TYPE-WHITING MACHINE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2148, 22 November 1875, Page 4

TYPE-WHITING MACHINE.

We have seen 'at Mr Gr. W. Cotton's office a recent American inyenaiou 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 11 each—may be worked by any finger of either hand. On eech key is plainly printed the letter or character it represents. By depressing a key, the correspohdina letter is printed on 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, as from the arrangement of the types each falls on the same spotj 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 constructian is such that any one who can spell can write wite 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 3in- 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 thickness of paper, and quality is a matter of indifference, as it will write legibly upon the commonest wrapping-paper. The type receives from a moving ribbon one threeeighth inches wide and 36ft long,.and as each letter takes merely one-eight of an inch of space for a single impression, there is practically over 400 ft of available inking surface. The ribbon is so prepared that it can be used for months, without re-inking, and 1 it is stated that with proper usage it will last for many years. The principal advantages claimed for the invention are that the so-called writing is as legible as print, and an average speed of writing from 20 to 60 words per minute, or about twice the.average rate of the pen, is attained. By interleaving the writingpaper with ordinary carbon sheets, the machine writes from one to twenty copies at the same time, and a number of the impressions may be reproduced with a, copying-press. It is recommended by the manufacturers particularly for reporters, lawyers, merchants, telegraphers, ministers, authors, copyists, and'all professional writers. The machine, it seems, is extensively used in the United States,'and ia rapidly coming into favour. It is said that the success of the first 50 machines was so decided, that in March, 1873, a contract for the supply of 25,000 was undertaken. We worked the machine,' and found the manipulation simple, practice pnly being necessary. A stenographer in Wasfainton says—"l have myself steadily operated it from 10 to 12 consecutive hours, experiencing but little fatigue therefrom. . Having used it practically for two years past in transcribing my short-hand notes, I. have found it capable of being operated at from two to/three times the speed that can be acquired by the the most rapid penman. The machine is automatic in its principles and ingenious in the mechanism.—South Australian Eegister.