History of Typewriter and its Evolution

History of Typewriter

The need of inventing a typewriter machine was first thought of as an aid for the blind. But with the development of science and technology it has already acquired the status of an indispensable writing tool for every office and organisation.

The first ever typing machine was invented during 1714 in England, but it was hardly worth the name. Almost a century after in 1829, William Austin Burt of U.S.A devised another model of typing machine styled as Burt typographer. However, it also failed to deliver the desird goods.

In 1833, Xavier Progin of France, produced a machine with a circular type basket. Subsequently G. Ravizza also designed the ’17 model’ type machine with Ribbon Inking system. But these machines were not also up to the expectation.

Father Of Typewritters

Sincere efforts were, therefore, continued to improve upon the typing machine. On 23rd June, 1868, Christopher Letham Sholes, an American Engineer invented the Sholes Densmore Typewriter which virtually was the first practical model of typewriter. The typewriters we use to day are the modified form the Sholes Typewriter and hence, Christopher Letham Sholes is recognised as the ‘Father Of Typewritters’.

Sholes typewritter looked like a sewing machine. As there was no shift key system, only capital letters and figures could be typed through this machine. Due to its peculiar positioning of keys, the type bars were getting often jammed. Moreover the typed matter was not visible as the type bars were striking below the platen.

The history, however, records the credit of M/S Remington & Sons of America towards improving the Sholes Typewriter remarkably. They introduced the device of Shift Key as well as Viewing or Sight system into the typewriter. Through shift Key, both capital and small letters along with signs and punctuation marks could be types easily, inted of only Capital letters. Viewing or Sight system advantaged a Typist to see as to what he was typing and identify his mistakes, if any.

Evolution

But, it is the problem of speed typing that continued to stay on until 1878 when Mc. Gureen introduced the sensational ‘Touch System’ or ‘Touch Method’. It enabled a typist to type at a much faster rate without looking th the key board and raised the status of a typewritter to an indispensable writing tool of todays offices and organisations. Yet the evolution of typewriters did not cease.

Today we find Noiseless, Electric, Electronic and computerised word processors in operation which are nothing but development over Sholes typewriter only.