Automatic Typewriters

Extract from Oden "Evolution of the Typewriter" (1917)

UNDERWOOD BOOKKEEPING MACHINE

BOOKKEEPING MACHINE— The bookkeeping machine enables the operator to make and prove daily all records in bookkeeping and statement work, keeping the ledger and statement of accounts automatically balanced to the minute. This eliminates the troubles common in taking off the trial balance.

ADDENDAGRAPH

ADDENDAGRAPH— The Addendagraph is practically unlimited in its capacity for statistical work. Any number of columns may be made to the full capacity of the form used. This machine will give the total of each column vertically; of each line in all columns horizontally; and will give a grand total which results in the proof of the correctness of the work.

Other manufacturers have likewise appreciated the desire on the part of the business world for using the machine in a broader capacity than its original purpose, and they too are building machines in various forms in an effort to meet this desire.

UNDERWOOD AUTOMATIC WRITER

The Underwood also builds an Automatic typewriter for circular work. This machine will write an unlimited number of copies from the original, each having a different name and address. This original is prepared on a Master Model machine, and is a perforated continuous roll of paper, similar to the pianola record. The perforated roll containing the body of the letter, together with a similar roll with the names and addresses, are inserted in the machine, a supply of paper placed in a receptacle for the purpose, and the electric current turned on. The machine will continue oper-ation until the supply of paper, which can be renewed as often as desired, is exhausted. Another advantage is the fact that the perforated roll or copy may be taken out, changes made, and preserved for future use.

During the last four decades the typewriter has evolved from an experimental, doubtful degree of progress into an intensive industry, the magnitude of which it would be difficult to over-estimate. The invested capital necessary to conduct the manufacturing end involves many millions of dollars — a multitude of the most expert mechanics are engaged in the experimental department, endeavoring to further improve the typewriter — many thousands are employed in the actual manufacture of the machine — while there are armies of men all over the world employed in the sales and distribution of the typewriter - nor does this include the vast number of employes in the various offices required to keep the accounts and conduct the general office affairs of the industry. The typewriter has also contributed greatly to the world's welfare by providing employment for hosts of typists, principally young women, who have not only made themselves self-supporting and independent, but have gained a higher and truer estimate of their worth.

Automatic Typewriters

The first alphanumeric printing telegraph was made by Charles Wheatstone, modelled on the ABC machine. He patented it in 1841 and was demonstrating it to visitors in 1844. The idea was improved on by David Hughes whose machines were widely used in the telegraph system and then by Edison's stock ticker and Émile Baudot's telegraph.

Wheatstone also developed the use of punch-tape for sending Morse messages much faster than could be done by hand.

Meanwhile in what seemed unrelated developments Herman Hollerith had developed punch-card counting apparatus for the US 1890 Census. Julius Pitrap had patented a computing scale in 1886 and the Willard & Frick company had made the first card time recorder (1895). These various firms with their automatic recording apparatus were aquired and merged by Charles R Flint in 1911 as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR). Customers for the new company included railroads, chemical companies, utilities and life insurance companies. Automating the recording and processing of information was an idea gaining some currency. The company launched it's first printing tabulator in 1920. It was renamed IBM in 1924.

Typewriters made some impression on the telegraph companies. Edison was brought in by Automatic Telegraph to assess the Sholes and Glidden machine - he didn't hink much of it. However he later tried to make a typewriter activated by electromagnets.

Success with full-page telegraph machines came with the introduction of the Morkrum machines developed by Howard Krum (1910), Kleinschmidt's telegraphs (also 1910) and Frederick Creed's machines (first sold to the Post Office in 1902)

From todays perspective where computers do the job of both typewriter (word processor) and telegraph (e-mail) the separation between typewriter and teleprinter companies looks odd. There would have been obstacles to making a machine to do both jobs. Main telegraph and Post Offices would have electric power by 1900 but smaller offices would be converting from gas lighting through the 1920s. About a third of homes in Britain had electricity in 1930. Homes in Europe commonly had no electricicty, or only electric light right into the 1950s.

Nevertheless by the 1920s teleprinters were in many ways purpose-made electric typewriters. On the whole teleprinter companies dind't attempt to sell machines as typewriters. They did aim to sell their machines as messaging systems in hotels and factories but generally they didn't attempt to come up with a telegraph that had both upper and lower case and neat type.

Typewriter companies were scarcely afraid of stepping on competitors toes, yet they don't seem to have introduced telegraph models even when they had electric typewriters. Telegraph circuits and print mechanisms were too slow for the average touch-typist but it would seem incredibly handy to have machines that could be used as both typewriters and telegraphs. On the logic of mass production that made typewriters possible it may not have been expensive to do.

Charles E. Yetman was one inventor who crossed the divide between telegraph and typewriter with the Yetman Transmitting Typewriter. This machine is unremarkable as a typewriter of its time, a four bank typebar machine with front stroke typing. What is very different is that the keyboard can be used to send Morse code.

CV Oden says:

The Yetman typewriter was invented by Charles E. Yetman, who labored for many years trying to bring it to a degree of perfection that would justify its being placed upon the market. This he succeeded in doing about the year 1903.

This machine was intended to serve a double purpose. That is, it might be used as a regular commercial machine, but its principal purpose was for the transmission of tele- graphic messages. By pressing a lever on the left of this machine it would open a telegraphic circuit and connect the keys in such a way that telegraphic messages could be sent. A corresponding lever on the right side connected the keyboard with the typebars and a message could be sent and a copy made in type at the same time. It was also possible, by releasing the lever on the left, to convert it into a typewriter for ordinary commercial use, without any connection with the telegraphic circuit. It will be seen, therefore, that the machine could be used for either or both purposes.

The work of this machine was effectual, and it seems strange that the principle has not survived and developed; but it was evidently impractical from the fact that it has not been revived since the company, organized to promote it, met with reverses which caused its failure. The career of this machine was short, but it promoted the idea of visible typewriting among telegraph operators, for whom it was primarily intended. Although few machines were made and used, the telegraph operators learned through the Telegraphic Age to appreciate the value of visible writing for receiving and transmitting messages.

Richard Polt says the Yeman was made from 1908 to 1909 then on the failure of the company an entrepreneur called J.L. Smith reintroduced the typewriter as the Smith Visible, but without the telegraphy connection Yetman .

The concept of a computers rather than tape or record processing was finally made public in 1945 at the end of World War II. John von Neumann'sFirst Draft of a Report on the EDVAC circulated by Herman Goldstine, security officer on the ENIAC project sets our how a computer might be made. Computers are seen as general purpose machines, but primarily intended to solve computational problems such as a non-linear partial differential equation in 2 or 3 independent variables and not for tasks like record or word processing.