ha) b+e))e& the +i*e) of h-n&re&) of tho-)an&) oftoi+er) in the wor+&?) wor1.It ha) been to 0e a 0atter of ,reat re,ret that I wa) -nab+e to pre)er*e the 3r)ttypewriter whi/h wa) )ent o-t of the )hop an& )hippe& to St. Lo-i) in the winter of #8'D#" b-t whi/h wa) )oonafterwar&) re/a++e& by the in*entor to be rep+a/e& by another 0a/hine with *ario-) 0e/hani/a+ i0pro*e0ent)" an&

it wa) not -nti+ two year) a,o that I +earne& that the ori,ina+ 0o&e+ -pon whi/h the patent wa) ,rante& in 9-+y#8#" wa) )ti++ in e4i)ten/e" an& in pa))in, thro-,h ;a)hin,ton on 0y way to o-r At+anti/ City /on*ention in $!.I arran,e& to ha*e the 0o&e+ re0o*e& fro0 the wareho-)e an& -npa/1e& for in)pe/tion" an& ha*in, )e/-re& the)er*i/e) of a ;a)hin,ton photo,rapher we )-//ee&e& in pro/-rin, two e4/e++ent *iew) of the 0a/hine" whi/h arehere o6ere& for yo-r in)pe/tion.



C-t n-0ber one i) a )i&e *iew )howin, the 1eyboar& with /onne/tin, wire) r-nnin, &own" an& fa)tene& to tri*et)"with wire) /onne/te& at the other en& of the tri*et)" an& fro0 then/e r-nnin, -p to the 0a/hine an& /onne/te&with the type bar). It a+)o )how) the /+o/1 wor1 0e/hani)0 with wei,ht atta/he&" whi/h wa) afterwar&) rep+a/e&by the )prin, 0otor.

C-t o. Thi) i) a top *iew" )howin, the bra)) &i)1" )+otte& an& /onne/te& with the type bar)" a+)o the p+aten"/on)i)tin, of a 0eta+ bar ri,i&+y fa)tene& to the fra0e of the 0a/hine" an& e4ten&in, to the /enter of the apert-rein the &i)1 with )-:/ient /o00on )-rfa/e for ea/h +etter to )tri1e at a /o00on /enter2 a+)o )howin, the 5at paperfra0e 0o*in, p.# beneath the ribbon an& p+aten" the paper bein, /+a0pe& at ea/h /orner of the fra0e. Theribbon 0o*e0ent apparat-) ha*in, been +o)t or 0i)+ai& i) not )hown on the 0o&e+. It /on)i)te& of )poo+) fa)tene&on ea/h )i&e of the fra0e" atta/he& to the /arria,e 0o*e0ent in )-/h 0anner a) to 0o*e an& pre)ent a fre)h)-rfa/e with ea/h )tro1e of the 1ey" an& a-to0ati/a++y re*er)in, when the en& of the ribbon wa) rea/he&. Short+yafter ret-rnin, fro0 the At+anti/ City /on*ention I wrote to the &ire/tor of the S0ith)onian In)tit-te at ;a)hin,ton")-,,e)tin, that they obtain po))e))ion of the 0o&e+ whi/h wa) then +yin, e4po)e& in the ba)e0ent of the PatentO:/e b-i+&in," an& +iab+e to in-ry" an& re/ei*e& in rep+y a note fro0 the &ire/tor with than1) for the infor0ation"an& pro0i)in, to ta1e the 0atter -p with the Interior %epart0ent" with the *iew to )e/-rin, the 0o&e+" an& I tr-)tthat it i) now )afe+y repo)in, with other *a+-ab+e re+i/) in the In)tit-te.

ow" re/-rrin, to that na0e+e)) ,ra*e" we o+& 0en are in the habit )o0eti0e) of &rea0in, &rea0) an& )eein,

*i)ion)" an& I thin1 I )ee a *i)ion in the not far &i)tant f-t-re when abo*e tho)e )a/re& re0ain) wi++ ari)e a bea-tif-+0on-0ent of 0arb+e" in whi/h i) )et a bron7e tab+et" bearin, in ba)e re+ief the )tron, feat-re) of a 0an of p.#Nthe type of E+ia) Howe of )ewin, 0a/hine fa0e" with the in)/ription.

Documents

The Early History of the Typewriter