The Typewriter
It might truly be said that the typewriter was
one small invention that made a big difference. To understand how big the
difference was, try to imagine what it was like when businesses had to write
everything by hand. Every letter, every report, every
bill, every memo — all had to be written by hand.
In the early 1800's, many inventors
tried to make a machine that would take the place of so much
handwriting. In 1867, an American, Christopher Sholes,
decided to build a writing machine. His first experimental machine
printed one letter—W. Sholes began working with two other inventors, Carlos
Gliddon and Samuel Soule. In 1868, these three men
designed the first typewriter. Their invention had 11 keys which typed only
capital letters. Sholes continued to improve the invention.
In 1874, a company put the typewriter on the market. Soon, other companies
were producing
typewriters. By the early 1900's, portable typewriters
were being sold. In the 1920's, electric typewriters were on the market.
Today, there are 3 basic kinds
of typewriters: standard, electric and automatic.
A standard typewriter works by
power of the typist's hands. An electric typewriter is powered by electricity.
Although the typist must still press the keys, the
operation is much easier and faster than the standard typewriter.
An automatic typewriter has an
electric typewriter keyboard connected to a computer. Together, the typewriter
and the computer are called a word-processor. When
a typist types on the keyboard, the computer stores the information. Then,
the typewriter automatically types copies of the information.
Typewriters are made in several
thousands of keyboard styles. Many electric typewriters have the letters
and symbols on a ball which can be easily removed to
change the style of type.
Special typewriters have letters
and symbols in different languages. A typewriter called a word writer can
type entire words, or even phrases, with a single touch
of a key. Today, typewriters are continuing to change and advance with the
Computer Age.
