History of the Typewriter

—239— Volks-Schriebmaschine. A very simple index machine issued by Fritz Rehmann, of Karlsruhe, in Baden. Westphalia. Among the typewriters of foreign invention was the Westphalia, invented by Mr. E. W. Brackels- burg, of Germany. On this machine it was said that all modern languages could be written, the alphabet con- sisting of eighty-six characters, including the French accented vowels. No ribbon was employed with this machine, but a paper coloured on both sides was placed over the letter, and over this a thinner sheet of paper was placed, so that the print could be seen. In this way it was claimed that ten or twelve copies could be taken at one writing. The machine, however, has scarcely been heard of in England or America, and if manufactured, its sale was confined to the local part of Germany in which it is manufactured. Mercedes. This machine, which has its head quarters at Berlin, is a very fine piece of workmanship, and is, as the illustration shows, built on the front stroke plan. A great feature is, that by the loosening of a couple of screws, Fig. 172. I the whole of the keys, levers, and typebars may be brought away, and a different style or size substituted, so that, in a way, the machine may be said to have interchangeable type. In this it follows the Daugherty, and others of its type. The machine is fitted with a tabulator, and a device for indicating the approach of the “ letzte zeil ” or last line of writing—a very useful adjunct to the machine. The makers have taken every care to provide a complete and thoroughly practicable instrument, with, we believe; more than the usual amount of success.