History of the Typewriter

—255— twelve inches long, eight wide, and three and a half high, and holds paper eight and a half inches wide. Impressions are direct from the characters. An iron post holds the frame, seen extending from front of this frame is a series of teeth ; above and opposite the interstices between these teeth being displayed the characters in use, as may be plainly discerned in the cut. In front of the row of teeth is a groove, hinging at the back of the frame, holding a slide, and being perforated at several points on its under- side. On the bottom of the slide is a row of characters electrotyped from printers’ type, corresponding with those shown on the frame, as referred to. Attached to the top of the slide is a casting projecting over either side, affording finger hold on the right end, and on the left being filed to a knife edge beneath. The slide works back and forth by application of the fingers, and the knife edge ranges over the teeth. The paper is inserted behind a kid covered roller, and held against it by a metal clip in front and a wire above. It moves backward or forward by action of the fingers on the button shown at the right end. The roller stands on a simple frame, in ways, and having a ratchet connection in front with the frame above. Ink is supplied from several small felt rollers held at the perforations under the type slide. Printing is effected by depressing the groove, when the knife edge passes between the teeth under it and opposite the selected character, which appears at the perforation under the type slide over the roller and impresses. The bearing down on the groove acts as the ratchet connection, moving the paper a space to the left, and the groove is lifted by a common spring. But one alphabet is used and one style of type. The Simplex. This was a very paltry invention, launched in London some years ago. It consisted of a brass wheel mounted perpendicularly on an upright post. Attached to the wheel was a slip of rubber, having the I characters cast on the face. The pivot of the wheel passed through a slot in the post, and was pulled upward by means of an indiarubber band. The wheel was revolved by means of a small knob, and then forced downward on to the paper. Capital letters only were printed. The inking was by means of a small ink roller. The price was ios. 6d. The stock passed, on the collapse of the company, into the hands of fancy dealers, who sold the machine at 3s. 6d. A Simplex is now being advertised at 12s. 6d., but we do not know whether it is the same machine.