Without the invention of the typewriter, would the computer have enjoyed its worldwide popularity today? Would you be reading these words if it weren’t for the invention of the keyboard? When you think of ease of use while typing compositions that appear on your computer monitor screen, we must never forget the celebrated invention of the typewriter.
Mastering the use of the typewriter comes with the tag team precision of eye-brain-hand coordination. During my tenure in high school, typing classes were taught as an elective. Typewriters were extremely popular at the time, due to high demand in secretarial careers. Accuracy and the number of words typed per minute were primary requirements for secretarial positions.
The evolution of the typewriter dates back to around 1713. An English engineer, Henry Mill, took out the first English typewriter patent in 1714, but never produced one. The first American typewriter patent was issued to William A. Burt, an inventor from Detroit in 1829 who introduced the typographer. Burt’s method was designed to transcribe letters singularly and progressively, one after another, on paper.
The first practical typewriter, called the “Sholes & Glidden Type Writer”, was conceived and invented by Christopher Latham Sholes, Samuel Soulé, and Carlos Glidden. The Type Writer was marketed by the gun makers, E. Remington & Sons. The keyboard layout was considered remarkable enough to be included in Sholes’ patent, issued in 1878. The typewriter worked very well for beginners, but for professionals modifications had to be made. The problem arose when the increased typing speed caused an issue with the keys sticking. Therefore, this influenced the invention of the QWERTY typewriter by Christopher Latham Sholes. The letters “Q, W, E, R, T” and “Y” beginning with the first row of letters from the left on the keyboard gave the layout its name. It was also called the “Universal” keyboard.
The transition of development from the typewriter to the computer keyboard resulted from the introduction of the teletype machine which combined the technology of the typewriter with the mechanics of the telegraph. The first machines only wrote capital letters. The home keys (where the typist’s fingers rest) are “ASDF” for the left fingers and “JKL”; for the right fingers.
It is noted that Mark Twain was the first author to submit a “typewritten” manuscript to his publisher. Clearly, through the evolution of typewriters, the typewriter had a huge impact on professionals, students, and anyone who wanted to make an organized and tasteful written impression. It is evident that the nobility of the legendary typewriter finds its way throughout the evolution of the history of typewriters.
