History of the Typewriter

— 133 — capital letters. It can be locked to print capitals or figures continuously. The types are made, not in metal, but in hardened vulcanite. The difficulty in the machine is the inking arrangement, in order to re-ink the roller, a few drops of the special ink are spread on a piece of glass or stiff paper, and the roller rubbed over it. Should the roller be made too wet, the ink is apt to splash all over the paper. Fig. 108 The first patent in respect of the Fitch, was made about twenty years since, and various improvements were subsequently made. On the machine being placed on the American market, it failed to meet with success. The right to manufacture was thereupon granted to an English company, and machines were made in London. Whilst so made, a form of the machine was produced employing script letters (not italics, but round hand), the work turned out on this machine presented an exceedingly attractive appearance. For some reason, however, either on account of the inking device, or possibly by reason of the terrible clatter which’ the machine made when being operated with any degree of speed, or it may be because of its peculiar keyboard, the Fitch failed to make its way, and the company ceased operations. At the sale which took place at the factory machines were sold at amusingly low prices, and somebody must have been very heavy losers. The Fitch claimed to have been the first machine which permitted the writing to be executed in sight of the operator, and its weight was only eleven pounds.