History of the Typewriter

—211— a line finder permitting of ruled lines being “ hit ” exactly, and of course thejplaten could be revolved in any desired direction. In criticising previous machines on the upward strike principle, the makers remark: “ Without exception all visible writers heretofore placed upon the market have been recognised as inferior to the old standard blind machines, in action, speed, and durability, and in their enforced use of a very narrow ribbon_________So far, in all the ‘ Visibles ’ yet brought out, whether top strike or front strike, the printing ribbon is shifted edgewise into the path of the typebar before each stroke in order to print, then shifted out of it again in order to disclose what has been printed to the eye. The ribbon therefore con- stantly shifts with each stroke of the keys, and this shift must be effected by the pressure of the Ungers of the operator, which must overcome the sliding friction and inertia of the ribbon shifter and the resistance of its restoring springs. We have found that by lowering the piinting line below the centre of the platen and swinging back the ribbon somewhat from the platen, it passes below the line of vision, and the operator can see all that has been printed without shifting it edgewise at all. This arrangement gives at once all the identical conditions of the ribbon movements which have worked so admirably for many years in the old style blind typewriter. The key action is entirely freed from the sluggishness of a sliding- ribbon shift and the back swing of the ribbon itself acts as a light spring to start the type back from the ribbon point. At the same time, a ribbon broad enough for three tracks can be used, and it can be shifted entirely out of the way for cutting stencils.” It seems a little curious, however, that whilst objection should be raised, as we have seen in the case of the Victor, and shall see again in the description of the Triumph, to machines of this class because they do not print high enough, the present machine should remedy the defect y printing lower. The swinging ribbon carrier device was used on the Brooks typewriter, and other machines. There are no crooked typebars on the machine, and tne fact that the hangers were carried back under the P aten prevented any dust or grit from erasures, etc., incling its way into the bearings. Very strong bearings Weie provided, both sides of the segment being utilised or assembling the bars, thus getting over the difficulty VV iich so long stood in the way, owing to the limitation