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An portrait of Alexander T. Brown the inventor of the Smith Premier typewriter.

Alexander T. Brown

An portrait of Alexander T. Brown the inventor of the Smith Premier typewriter.

A typewriter is a mechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper.

Type Writing Machine

A typewriter is a mechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause characters to be…

A production of stenography; anything written in shorthand; To write or report in stenographic characters

Desk for Stenograph

A production of stenography; anything written in shorthand; To write or report in stenographic characters

There were minor variations from one manufacturer to another, but most typewriters followed the concept that each key was attached to a type bar that had the corresponding letter molded. To have letters typed in exact location, the type bar was guided all its way till the ribbon by segment. When a key was struck briskly and firmly, the type bar hit an inked fabric stretched in front of a cylindrical platen that moved back and forth. The paper was rolled around by the typewriter's platen, which was then rotated by the "carriage return" lever into position for each new line of text

Type Writing Machine

There were minor variations from one manufacturer to another, but most typewriters followed the concept…

Royal typewriter, 1919.

Typewriter

Royal typewriter, 1919.

R. F. T. Allen's original model of the typewriter.

Typewriter

R. F. T. Allen's original model of the typewriter.

"A Typewriter is a machine fitted with types which print by a pressure on the keys with the fingers. The principle, briefly stated, is that of a series of rods pivoted to keyed rods, similar to the action of a pianoforte, the ends of the rods carrying the characters of the alphabet and all striking on a common center. There is a self-inking arrangement, and several minor improvements have been added in recent years, bringing the invention to a high state of perfection. The writing machine called the typewriter was invented at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1867, by C. Latham Sholes, Samuel W. Soule, and Carlos Glidden."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Typewriter

"A Typewriter is a machine fitted with types which print by a pressure on the keys with the fingers.…

A machine for producing printed characters as a substitute for writing, and now employed very extensively in all countries of the world.

Typewriter

A machine for producing printed characters as a substitute for writing, and now employed very extensively…

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. For much of the 20th century, typewriters were indispensable tools for many professional writers and in business offices. By the end of the 1980s, word processor applications on personal computers had largely replaced the tasks previously accomplished with typewriters. Typewriters, however, remain popular in the developing world and among some niche markets, and for some office tasks.

Typewriter

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause…

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. From their invention before 1870 through much of the 20th century, typewriters were indispensable tools for many professional writers and in business offices. By the end of the 1980s, word processor applications on personal computers had largely replaced the tasks previously accomplished with typewriters. Typewriters, however, remain popular in the developing world and among some niche markets, and for some office tasks.

Typewriter and Adding Machine

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause…

A 19th century generic typewriter.

Caligraph Typewriter

A 19th century generic typewriter.

Any of various machines for writing characters similar to those made by printers’ types, especially a machine in which the characters are produced by steel types striking the paper through an inked ribbon with the types being actuated by corresponding keys on a keyboard and the paper being held by a platen that is automatically moved along with a carriage when a key is struck.

Early Design Typewriter

Any of various machines for writing characters similar to those made by printers’ types, especially…

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. For much of the 20th century, typewriters were indispensable tools for many professional writers and in business offices. By the end of the 1980s, word processor applications on personal computers had largely replaced the tasks previously accomplished with typewriters. Typewriters, however, remain popular in the developing world and among some niche markets, and for some office tasks.

Open Typewriter

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause…