History of the Typewriter

— 130 — which direct the type to its true position and hold it during its stay at the printing point. F is the paper roll. On the depression of a key, the further end of the lever rises, and carrying with it the forked end of the “ T ” lever B, throws the top end forward. As this top end engages in the slot in CC it is obvious that in its movement it carries with it the type-bar. The effect of this is clearly shown in Figure 2. On the pressure being taken off the finger-key, the small spring shown between A and B presses in the notch or shoulder of A, and, forcing it down, causes the whole movement to revert to the original position. It is worthy of note that at the moment of printing the type-bar is held firmly in the first place by passing through a slot at C2, then by passing under the framework of the machine shown between C2 and C3. It next passes through a comb at C3, and finally reaches the printing point as before mentioned, where it is held by EE against all move- ment, either upward or downward, or to the right or left. The bar is thus locked, “ lock, stock and barrel.” The type itself is firmly rivetted to the type-bar, so that the very annoying sympton so frequently met with in some machines when they begin to grow old, of having their types fall out, is one which, however old an Empire may be, will not arise. It is also to be noticed that, owing to the manner in which the types are mounted, it is im- possible for two colliding bars to result in damage either to the face of the type, or the alignment, or the machine itself. The whole movement of the machine may be seen by unscrewing the two small milled edge screws on the top of the machine, and removing the top plate. Beneath the top plate will be seen the bars arranged on their knife edges. It will be seen that the distance from the type end of the bar to the printing point is only a couple of inches. This small space is the only distance over which they have to travel, so that the movement is very short and rapid, and, necessarily, light. It has been urged that in comparison with some machines where the type bar is made to swing on a pivot and is four inches long, and has to sweep upward or downward through a quarter circle of say six inches, the Empire movement is scarcely perceptible, and the strain and wear and tear exceedingly minute. The carriage is easily removable for the purpose of cleaning or repair. The paper is fed from a shelf at the