History of the Typewriter

— 18 — for what he called a “ typographer.” Unfortunately, there occurred a great fire at Washington in 1836, and all records and descriptions of this machine were then destroyed. M. X. Progin was the next to move. This gentle- man, a native of Marseilles, took out letters patent for a “ typographic machine or pen.” The most successful machines of to-day employ practically the same principles as were embodied in Progin’s instrument. It was the first to use typebars, and the illustration shows clearly the manner in which they worked. There is the . base board, upon which the paper rests flat. On a suitable frame work, supported by posts, will be seen the typebar circle, and a series of hooked wires were connected to the typebars, the sole difference being, that instead of having buttons, the ends of the connecting wires were hooked. It will be seen by the front rack, that the machine travelled over the framework from right to left, as the line was gradually filled, and downward, from top to bottom, as each line was typed. This movement of the typebar and the carriage-way and linespace racks are embodied, as we shall see hereafter, in one of the most elaborate instruments on the market at the present day. Fig. 5 Progin’s efforts appear to have stimulated invention in France, and a number of other inventions were protected. These do not, however, appear to have advanced the art very much, but an attempt to perfect a machine was made in 1836, of which an illustration is herewith, which bears the impress of considerable originality. It will be seen that it nearly fills an entire table. The types were arranged round a circular top plate, the selected letter being brought