History of the Typewriter

— 168 — typewriter having visible writing, universal keyboard, capable of operating on the pages of bound books of any size or thickness, and weighing but fourteen pounds. The principle of the machine reverses that adopted in letter writers—the book remains stationary ; only the typewriter moves across the page at every touch of the key, down the page on two slender rails by touching a If the Fisher machine were simply a book typewriter, it would probably be considered a notable invention ; but besides being a perfect book typewriter, it will do all the work that is accomplished by any letter typewriter, and possesses points of advantage even as a letter writer that are of much value. One of these is that it permits letter writing being done direct on the pages of a letter impression book, with the use of a. carbon sheet, saving the time neces- sary where the letter-press is resorted to, insuring legible instead of blurred copies, and avoiding danger of loss of loose sheets where the loose carbon sheet system is used. Its use as a letter writer, however, is not confined to its operating in books, for it will write as^easily on loose sheets as any other machine. An immense field of usefulness is also opened out for the Fisher, in consequence of its power as an invoicing and day-book entry machine. The great power of manifolding which the firm platen yields, permits of many copies being made simultaneously, so that on receipt of an order a single operation will permit of an acknowledgment being typed, and at the same time all other necessary forms for manufacturing, packing, shipping, invoices, etc., but this branch of the subject lies somewhat beyond our present scope. The Gorin Tabulator, to which reference should be. made, is an exceedingly simple and. ingenious device whereby the carriage may be made to travel rapidly to any desired place according to a pre-arranged plan. It consists prac- tically of three parts, no-moly the keys, the connecting' rods, and the rear portion which forms the tabular proper. This latter is a. notched scale-bar, attached to the rear of the machine. This sca.le-b<ir is marked in similar manner to the usual sc3,le-b<ir, and is provided with a. number (generally four, but more may be used) of little stops, which may be placed in such position as may be desired/ Then by merely pressing the key or plunger to the left of the keys, the ordinary spacing mechanism is thrown out of older, and the carriage flies along until it is arrested by