Computers & Business Machines

Imagine the loss, 100 years from now, if museums hadn't begun preserving the artifacts of the computer age. The last few decades offer proof positive of why museums must collect continuously—to document technological and social transformations already underway.

The museum's collections contain mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and handheld devices. Computers range from the pioneering ENIAC to microcomputers like the Altair and the Apple I. A Cray2 supercomputer is part of the collections, along with one of the towers of IBM's Deep Blue, the computer that defeated reigning champion Garry Kasparov in a chess match in 1997. Computer components and peripherals, games, software, manuals, and other documents are part of the collections. Some of the instruments of business include adding machines, calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, fax machines, cash registers, and photocopiers

After the success of the IBM's business PC, IBM attempted to capture the home market with the IBM PCjr.
Description
After the success of the IBM's business PC, IBM attempted to capture the home market with the IBM PCjr. The PCjr system was compact, low cost, and designed for applications related to learning, entertainment, and personal productivity.
The computer had an Intel 8088 microprocessor that ran at 4.77 MHz–faster than most systems on the market at the time. It had 64 KB of RAM, which could be expanded to 256 KB and later to 720 KB with third party add-ons. It featured an internal 5 1/4" floppy drive and a wireless keyboard. King's Quest, a popular Adventure game of the 1980s, debuted on the PCjr.
Despite a flashy debut and a strong technology core, the PCjr flopped in the market. Consumers were not as attracted by the IBM name as business had been. Price was a major factor. The PCjr cost about the same as the Coleco Adam, but for the price, the Adam included two tape drives, a printer, and software. The PCJr was twice as expensive as the Commodore 64. With the exception of the Apple II, it was possible to purchase a complete system (computer, disk drive, and printer) from almost any of IBM's competitors for less money. However, criticism of the system focused on the "chiclet" keyboard. Similar to that of a pocket calculator, the small keys were cheap and difficult to use for touch typing. IBM later replaced this with a wireless conventional-sized keyboard. But it could only be used two or three feet away from the machine and drained batteries quickly.
Announced in November 1983 and available in March 1984, IBM sold the PCJr for $669 with 64 KB RAM, and $1,269 for 128 KB RAM. The more expensive system also included a floppy-disk drive. The device was manufactured in Lewisburg, Tennesee, by Teledyne, IBM discontinued the PCjr in March of 1985 after selling only approximately 270,000 units.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1984-1985
maker
IBM
ID Number
2002.0090.01
catalog number
2002.0090.01
accession number
2002.0090
This packet of materials was provided to the donor when he took a course on the use of tabulating equipment at IBM in Endicott, New York, in the 1950s. Included are a name tag, a punch card, three postcards, two leaflets, and an envelope.
Description
This packet of materials was provided to the donor when he took a course on the use of tabulating equipment at IBM in Endicott, New York, in the 1950s. Included are a name tag, a punch card, three postcards, two leaflets, and an envelope.
date made
1950s
maker
IBM
ID Number
1995.3080.05
nonaccession number
1995.3080
catalog number
1995.3080.05
A software suite for Windows 95/98 designed as a software for academic writing and research. The software was designed by Nota Bene Associates, Inc and it is version 5.0. The suite has three software: Nota Bene, NB Ibidem, and NB Orbis.
Description
A software suite for Windows 95/98 designed as a software for academic writing and research. The software was designed by Nota Bene Associates, Inc and it is version 5.0. The suite has three software: Nota Bene, NB Ibidem, and NB Orbis. Nota Bene is "a word processor designed for scholarly writing, featuring predefined academic styles, up to three independent sets of footnotes, bi-directional cross referencing and more." NB Ibidem is "a database system to manage your bibliographic notes and automatically format citations and bibliographies according to hundreds of academic/professional styles." NB Orbis is "a text-retrieval system for instantly and simultaneously searching papers, research notes, lectures, field notes, lists, and any other NB documents on your computer."
The object has a compact disc with a plastic jewel case and instructions are stored on the inside of the case.
System requirements are: a pentium level PC or compatible computer is recommended, but a 486DX2/50 or higher is adequate, a CD-ROM drive, 20 megabytes of available hard disk space, 16 megabytes of RAM, but 32 would significantly improve performance, and Windows 95/98
Version 5.0 was the first Windows version of Nota Bene.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1998-1999
ID Number
2014.3098.01
catalog number
2014.3098.01
nonaccession number
2014.3098
This typewriter patent model was used by George W.N. Yost in his patent application that received patent number 408,061 on July 30th, 1889.
Description
This typewriter patent model was used by George W.N. Yost in his patent application that received patent number 408,061 on July 30th, 1889. The patent claimed several improvements to typewriter machines including a combination of the carriage and line-spacing apparatus with a lever used for line and letter spacing, the “combination of two extra key levers and connecting rods with the platen transverse reciprocating apparatus of a type-writing machine and a series of key-levers for operating the type-bars located between said extra key-levers.”
Location
Currently not on view
patent date
1889-07-30
inventor
Yost, George W. N.
ID Number
ME.308638
catalog number
308638
patent number
408061
accession number
89797
patent number
408,061
This Corona typewriter was manufactured by the Corona Typewriter Company, Inc. of Groton, New York sometime around 1923-1925. The typewriter is a front-striking model with a three row QWERTY keyboard, likely the Corona No.
Description
This Corona typewriter was manufactured by the Corona Typewriter Company, Inc. of Groton, New York sometime around 1923-1925. The typewriter is a front-striking model with a three row QWERTY keyboard, likely the Corona No. 3 although it lacks the “3” numbering on the frame below the spacebar. The Standard Typewriting Company began producing a folding model of typewriter in Groton around 1907.
The success of the Standard Typewriter Company’s Corona model typewriter prompted the company to change its named to the Corona Typewriting Company in 1914. In 1926 the company joined with the L. C. Smith & Brothers Typewriting company to become Smith-Corona. Smith-Corona manufactured typewriters and typewriter accessories throughout the 20th century, becoming Smith Corona Marchant in 1958. After two bankruptcies, Smith-Corona returned to operation in 2010 as a thermal paper manufacturing company.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1923 - 1925
maker
Corona Typewriter Company
ID Number
ME.336759
catalog number
336759
accession number
1978.2479
serial number
590430
This is a Corona Three folding typewriter that was manufactured by Corona Typewriter Company of Groton, New York around 1920. The Corona Three was an extremely popular typewriter, produced from 1912 until 1941. This model has serial number 394384, dating it to 1920.
Description
This is a Corona Three folding typewriter that was manufactured by Corona Typewriter Company of Groton, New York around 1920. The Corona Three was an extremely popular typewriter, produced from 1912 until 1941. This model has serial number 394384, dating it to 1920. This typewriter’s platen and carriage can fold down to rest on the keyboard, allowing it to become compact and portable.
The success of the Standard Typewriter Company’s Corona Three model typewriter prompted the company to change its name to the Corona Typewriting Company in 1914. In 1926 the company joined with the L. C. Smith & Brothers Typewriting company in to become Smith-Corona. Smith-Corona manufactured typewriters and typewriter accessories throughout the 20th century, becoming Smith Corona Marchant in 1958. After two bankruptcies, Smith Corona returned to operation in 2010 as a thermal paper manufacturing company.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920 - 1929
maker
L. C. Smith & Corona Typewriters Inc.
ID Number
ME.326636
catalog number
326636
accession number
261574
serial number
394384
This Corona Four model typewriter was manufactured by the Corona Typewriter Company Incorporated of Groton, New York around 1924. The Corona Four had a smaller frame to allow portability.
Description
This Corona Four model typewriter was manufactured by the Corona Typewriter Company Incorporated of Groton, New York around 1924. The Corona Four had a smaller frame to allow portability. The Corona Four had 42 full size keys, a 10-inch carriage, a 2-color ribbon, and an accelerating type bar action.
The success of the Standard Typewriter Company’s Corona model typewriter prompted the company to change its named to the Corona Typewriting Company in 1914. In 1926 the company joined with the L. C. Smith & Brothers Typewriting company to become Smith-Corona. Smith-Corona manufactured typewriters and typewriter accessories throughout the 20th century, becoming Smith Corona Marchant in 1958. After two bankruptcies, Smith-Corona returned to operation in 2010 as a thermal paper manufacturing company.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1925
maker
Corona Typewriter Company
ID Number
ME.308355
catalog number
308355
accession number
85488
This New Franklin typewriter was manufactured by the Franklin Typewriter Company of New York, New York around 1904. The design for the Franklin typewriter was patented by Wellington P. Kidder, receiving patent number 464,504 on December 8, 1891.
Description
This New Franklin typewriter was manufactured by the Franklin Typewriter Company of New York, New York around 1904. The design for the Franklin typewriter was patented by Wellington P. Kidder, receiving patent number 464,504 on December 8, 1891. The main feature of the Franklin typewriter is its series of radial type bars that carry multiple typefaces. The curved Franklin keyboard remains one of its most distinctive features.
The Tilton Manufacturing Company of Boston, Massachusetts was originally assigned patents to both the Victor Index Typewriter (invented by Arthur Jacobs in 1889) and the Franklin typewriter (invented by Wellington Kidder in 1891). Eventually, both these typewriters were sold by their own companies, with the Victor Typewriter Company staying in Boston and the Franklin Typewriter Company moving to New York. The Franklin Typewriter Company began producing Franklin Typewriters in 1892, releasing numerous models before the company went bankrupt in 1904. The Victor Typewriter Company of Boston absorbed the interests of the Franklin Typewriter Company in 1907 and moved into its New York factory and offices at 812 and 814 Greenwich Street, producing its new visible frontstriking typewriter Victor No.1 that same year.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1904
maker
Franklin Typewriter Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0107.01
accession number
1981.0107
catalog number
1981.0107.01
81.0107.01
This illustrated document introduces the basic concepts of the operating system for the IBM/360. It has IBM file number S360-36 and IBM form number C28-6535-0.Currently not on view
Description
This illustrated document introduces the basic concepts of the operating system for the IBM/360. It has IBM file number S360-36 and IBM form number C28-6535-0.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1965
maker
IBM
ID Number
1994.3128.13
catalog number
1994.3128.13
nonaccession number
1994.3128
This typewriter patent model accompanied George W.N. Yost’s patent application that received patent number 343,655 on June 15th 1886.
Description
This typewriter patent model accompanied George W.N. Yost’s patent application that received patent number 343,655 on June 15th 1886. The patent covered a type-writing machine with adjustable type bars arranged in two curved rows, with an inking ribbon situated between the two rows that moved in concert with the carriage.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886
patent date
1886-06-15
inventor
Yost, George W. N.
ID Number
ME.308635
catalog number
308635
patent number
349,349
accession number
89797
patent number
343,655
Samuel Ward Francis of New York, New York received patent number 18,504 on October 27, 1857 for this printing-machine patent model. The model has a light wooden frame with four piano keys, and a metal platen carriage system.
Description
Samuel Ward Francis of New York, New York received patent number 18,504 on October 27, 1857 for this printing-machine patent model. The model has a light wooden frame with four piano keys, and a metal platen carriage system. Samuel Francis made several attempts at an early typewriter prototypes, and held several patents (see object ME*180060) for early printing machines. This patent was related to the circular arrangement of the type hammers that allowed them to strike in the same place. Additionally, the patent covered the paper carrier moving by spring and catch so that paper would move whenever a letter on the key has been struck allowing for a continuous printing line.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1857-10-27
1857
patent date
1857-10-27
transfer
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
maker
Francis, Samuel Ward
ID Number
ME.251215
catalog number
251215
accession number
48865
patent number
18504
Lucien Stephen Crandall of New York, New York received patent number 251,338 on December 20th, 1881 for this type-writing machine patent model design.
Description
Lucien Stephen Crandall of New York, New York received patent number 251,338 on December 20th, 1881 for this type-writing machine patent model design. Crandall described his invention as a “design to furnish a typewriting machine of simple and cheaper construction and with a greater range of type, combining upper and lower case letters, figures, and punctuation marks, and working them all with one set of keys merely.” The design had two interesting elements, the first being what Crandall called a “type-sleeve,” which allowed the printing of both lower-case and capital letters. The type-sleeve was covered with raised characters that wrapped around the sleeve arranged so that the most frequently used letters are in the center of the row requiring less shifting of the sleeve. The capital letters and numerals were not activated by a shift key, but rather a laterally-oscillating key-lever (the gold switch on the upper left of the model) that moved the type-sleeve. You would move the switch one way to activate the numerals and punctuation, and the other way to activate the capital letters. The keyboard for Crandall’s machine was arranged in a non-QWERTY fashion.
Lucien S. Crandall held several other patents for typewriters and typewriter improvements. The Crandall Machine Company of Groton, New York was founded in 1879 to produce Crandall’s machine. The first Crandall typewriter was manufactured in 1881, which was said to look very similar to the patent model displayed in object ME*251217. The New Model Crandall was marketed in 1885, and has the reputation of being one of the most beautiful early typewriters ever produced with inlaid mother of pearl in the casing, decorative flower motifs, and its elegant black keyboard (notably two rows and non-QWERTY). Crandall produced two more models, the Universal No. 3 in 1893, and the Improved Crandall in 1895. The company ceased operation by 1899.
Location
Currently not on view
patent date
1881-12-20
maker
Crandall, Lucien S.
ID Number
ME.251217
catalog number
251217
accession number
48865
patent number
251338
This Hammond Multiplex typewriter was manufactured by the Hammond Typewriter Company of New York beginning in 1913. The typewriter uses Hammond’s patented type-shuttle and hammer typing mechanism.
Description
This Hammond Multiplex typewriter was manufactured by the Hammond Typewriter Company of New York beginning in 1913. The typewriter uses Hammond’s patented type-shuttle and hammer typing mechanism. The type shuttle is a curved piece of rubber/metal that rotates when the key is pressed to bring up the correct character. The printing is done by a hammer in the back of the machine striking the type-shuttle in the front of the machine, with the paper and ink ribbon in between to receive the impression. The typewriter is called a Multiplex because the typewriter contains two type shuttles in its central “turret” that can easily be rotated into use, allowing the typing of two complete alphabets in different typesets on each machine. The keyboard is in a three row QWERTY array.
James Bartlett Hammond filed patents for his type-shuttle and hammer typing mechanism present in Hammond typewriters in 1879, receiving patent number 224088 on February 3rd, 1880 and patent number 232402 September 21st, 1880. The Hammond Typewriter Company was founded in 1880, and produced its first machine by 1884, winning a gold medal at the New Orleans Centennial Exposition that same year. The Hammond Typewriter touted its superior strength and durability due to its unique type-shuttle and hammer typing mechanism. The replaceable type-shuttle also contributed to the Hammond’s popularity with the ability to print in a variety of typesets in various sizes, including math formulae, special symbols, and foreign characters with an easy replacement of the type shuttle, or an even simpler rotation of a wheel in the Hammond Multiplex.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ME.334776
catalog number
334776
accession number
314637
serial number
AL 218262
This circular device was an aid to programming the UNIVAC solid-state computer. It consists of a paper disc with equal divisions running from 1 to 200 near the edge, and a clear plastic rotating disc that are pivoted together at the center.
Description
This circular device was an aid to programming the UNIVAC solid-state computer. It consists of a paper disc with equal divisions running from 1 to 200 near the edge, and a clear plastic rotating disc that are pivoted together at the center. The upper disc is marked in red with two perpendicular diameters. The solid state computer had a magnetic storage drum on which locations were specified numerically. The latency calculator allowed programmers to write code for the machine to make the most efficient possible use of the drum memory. The back of the instrument gives a list of instruction codes and corresponding word times. Recieved in bag. Reference: Sperry Rand Corporation, Programming: Simple Transition to Electronic Processing UNIVAC Solid-State 80, 18-26.
Compare 2005.0271.01. Date based on date of documents 2015.3097.03 and 2015.3097.04.
According to Kirk Lubbes, who programmed the Univac Solid State Computer:
"The SS90 had a drum memory, i.e. memory was not random accessible. One had slow memory and fast memory. The slow memory had only a single read/write head per track on the drum and fast memory had four read/write heads spaced at 90 degrees, so therefore the drum had to rotate a full revolution to access a memory word in slow memory and only a quarter turn to access fast memory.
The trick in programming the SS90 was to have the instruction and its operand accessible at an optimal time so that the instruction could access its operand without waiting for the drum very far. As one started a program, this was not much a problem. The programmer new how much time that a given instruction would take to execute and the speed of the drum. Therefore, he calculated the position of the next instruction, based these two parameters. The minimum latency calculator was a mechanical device to help in this calculation. The problem was that as the programmer progressed, collisions occurred, i.e. the optimal location of an instruction or an operand was already taken by a previous instruction or operand. Since the drum was arranged in bands and the read/write heads were at the same location on each band, if one had a collision, you could put the necessary instruction or operand in a parallel band at the same position. This worked the bands all filled up.
The basic approach was to get a program working using the best latency that you could. Then the programmer would go back and start rearranging instructions and operand locations to achieve minimum latency. In those early times, machine time was expensive and memory severely limited. So it was important that production programs were efficient."
Reference:
Nonccession file 2015.3097.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
maker
Remington Rand Univac
ID Number
2015.3097.01
nonaccession number
2015.3097
catalog number
2015.3097.01
This is a Corona Special typewriter that was manufactured by the L. C. Smith Corona Company during the 1920s. The Corona Special came in a variety of different colors besides gold including lavender, light maroon, channel blue, mountain ash scarlet, cream, and bruce green.
Description
This is a Corona Special typewriter that was manufactured by the L. C. Smith Corona Company during the 1920s. The Corona Special came in a variety of different colors besides gold including lavender, light maroon, channel blue, mountain ash scarlet, cream, and bruce green. The typewriter had a three-row QWERTY keyboard, and the typewriter’s carriage could fold down onto the keyboard making it compact and portable.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920 - 1941
maker
L. C. Smith & Corona Typewriters Inc.
ID Number
ME.334780
catalog number
334780
accession number
314637
serial number
x646413
This is a Corona Three folding typewriter that was manufactured by the Corona Typewriter Company of Groton, New York around 1930. The Corona Three was an extremely popular typewriter, produced from 1912 until 1941. This model has serial number 650136, dating it to 1930.
Description
This is a Corona Three folding typewriter that was manufactured by the Corona Typewriter Company of Groton, New York around 1930. The Corona Three was an extremely popular typewriter, produced from 1912 until 1941. This model has serial number 650136, dating it to 1930. This typewriter’s platen and carriage can fold down to rest on the keyboard, allowing it to become compact and portable.
The success of the Standard Typewriter Company’s Corona Three model typewriter prompted the company to change its name to the Corona Typewriting Company in 1914. In 1926 the company joined with the L. C. Smith & Brothers Typewriting company in to become Smith-Corona. Smith-Corona manufactured typewriters and typewriter accessories throughout the 20th century, becoming Smith Corona Marchant in 1958. After two bankruptcies, Smith Corona returned to operation in 2010 as a thermal paper manufacturing company.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1924 - 1926
maker
L. C. Smith & Corona Typewriters Inc.
ID Number
ME.330702
catalog number
330702
accession number
296465
serial number
x650136
Thomas Hall was awarded patent number 238,387 on March 1, 1881 for his “Type-Writer” design represented in this typewriter. The Hall Typewriter was manufactured by the Hall Typewriter Company of New York, New York, beginning in 1881.
Description
Thomas Hall was awarded patent number 238,387 on March 1, 1881 for his “Type-Writer” design represented in this typewriter. The Hall Typewriter was manufactured by the Hall Typewriter Company of New York, New York, beginning in 1881. The company moved from New York to Salem in 1887, then Boston in 1889, producing a similar model typewriter in all three locations. This Salem variant of the Hall index typewriter began to be produced in 1887. Index typewriters have no keyboard—the characters are selected by a pointer system. In the Hall index typewriter each hole on the grid corresponds to a character, pushing the key through the hole imprints the letter on the page and shifts the page over one space. This typewriter is contained in a wooden carrying case, with a metal handle and a metal plaque that bears the image of a feather with the inscription “HALL TYPE WRITER Co./TRADEMARK/SALEM, MASS.”
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Hall Typewriter Co.
ID Number
ME.314603
catalog number
314603
accession number
205421
During 1959 the first plans for the computer language COBOL emerged as a result of meetings of several committees and subcommittees of programmers from American business and government.
Description
During 1959 the first plans for the computer language COBOL emerged as a result of meetings of several committees and subcommittees of programmers from American business and government. This heavily annotated typescript was prepared during a special meeting of the language subcommittee of the Short-Range Committee held in New York City in November. COBOL programs would actually run the following summer, and the same program was successfully tested on computers of two different manufacturers in December 1960.
Reference: Jean E. Sammet, "The Early History of COBOL," History of Programming Languages, ed. Richard L. Wexelblat, New York: Academic Press, 1981, 199-277.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1959
maker
Conference on Data Systems Languages. Language Subcommittee of the Short-Range Committee
ID Number
2010.3050.4
catalog number
2010.3050.4
nonaccession number
2010.3050
This Hammond Multiplex typewriter was manufactured by the Hammond Typewriter Company of New York during the 1920s.
Description
This Hammond Multiplex typewriter was manufactured by the Hammond Typewriter Company of New York during the 1920s. The typewriter uses Hammond’s patented type-shuttle and hammer typing mechanism where the printing is done by a hammer in the back of the machine striking a type-carrying shuttle in the center of the machine, with the paper and ink ribbon in between to receive the impression. This Hammond Multiplex contains two additional Hammond innovations. It is called a Multiplex because the typewriter contains two type shuttles that can easily be rotated into use, allowing the typing of two complete alphabets in different typesets on each machine. This Hammond had keystrokes and carriage returns powered by a General Electric motor.
James Bartlett Hammond filed patents for his type-shuttle and hammer typing mechanism present in Hammond typewriters in 1879, receiving patent number 224088 on February 3rd, 1880 and patent number 232402 September 21st, 1880. The Hammond Typewriter Company was founded in 1880, and produced its first machine by 1884, winning a gold medal at the New Orleans Centennial Exposition that same year. The Hammond Typewriter touted its superior strength and durability due to its unique type-shuttle and hammer typing mechanism. The replaceable type-shuttle also contributed to the Hammond’s popularity with the ability to print in a variety of typesets in various sizes, including math formulae, special symbols, and foreign characters with an easy replacement of the type shuttle, or an even simpler rotation of a wheel in the Hammond Multiplex.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ME.322887
catalog number
322887
accession number
249411
serial number
239265
This Franklin typewriter was manufactured by the Franklin Typewriter Company of New York, New York around 1898. The design for the Franklin typewriter was patented by Wellington P. Kidder, receiving patent number 464,504 on December 8, 1891.
Description
This Franklin typewriter was manufactured by the Franklin Typewriter Company of New York, New York around 1898. The design for the Franklin typewriter was patented by Wellington P. Kidder, receiving patent number 464,504 on December 8, 1891. The main feature of the Franklin typewriter was a series of radial type-bars that carried a plurality of types. The curved Franklin keyboard remains one of its most distinctive features.
The Tilton Manufacturing Company of Boston, Massachusetts was originally assigned patents to both the Victor Index Typewriter (invented by Arthur Jacobs in 1889) and the Franklin typewriter (invented by Wellington Kidder in 1891). Eventually, both these typewriters were sold by their own companies, with Victor staying in Boston and the Franklin Typewriter Company moving to New York. The Franklin Typewriter Company began producing Franklin Typewriters in 1892, releasing numerous models before the company went bankrupt in 1904. This typewriter is similar in style to models 7 and 8, produced from 1898 until 1904.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1898
maker
Franklin Manufacturing Company
ID Number
ME.318462
catalog number
318462
accession number
235473
This Densmore No. 5 typewriter was made by the Densmore Typewriter Company of New York, New York beginning in 1907. The Densmore No. 5 is an upstriking machine with its keyboard in a three row QWERTY layout with a fourth top row of numbers.
Description
This Densmore No. 5 typewriter was made by the Densmore Typewriter Company of New York, New York beginning in 1907. The Densmore No. 5 is an upstriking machine with its keyboard in a three row QWERTY layout with a fourth top row of numbers. The advertising for Densmore mahcines claimed that its use of ball bearings in the type-bar joints led to its consistent alignment, light touch, and durability.
The Densmore name is associated with typewriter history in its earliest stages. James Densmore invested in the Sholes & Glidden typewriter, one of the first commercially produced typewriters, and eventually sold his controlling interest to E. Remington & Sons who continued to produce typewriters into the 20th century. Densmore’s brothers, Amos and Emmett, produced typewriters under the Densmore brand name, working with typewriter designers Franz Wagner and Walter Barron who made significant contributions to Densmore machines.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1907
maker
Densmore Typewriter Company
ID Number
ME.315052
catalog number
315052
accession number
214853
This paper pamphlet describes the components of an IBM 360 system. This is the fifth edition. It relates to object 2013.0129.02.Currently not on view
Description
This paper pamphlet describes the components of an IBM 360 system. This is the fifth edition. It relates to object 2013.0129.02.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1970
maker
IBM
ID Number
2013.0129.03
accession number
2013.0129
catalog number
2013.0129.03
The New Yost was introduced around 1889 and was produced by the Yost Writing Machine Company of New York, New York. This object served as a model for patent number 400,200 granted to Jacob Febel and Andrew W. Steiger on March 26th, 1889.
Description
The New Yost was introduced around 1889 and was produced by the Yost Writing Machine Company of New York, New York. This object served as a model for patent number 400,200 granted to Jacob Febel and Andrew W. Steiger on March 26th, 1889. The patent applied to a pivoted link in the type-bar that allowed for the type-bar to swing out horizontally and then rise up vertically to strike the platen. The model is missing the carriage it would need to be a fully functioning New Yost.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1889
patent date
1889-03-26
inventor
Felbel, Jacob
Steiger, Andrew W.
ID Number
ME.308636
catalog number
308636
patent number
400200
400,200
accession number
89797
This typewriter patent model was used by Alfred Ely Beach of Stratford, Connecticut in his patent application that received patent number 15,164 on June 24, 1856.
Description
This typewriter patent model was used by Alfred Ely Beach of Stratford, Connecticut in his patent application that received patent number 15,164 on June 24, 1856. Beach’s patent was titled an “Improvement in Printing-Instruments for the Blind,” as the typewriter was meant to leave a raised letter on the paper, rather than an inked character. The machine could be modified to also print black letters with the addition of an ink belt. The typewriter printed on a single line on a slip of paper similar to ticker tape, with each typebar striking at a common center. The mother-of-pearl keys are arranged in three rows, with capital and lowercase letters each having separated keys. The typebars are contained in the veneered wooden box. The circular type basket is decorated with gilt-cast leaves.
Alfred Ely Beach was an inventor and publisher in New York during the mid -19th century. Along with his business partners Orson D. Munn and Salem H. Wales, Beach purchased Scientific American magazine in 1846. In 1847 Beach produced a precursor to this machine, which was eventually patented in 1856. This typewriter was never commercially produced. Beach is more commonly remembered as the inventor of New York City’s first subway, Beach’s Pneumatic Transit. Beach built a 300-foot prototype pneumatic powered subway in 1870 that was never expanded due to political roadblocks.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1856
maker
Beach, Alfred E.
Kirchof, C.
ID Number
ME.312878
catalog number
312878
accession number
163196

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