History of the Typewriter

—261— unworkable proportions. Compactness of keyboard is a positive essential if typewriting is to be executed at the highest speeds. Bonita Ball Bearing. The same machine as the Sholes- Visible (q.v.) Boston. Another name for the World typewriter. The Burns Typewriter. An American made type-bar machine, using a ribbon. In response to our request for further details, the makers say We have never had any catalogues or descriptions of the machine published and at present could not furnish you with the information that you ask for, and can only say that this letter is written on a machine that has been in constant service for eight years without any repairs, and must leave you to judge whether the machine does good work or not.” As the letter shows a perfect alignment and a good firm impression, this unparalleled modesty on the part of the Burns Typewriter Co. seems much to be regretted. Carmona, M. S., of Mexico City, Mexico, took out in 1900 two patents on typewriting machines employing but five keys and two key-levers. The machine of these patents is adapted to print ninety-three characters, having its type-faces mounted on a type-wheel, and the operation of different keys causing the type-wheel to rotate a pre-deter- mined number of spaces before making its impression. Consequently, the printing operation is effected by simul- taneously depressing some, any or all of the keys to make a single impression, and perhaps manipulating one or other of the key-levers as well. Cash’s Typograph. This machine was placed on the American market about the year 1890, but it did not have any very prolonged career. We are informed that it resembled the Bar-Lock in many respects, since the keys were arranged in the segment of a circle, and stood erect, striking down to the central printing point. The ribbon was carried on two spools, and as these spools were outside the type segment, a very great area was exposed at a time. The machine worked with a single shift-key. According to the English specification No. 14,860 of ist November, 1887, means were provided whereby the platen could be perfectly flat, being in fact a frame having stretched across it a sheet of leather, and the framework moved in the same way as the ordinary carriage travels, and then upward between lines. It was, therefore, a flat platen machine, and to this extent anticipated the theory of the modern book typewriters.