The Evolution of Typewriters

The first concept of the typewriter was produced way back in the 1700's. But I am going to show a brief history of the evolution of the typewriters starting from the 1800's. 

1800's
- The first concept sketch typewriter in the 1800's was by William Austin Burt. This was produced in the year 1829 and was known as "The Typographer". It was identified as the first documented "index" typewriter. 

1829

- Then there was the 'writing machine' designed by Christopher Sholes, Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soule in the year 1867. This led to the production of the first typewriter.

1867

- The first successful typewriter was produced by Rasmu Malling-Hansen named as the "Writing Ball" in the year 1870. It has an oddly looking design; the article said that it is like a "pincushion" and to be honest, I agree.

1870

- Later, the same designers as the "writing machine", Sholes and Gidden (S&G) designed another floral designed typewriter named after them but production started in the year 1873 and went on the market in America a year later. This typewriter can type only in capital letters and it was imported the first QWERTY keyboard. 

1873

- 'The Caligraph', produced in the year 1880 was the second typewriter which was on the market in America. It is has similarity to the previous typewriter: they are both understoke typebar typrewriters and both type only in capital letters. 

1880

- Continuing the research on history typewriters, below is shown the next produced typewriter which was known as "The Hammond" (1884). It is the first curvy designed typewriter in the 1800's. The name "Hammond" comes from the word 'hammer', the reason is because the paper is hit against the shuttle by a hammer. 

1884

- The next typewriter, produced in 1895 was the most popular during that time. Millions of this model were produced. By the 1920's all the typewriters became similar or as the article says "look-alikes". They all had: QWERTY keyboard, frontstroke, typebar machines printing through the ribbon, using one shift key and four banks of keys. With this model, the typewriters begain to gain dominance.

1895

1900's

- This is a unique typewriter which sold over a million model of this typewriter in just 32 years. It is called "Oliver Visible Typewriter" produced in the U.S. It was wildly popular for offices between the 1900's and 1910's.

1914

- 1935 - First electric typewriter

1935

IBM Models:

- 1946

1946

- 1951

1951

- 1962

1962

- 1964

1964

- 1971

1971

- 1974

1974

- 1980

Wheel-writer

1980

- 1988

1988

- 1993

1993

References:

1800's: 

- Richard Polt, 1995, 'A Brief History of Typewriters' [ONLINE] Available at: http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-history.html [Accessed at 24 January 2014]

1900's: 

- Early Office Museum, 2000, 'The Earliest Writing Machines' [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.officemuseum.com/typewriters.htm [Accessed at 24 January 2014]

- Batchelor Business Machines, 2000, 'History of the IBM Typewriters' [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.etypewriters.com/history.htm [Accessed at 24 January 2014]