History of the Typewriter

— 65 — at Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A., and according to the prospectus, the makers claim to have a machine which will answer the demands of the most exacting operator, and which, being built upon well-tried principles, will not involve any experimenting with at the expense of the operator. Its essential features are stated to be its light-running powers ' Fig. 50 (in consequence of which it was dubbed “ The Light-Running Fox ”), brought about largely by the free introduction of ball-bearings at many of the frictional points, the carriage especially being supported on and guided by hardened and ground steel balls. It also had a peculiar form of escape- ment, which was called the speed escapement. By the turn of a small lever, the ordinary method of escapement was thrown out of gear, and the secondary one brought into play. To understand the effect of this, it will be necessary to ask the reader to try a little experiment. If he will place his finger on any key of an ordinary machine, he will notice that, in the first place, the type rises (or falls) to the platen. When pressure is released, the type falls to rest, and the platen moves. It will thus be perceived that the sequence of events is, ist, depression ; 2nd, release ; and 3rd, movement. But with the speed escapement,, the carriage moves simultaneously with the depression of the key, so that movement and depression proceed together. When impact is complete, and the pressure taken off the key, the carriage has already shifted, and will remain still until the next key is struck. It will be seen by this that the time which would otherwise be occupied by the move- ment of the carriage is not required, and that the caution,, so strongly insisted upon, to await the return of one key 5