History of the Typewriter

—194— Fig. 143. smaller roller is also pivotted, and when the machine is at rest, its natural position is in the spot indicated. On the type-bar moving to the printing point, it takes off from this small roller sufficient ink to make the impression, and then throws it against the ink supply, where it takes up just enough colour to supply the next character, and no more. It is thus almost impossible to get such an excess of ink as will smear the work, and the result is that the writing executed on the Sun typewriter is amongst the most beautiful which any typewriting machine ever has, or does, or ever can, turn out. The ink supply will hold an enormous quantity of ink, and can be replenished in a twinkling by pouring a few drops through the circular openings. The illustration of this machine also snows, although not too clearly, the shift-key. This is a peculiar arrange- ment, a touch to the left raising the carriage two steps for figures, or a touch to the right putting it in the position for capitals. Fig. 144.