History of the Typewriter

—243— CHAPTER X . Index Machines. ALL the time that the typewriter was making a name for itself, there was an undercurrent of simpler construction at work, which sought to popularise by cheapening. These machines were termed “ one hand ” or “ index ” machines, but in view of the immense strides made by other inventors on standard lines, whereby keyboard machines were made at prices little if anything in excess of that charged for index machines, the latter gradually died out. By the mere nature of things, no “ index ” machine can for a moment compete with the keyboard machines in the matter of speed, but it must be confessed, if speed be eliminated from the comparison, many of the index machines are capable of turning out work fully up to the standard of beauty as presented by the best of the larger makes. The general piinciples upon which the index machines are based, may be stated briefly, as follows: The types are usually cast in one piece, either on a strip of rubber or metal. By means of a pointer they are brought over or opposite the printing point, as denoted by a printed slip or index in front of the machine. This having been found by one hand, the other is used to depress a lever, which either causes the type to move towards the paper, or the paper towards the type. The inking is generally effected y means of a small ink roller (or two), which continually presses against the type slip. According to the manner in which the types are formed, index machines may be divided into four groups, viz. :— (a) Typewheels (as Columbia, Simplex, etc.) (b) Type Slips (as Odell, Sun, etc.) (c) Type Plates (as Hall, Century, etc.) (<Z) Movable Types (as Merritt, Ingersoll, etc.)