History of the Typewriter

— 93 — The most essential feature of the machine was a large comb, made of brass, which passed right round the type- basket of the machine, and which served as a guide to the type-bar in its journey to the printing point. True alignment was thus said to be preserved. The same idea had been incorporated in the International machine, already described, and was a development of the peculiar form of type-bar hanger adopted in the Sholes-Glidden typewriter. Theoretically, this comb was all that could be desired, but after some amount of practice, the type- bars would be found to wear the sides of the comb, and the true alignment was thus thrown out. The roughening of the comb also caused stickiness, which the slightest speck of dust accentuated, and the machine became very slow of operation. In other respects, the Hartford was a good machine. It had a lateral ribbon feed, and an automatic reverse, which worked with unfailing accuracy. The platen did not swing, as in the Smith Premier, nor did the carriage lift, as in the Remington, but there was a little contriv- ance, which, if depressed, caused the platen to rise automatically. Only two degrees of line spacing were provided for. There was a pointer, which served to indicate where the next letter would print, as well as show the position of the foot of such letter. One could therefore use ruled paper with unfailing accuracy. Means were provided for lessening the pressure on the feed roll, in order to permit of the insertion of a large number of sheets for carbon work. The types were concave, and were cut very deeply, so that the machine could be used for a considerable time before the type required cleaning. It was a very good stencil cutter, and did magnificent carbon work. The materials used in the manufacture of the Hartford were in every respect equal to those employed in more expensive instruments, and a little book of certificates to this effect is issued. The instrument was very big and heavy, but apart from this, and the wear of the comb, there seemed to be no radical defect in it. When the Hartford was first put upon the market, the price at which it was offered was fixed at ten guineas. This sum was speedily raised to twelve guineas, and after a year or so, another rise took place to fifteen guineas, but if the machine were purchased on instalments, the price was to be twenty-one pounds, because, as the catalogue quaintly put it, “ that is the proper price ! ” and finally it dropped again to twelve guineas.