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
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Hansen Writing Ball Patent Model
- Description
- This typewriter patent model accompanied the patent application of Hans R. Malling J. Hansen of Copenhagen, Denmark in his patent application that received patent number 125,952 on April 23, 1872. The model only shows a portion of the machine, with three letters in the “type-ball.” This patent was one of the earlier designs of Hansen’s unique writing ball typewriter. In his patent Hansen claimed the combination of converging types arranged circularly that met at the same point. Hansen also claimed the use of a spring or electro-magnet as a means of paper carriage movement. The electromagnet in the typewriter operated by closing the circuit on each descent of the type before it makes it impression on the paper. Closing the circuit causes an attraction of the armature of the magnet, moving the drum before the type hits. After the drum moved a full line, the mechanism would move it down a line.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1872-04-23
- 1872
- patent date
- 1872-04-23
- maker
- Hansen, Hans R. M. J.
- inventor
- Hansen, Hans R. M. J.
- ID Number
- ME.308874
- catalog number
- 308874
- patent number
- 125,952
- accession number
- 89797
- patent number
- 125,952
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miles M. Bartholomew Stenograph Patent Model
- Description
- This stenograph patent model accompanied Miles M. Bartholomew’s patent application that received patent number 215,554 on May 20th, 1879. The patent was described as “the provision, in a stenographic machine, of two sets of keys, preferably five on each set, one key for the thumb and one for each of the fingers.” Each key was related to a marker to make an impression on or perforation in the paper spooled from the roller at the head of the model. Stenotype machines do not have a full alphanumeric keyboard, instead they write in shorthand with multiple key depressions that produce syllables or words.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1879
- patent date
- 1879-05-20
- inventor
- Bartholomew, Miles M.
- ID Number
- ME.308629
- catalog number
- 308629
- patent number
- 215,554
- accession number
- 89797
- patent number
- 215,554
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Sholes & Gildden Type Writer
- Description
- Remington put its writing machines on the market in 1874 at a price of $125. The new Type Writer owed some of its identity to the sewing machines that Remington had recently added to its product line. The writing machine came mounted on a sewing machine stand, with a treadle to operate the carriage return and advance the paper on the platen. Even the Type Writer's shiny black case, elaborately decorated with floral designs and emblems, resembled the factory's sewing machines.
- This machine is Remington's first model. With it, a writer could type only capital letters. A second model, available in 1878, permitted writing in both upper and lower case. From the beginning, the keyboard was arranged in the enduring QWERTY pattern. The designers adopted the layout to prevent the mechanical type bars, arranged in a circle inside the machine, from clashing in operation.
- Although the Remington-made Type Writer was not the first mechanical writing machine, it was the earliest to have commercial success. At first Type Writers sold poorly, although author Mark Twain bought one immediately and described his "new fangled writing machine" in a letter to his brother. Gradually, Remington had success in creating a market for the machines and even spurred competitors to make their own versions. The modern typewriter industry was born.
- The introduction and spread of the typewriter accompanied a revolution in the business world. The last twenty-five years of the 19th century witnessed the growth of corporations and the reinvention of the business office. Mechanized work in the office replaced hand work, as specialized machines of all sorts speeded up paper transactions. New designs for furniture specific to the office appeared. The physical appearance of the office building, the composition of the work force, and the very organization of work itself changed. In opening acceptable— but low-level—white-collar work for women, the typewriter became an agent of social change.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1874 - 1878
- patentee
- Sholes, C. Latham
- Glidden, Carlos
- maker
- E. Remington & Sons
- ID Number
- ME.276068
- catalog number
- 276068
- accession number
- 54877
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Remington Standard No. 2 Typewriter
- Description
- This Standard Number 2 typewriter was manufactured by E. Remington and Sons in 1878. The Standard No. 2 was the first commercial typewriter, refined from the original designs of Christopher Sholes and Carlos S. Glidden. The Remington 2 was an upstriking machine, the carriage held the paper type-side down, and the keys would rise up and strike the paper through the ink ribbon from the bottom. This required typists to raise the carriage if they ever wanted to see what was written. The carriage reads “Keep the machine free from dust. Clean all of the top rods—especially the Shifting rod—with a greasy cloth Every day.” The Remington 2 had a QWERTY keyboard, and its commercial success led to it being adopted as a standard, even as its design was primarily to prevent the type bars from jamming and not to increase typing speed or ease of use.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1878
- maker
- Remington
- ID Number
- ER.324140
- accession number
- 253647
- catalog number
- 324140
- serial number
- 61892
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Alexander Graham Bell Experimental Telephone
- Description
- Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated several experimental telephones at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876. This unit features a single electro-magnet and could be used both as transmitter and receiver. Bell approached the problem of transmitting speech differently from other telephone inventors like Elisha Gray and Thomas Edison. They were mostly experienced telegraphers trying to make a better telegraph. Bell's study of hearing and speech more strongly influenced his work.
- date made
- 1876
- maker
- Bell, Alexander G.
- ID Number
- EM.252599
- accession number
- 49064
- catalog number
- 252599
- patent number
- 174465
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Sholes & Schwalbach Patent Model for Improvement in Type-Writing Machines
- Description
- Inventors C. Latham Sholes and Matthias Schwalback of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, submitted this typewriter model with their patent application for an improved up strike key lever mechanism for printing onto paper. The inventors received number 182,511 on September 9, 1876. The typewriter has two rows of keys in roughly alphabetical layout as well as the numbers 7 and 8. When struck, the keys would rise up and hit the piece of paper lying horizontally on the platen of the typewriter. The carriage would have to be lifted for the typist to see their typed words.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1872
- patent granted by United States Patent Office
- 1876-09-09
- licensee
- Sholes, C. Latham
- Schwalbach, Matthias
- patentee
- Sholes, C. Latham
- Schwalbach, Matthias
- ID Number
- 1981.0359.02
- catalog number
- 1981.0359.02
- accession number
- 1981.0359
- patent number
- 182511
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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