The Invention of Typewriters
Taylor Winiecki
First Patent - March 9, 1714
The first typewriter was patented as a "writing machine", to Henry Mill from England. Little is known about Mill, but his patent was the first like it, a machine for transcribing letters.
First Prototype - January 1, 1868
The idea for the typewriter we know was introduced by Christopher Sholes. He mounted printer's type on a rod that would strike against a plate of glass. The type left a mark on the paper, which gave it the term "type" writer.
Sholes and Glidden Typewriter - March 2, 1874
James Densmore had bought the rights to the typewriter from Sholes and brought it to E. Remington and Sons gunmakers to mass produce it. This version was slow and only sold about 5,000 copies but opened the door for better versions to come.
The Hamilton Automatic - 1881
This rare version of the typewriter was invented by a jeweler. It was the first typewriter with proportionately spaced keys but would not become popular.
Fox Portable Typewriter - March 22, 1917
The Fox Typewriter company released the first collapsible typewriter that collapsed and slid backwards. It was the first portable machine but was later sued for design theft.
Word Processing - March 18, 1972
Lexitron and Linolex produced a word processing system with a video display. The screen allowed the writer to preview their work before printing.
The Modern Typewriter - 2011/current
Typewriters are still in use today, but computers are more popular. Typewriters are mostly used when electricity and computers are unavailable.
Very obviously, the evolution of typewriters has changed our lives. Typewriters have given us a simple way to type and print documents or send messages. Although modern typewriters are not used very often, the impact is still there. One way is by transferring the idea of typing into computers. They are used on a daily basis and many people don't realize what their origin is from. Without this evolution, we would still be handwriting everything.
Citations
the Typewriter Timeline." Timetoast. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2016.
Miklós, Vincze. "The Curious Evolution of the Typewriter, in Pictures." Io9. N.p., 28 May 2013. Web. 26 Sept. 2016.
7th picture- https://www.google.com/search?q=modern+typewriter&rlz=1CALEAI_enUS708US709&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=631&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwittbCBg67PAhVByoMKHcLNCGIQ_AUIBigB&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=VagW4q9DIWfMbM%3A