History of the Typewriter

—204— The Royal Grand is fitted with a tabulator, or jumper, enabling the carriage to pass rapidly to any predetermined fixed point, which may be called the decimal point. But to enable the operator to go back to the left of the decimal point, a back-spacer key is provided, so that after pressing the tabulator-key (which, by the way, is fitted with a brake which controls the velocity of its movement) the operator can at once go back again by means of the back spacer. Thus— To write .00 use the tabulator key ,, i.00 ditto, and back-spacer once ,, 11.00 ditto, ,, twice and so on. In order to write fractions, or other letters or signs out of the line, a device called the Exponent is provided. This attachment acts as a back spacer to the platen, and sends it back so as to permit of the execution of such compounds as e5 25 HO2 etc. Another clever and useful feature is the power to move the scale-bar up to the foot of the writing line in order to facilitate, with the aid of the revolving platen, the execution of writing on ruled lines, filling in printed forms, and so on. The Royal Grand carries a two-coloured ribbon, either half of which can be brought into operation by means of a small pull lever on the keyboard, and the same lever will also serve to throw the ribbon entirely out of com- mission when the machine is required for stencilling work. The type is guided to- the printing point and locked during the act of printing. The usual feed roll release, carriage and platen releases, and sliding paper guides are provided, the latter being adjustable to the thickness of paper in the machine. The margins are easily set, and the carriage stops dead on return without rebound, but the carriage may be driven over the margin blocks whenever required. Another very valuable and interesting feature is the great length of line which can be written, no less than one hundred letters and spaces being provided for in the ordinary model. The second machine built by the Royal Typewriter Co., is illustrated on the next page. In its general construction, it follows closely upon the machine before mentioned, but it is, of course, not so fully equipped with accessories and refinements as the more expensive model. This lower- priced machine is already on the English market. It does yery good work, and is rapid in operation,