History of the Typewriter

— 26 — pressed down, and locked the disc against further move- ment, whilst extended pressure thereon effected the printing. On the first of June, 1852, John Jones, of Clyde, N. Y., had issued to him a patent for a machine which seemed in many respects to anticipate the course of later inventions. Fig. 12 The illustration of this machine, which was called a Mechani- cal Typographer, shows very clearly the form which it assumed, and the details are set out with unusual per- spicuity in the specification. The inventor says :— “ The nature of my invention consists in placing upon the periphery of a wheel, the several kinds of type used in ordinary printing, said type having the different forms of letters, with numeral signs, marks of punctuation, etc. These types are placed vertically upon the periphery of a wheel which is horizontal and has two motions, one motion in the direction of its axis, which is vertical, and also a rotating motion. The paper upon which the types are pressed and leave their impression is placed or fastened upon a cylinder in any proper manner. This cylinder is mounted on a carriage underneath the horizontal wheel above mentioned, the carriage running upon ways, and so arranged that the upper surface of the cylinder is a short distance below the face of the type when the horizontal wheel is not depressed. The cylinder also has two motions, one motion in the direction of its axis, and a rotating motion. The horizontal wheel is made to rotate, and is also depressed by means of a lever. Surrounding the horizontal wheel there is a circular rack, having a rim on its lower