History of the Typewriter

— 19 — into position by the movement of a pointer, which was then pressed home through an opening in the plate. We shall see, in the chapter devoted to index machines, how A TYPEWRITER OF 1836 Fig. 6 this idea has been worked out, even within the last few years, in a number of one hand or index machines. We have now to again cross the Atlantic. During the years 1843 to 1845, Charles Thurber directed his genius to the subject, and the result was the production of a machine which was capable of actual work. On page 16 is a repro- duction of a letter written by Thurber to his patent agents. Of the machine itself, the Remington Typewriter Co. have a model which was prepared from the original instructions. The view of this machine will convey a fair impression of the manner in which it was operated. A circular gallery or wheel, mounted on an upright post and capable of being revolved at will, carried round its periphery a series of three groups of keys or pistons, at the upper end of each of which was a mother-o’-pearl button or key top. The lower end had engraved on it the character corre- sponding with that shown on the button. In order to write, the wheel was revolved to the required position, where it was held in check by a guide placed at the printing point. The button was then depressed, and the type struck against a pad impregnated with the proper ink, and then passed on to the paper, where it left its impression.