BLICKENSDERFER

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

The Blickensderfer typewriter made its appearance in the early nineties, and is still on the market, therefore it is entitled to consideration in these steps. This machine, commonly known as the "Blick," is a type-wheel machine; that is, the type are all arranged on a wheel, and every type moves when each key is struck. The type do not act independently as on most machines, hence it became necessary to arrange a special keyboard in order to produce the best results from this style of construction, and because of this special keyboard the machine did not meet with favor among touch typists. The supply of ink is obtained from a roller pad.

The "Blick" is small, hence easily portable; it is also a cheap machine, and the style of type may be changed by changing the wheel. Because of its portability, its simplicity, the ease of changing type, and its price, it has won a place, or at least a niche, in the commercial world. However, it is not found in the large and more important offices where quantity and quality of work are the prime considerations, but among those who have little work, do it themselves, and want it done on a typewriter.

The manufacturers of the "Blick" produced an electric machine, which promised to revolutionize the typewriter business, but the promise was not fulfilled. It had its advantages, but the disadvantages evidently were greater, because of the complications of the electric motor requirements. The carriage reverse and all other active parts of the machine were controlled by electricity, but the best evidence of its imperfection is that its manufacture was soon discontinued. The electric typewriter would eliminate to a great extent the human element, and for that reason it is not likely to become popular.

Blickensderfer

George C. Blickensderfer (1850 -1917) built what some people think was a rather brilliant and original typewriter using far fewer parts than Remington. His machines used a cylindrical type-element with characters embossed on it's surface. The Blickensderfer idea might owe something to the Hammond typewriter or perhaps they both owe something to typewheel telegraphic printers. It is somewhat like those later used on Teletypes and the IBM Selectric Golf-Ball.

There were several points in the machines favour:

Simplicity - Blickensderfer machines had just 250 parts, compared with the 2,500 in a Remington.
Visibility - The type element is quite small and the typist can see what they are typing.
Light-weight - The aluminium framed Blick Featherweight machine made in 1909 was described in ads as The Five pound Secretary
Cost - the simplicity of the design allowed an incredibly low cost of just $35. It was about a quarter the cost of the Remington and Smith machines.

Early Blickensderfer typewriters also had a DHIATENSOR keyboard with the most frequently used keys conveniently in the lowest row. George Blickensderfer claimed this layout was scientifically efficient, but he would make QWERTY keyboards to special order. Since the QWERTY standard was not so established this was not initially a problem.

When Blickensderfer demonstrated the Model 1 at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 he attracted crowds. He mainly intended to compete with Remington, but the stripped-down lightweight Model 5 attracted particular attention. Many orders came from Britain, Germany and France. With a full order book the Blickensderfer factory in Stamford Connecticut began producing tens of thousands of machines.

Blickensderfer made the first electric typewriter in 1902. It had the light key touch, even print and automatic carriage return and line spacing of later electric models. For some reason this innovation didn't catch on. Electricity was relatively new and supply hadn't been standardised. Only 3 machines are known to survive.

Although Blickensderfer introduced new products Royal introduced a compact visible machine in 1906. Other manufacturers introduced black and red ribbons, and a backspace. The Blick had to be taken out of it's wooden case to use the folding space-bar. Sales of Blickensderfer models fell and a blow was that at the outbreak of war in Europe Corona got orders for 30,000 machines from the British and French armies - but Blickensderfer got none. Furthermore it's European markets collapsed, cut off by conflict.

Blickensderfer introduced a new typebar machine licensed by Lyman Roberts with a QWERTY keyboard. Then in 1917 George Blickensderfer died, leaving no obvious successor. Roberts raised finance and took over the factory to produce his machine as the Roberts 90, but production ended in 1924.

Remington bought the Blickensderfer tools and dies from Robert's company and produced the same machines heavily badged as Remington but otherwise unchanged - in the UK they were called the Baby-Rem. However Remington seem to have just been filling a temporary gap. In 1928 they introduced the No 3 Portable which went on to sell more than 300,000 machines.

Blickensderfer disappeared as a company and the machines became museum pieces. However the idea of a type-cylinder re-surfaced, particularly in the IBM Selectric which became the best selling machine in the 1960s.