TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 71, 15 December 1875, Page 3

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

We have seen at Mr G. W Cotton’s office a recent American invention styled a type-writer, a machine intended to supersede to some extent the pen for common writing. The apparatus in size and exterior appearance resembles a family sewing-machine. The writing is done by touching keys which are compactly arranged in four rows of eleven each—may be worked by any finger either hand. On each key is plainly printed the letter or character it represents. By depressing a key, the corresponding letter is printed cm paper. It is claimed that the action is as rapid and much easier than piano-playing the manipulation being similar. It is necessary, however, that not more than one letter or character be struck at a time us by the arrangement of the typos, each fall on the same spot, and if the type struck is not allowed to fall before another impression is given, the subsequent letters strike the steel bar supporting the former type, so that no impression is given and injury may result to the machine. The simplicity of construction is such that any one who can spell can write with it, and the use is so easily understood that little practice is required to enable the operator to become expert. The appliance is adapted for any width of paper, from Sin. to Bin., and in length from lin. to a continuous roll. Envelopes can be readily addressed by the affair. It is equally adapted for any tt.i.'k’ii 0 r. } .p >v. and quality is a m.duw of ii.-uilVeivnce, a-- it vili write f'V.'ilSy UV I 1-i ' Wr : , pviwf ing ribbon one U.ivr-eighsh im-m-s wide and 3G. long, and ns each letter takes merely oiie-eigbth of an inch of space for a single impression there is practically

I over 100 ft of available iukitiT surface. The ribbon is so prepared that it can he used for months without re-inking; riel it is stated that with prop; F usage it will last for many years. The prim-ipal advantages claimed, for the invention are that the so-called writing’ is as legible as print; and an average speed of wilting frbm 20 to (10 ivbrdS per minute, or about twice the ai'erage fate of the pen. is attained. By interleaving the writing paper with ordinary carbon sheets,- the ma-hiue writes iTom om* to tw my copi's at tie same time, ami a number of impre siotis may he reproduc'd with it copying-press. It is recommended hy the manufacturers particularly for report rs. lawyers, merchants t I 'graplu-i s, miuisteis, authors, copyists, and id! professional write)s. The machine, it seems, is extensively used in the United States, and is rapidly coming into favour. It is said that the success of theft-st fifty m; chines was so decided, that in March, LS7H, a contract for the supply of 2.7,000 was undertaken. We worked the machine, and found the manipulation simpl-*, practice only being necessary. A stenographer in Washington says:—l have myself steadily operated it from ten to twelve consecutive hours, experiencing but little fatigue therefrom. J laving used it practically for two years past in traxiseril i ig my .shorthand notes, I have found it capable of being operated at from two to three times tin* spiied that can he acquired hy the most rapid penman.” The machine is automatic in its principles and ingenious in the mechanism.—“ South Australian Register.