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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Blickensderfer No. 8 Typewriter
- Description
- The Blickensderfer Model 8 typewriter was manufactured by the Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company of Stamford, Connecticut beginning in 1908. The appeal of the Blickensderfer was its simplified mechanical operation. The Blickensderfer was advertised as having one quarter of the parts that other typewriters used, allowing for easier operation, maintenance, and repair. Blickensderfers used their patented “type wheel,” a metal wheel containing all the characters, which would rotate and strike the paper. The type wheel allowed for easier type alignment, less jamming, and an easy way to change type fonts. The simplicity of the Blickensderfer allowed it to be portable, and this model has a wooden cover with a leather handle for easy carrying. While QWERTY keyboards could be ordered, by default most Blickensderfer typewriters eschewed the QWERTY keyboard in favor of a “Scientific” keyboard that put the most used letters “D, H, I, A, T, E, N, S, O, and R” on the bottom row nearest the space bar to minimize hand movement.
- George C. Blickensderfer founded the Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company in Stamford, Connecticut in 1893. The Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company produced nine different models of typewriters, including an electric typewriter, and operated until George Blickenderfer’s death in 1917. The company was reformed as the Blick Typewriter Company, and in the following years the Blickensderfer patents and designs were manufactured by a variety of different companies.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1890 - 1895
- maker
- Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- ME.319568
- catalog number
- 319568
- accession number
- 238761
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Columbia No. 2 Typewriter
- Description
- This Columbia No. 2 typewriter was manufactured by the Columbia Typewriter Company of New York after 1886. The typewriter was invented by Charles Spiro, and covered by patent number 322,989 and 335,392. The Columbia typewriter was an index typewriter, meaning that the letters were selected with a pointer, manipulated by the index finger, and imprinted by pressing another key. The absence of the keyboard made the typewriter simpler to operate, but sacrificed speed and efficiency. The machine also had variable spacing, allowing each letter to take up a varying amount of space, for instance, an “I” take up less space than an “M.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1890
- maker
- Columbia Typewriter Co.
- ID Number
- ME.326233
- catalog number
- 326233
- accession number
- 257824
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Wellington No. 2 Typewriter
- Description
- The Wellington No. 2 typewriter was invented by Wellington P. Kidder in 1892. Kidder has already invented the Franklin typewriter before moving on to invent this thrust-action typewriter. The typewriter received patent number 471,794 on March 29, 1892. The typewriter was produced until the early 20th century as the Wellington in the United States, the Empire in Canada, and the Adler in Germany.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ME.322802
- catalog number
- 322802
- accession number
- 249566
- serial number
- 4443
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Williams No. 6 Typewriter
- Description
- This is a Williams No. 6 typewriter that was manufactured by the Williams Typewriter Company of New York between 1904 and 1909. John N. Williams received patent number 501753 on July 18, 1893 for his type-writing machine invention. Prior to William’s design, most typewriters were blind-writing upstriking machines, forcing the typist to lift the platen to see their work. Williams’s design allowed for visible writing with an intriguing “grasshopper” typing mechanism. The typebars were arranged in two semi-circles around the platen and rested on an inking pad. When their key was struck, the typebar rose up and sprung forward to hit the paper, printing a visible line.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Williams Typewriter Company
- ID Number
- ME.326647
- catalog number
- 326647
- accession number
- 261226
- serial number
- 41312
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
World Typewriter
- Description
- This World Typewriter was manufactured by the World Type Writer Company of Portland, Maine, between 1887 and 1893. The machine was invented by John Becker, and received patent number 350,717 on October 12th, 1886. The World was an index typewriter, meaning that the letters could be selected with the pointer, manipulated by the index finger, and imprinted with another key. The absence of the keyboard made the typewriter simpler to operate, but sacrificed speed and efficiency.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ME.316725
- catalog number
- 316725
- accession number
- 227587
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
George W. N. Yost Typewriter Patent Model
- Description
- This typewriter patent model accompanied George W.N. Yost’s patent application that received patent number 313,973 on March 17, 1885. The patent covered a variety of improvements to typewriters, including a platen and carriage adapted for regulating line and letter spacing, and a bell ringing on the carriage return.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- patent date
- 1885-03-17
- inventor
- Yost, George W. N.
- ID Number
- ME.308633
- catalog number
- 308633
- patent number
- 313,973
- 313,973
- accession number
- 89797
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
IBM Electromatic
- Description
- This electric typewriter was manufactured by the International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation around 1935. IBM purchased Electromatic Typewriters, Inc. in 1933, taking over its Rochester, New York factory. After a variety of improvements IBM issued the IBM Electric Typewriter Model 01 in 1935. The innovation of electric typewriters was that each type bar hit the paper with the same force, and that force was more powerful than manual typewriters. This was especially useful in business situations as multiple carbon copies could be produced. IBM continued producing typewriters, including the very popular Selectric model, throughout the 20th century until 1990.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1948
- ca 1948
- maker
- International Business Machines Corp.
- ID Number
- ME.336753
- catalog number
- 336753
- accession number
- 1978.2227
- serial number
- 156065
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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IBM Electric Model 01 Typewriter
- Description
- This electric typewriter was manufactured by the International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation around 1935. IBM purchased Electromatic Typewriters, Inc. in 1933, taking over its Rochester, New York factory. After a variety of improvements IBM issued the IBM Electric Typewriter Model 01 in 1935. The innovation of electric typewriters was that each type bar hit the paper with the same force, and that force was more powerful than manual typewriters. This was especially useful in business situations as multiple carbon copies could be produced. IBM continued producing typewriters, including the very popular Selectric model, throughout the 20th century until 1990.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- International Business Machines Corp.
- ID Number
- ME.312858
- catalog number
- 312858
- accession number
- 169125
- serial number
- 27559
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Corona Silent Typewriter
- Description
- This is a Smith & Corona Silent typewriter manufactured by around 1934. The model was made to be portable, and operate quietly thanks to the Smith Floating Shift used in the machine (note the cursive word “Floating” above the shift key). When the shift key was invented, it originally shifted the cylinder, or platen, to be struck in a new position by the capital letters on a typebar. The floating shift moved the typebars up and down instead, allowing for a smoother typing action. The four row keyboard has a QWERTY layout.
- 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 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
- ca 1934
- maker
- Smith & Corona Typewriters
- ID Number
- ME.336760
- catalog number
- 336760
- accession number
- 1978.2479
- serial number
- 50911
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hall Index Typewriter
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hartford Typewriter
- Description
- This Hartford No. 2 typewriter was manufactured by the Hartford Typewriter Company of Hartford, Connecticut between 1896 and 1901. The Hartford was a blind-writing typewriter with upstriking typebars, with an interesting lever and rod connection between the keys and the typebars, seen in patent number 553,515 from January 28, 1896. The machine prominently featured a double keyboard, allowing it to print both upper case and lower case letters. In a time where visible typewriters with shift keys were being brought to market, a blind-writing double-keyed Hartford was behind the times and the company soon filed for bankruptcy.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated person
- Fairfield, John M.
- ID Number
- ME.329981
- catalog number
- 329981
- accession number
- 283426
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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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
-
Royal Key Model
- Description
- This model of a Royal Typewriter Company typewriter key demonstrates the key and type bar action in Royal Typewriters.
- The Royal Typewriter Company was founded in 1906 by Thomas Fortunes Ryan and Edward B. Hess, with Ryan providing the capital and Hess providing the inventiveness. Hess owned over 150 patents, many of which were assigned to the Royal Typewriter Company. Hess’s most noteworthy patents related to increasing the ease of typing, including an accelerating typebar, anti friction roller escapement, Magic Margins, and selective touch control. In 1954 Royal merged with the McBee Corporation, operating as Royal Mcbee until 1964. In 1964 Royal McBee was acquired by Litton Industries, which used Royal as a brand until 1968.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ME.311045
- catalog number
- 311045
- accession number
- 136502
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Royal KHM Typewriter (Cutaway)
- Description
- The Royal KHM model typewriter was produced by the Royal Typewriter Company of Hartford, Connecticut in 1934. The Royal KHM was very similar to the Royal 10, but notable differences include a lack of glass sides, no scooped center, and covered ribbon spools. This version has had pieces removed so the inner workings of the typewriter can be seen.
- The Royal Typewriter Company was founded in 1906 by Thomas Fortunes Ryan and Edward B. Hess, with Ryan providing the capital and Hess providing the inventiveness. Hess owned over 150 patents, many of which were assigned to the Royal Typewriter Company. Hess’s most noteworthy patents related to increasing the ease of typing, including an accelerating typebar, anti friction roller escapement, Magic Margins, and selective touch control. In 1954 Royal merged with the McBee Corporation, operating as Royal Mcbee until 1964. In 1964 Royal McBee was acquired by Litton Industries, which used Royal as a brand until 1968.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Royal Typewriter Company
- ID Number
- ME.311043
- catalog number
- 311043
- accession number
- 136502
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Beach's Typewriter Patent Model
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Blickensderfer No. 6 Portable Typewriter
- Description
- The Blickensderfer typewriter No. 6 was manufactured by the Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company of Stamford, Connecticut from 1910 to around 1928. The Blickenderfer No. 6 was essentially the Blickensderfer No. 5 in an aluminum frame, and could be ordered with either a standard QWERTY keyboard or a DHIATENSOR keyboard. This model has the DHIATENSOR keyboard, which Blickensderfer called their “scientific” keyboard because the most used letters—“D, H, I, A, T, E, N, S, O, and R”—were on the bottom row nearest the space bar to minimize necessary hand movement. The aluminum frame of the No. 6 made it exceptionally portable, weighing only 5 pounds, and came in a leatherette case for easy carrying.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1895
- maker
- Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- ME.310701.A
- catalog number
- 310701.A
- accession number
- 125450
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Electromatic Typewriter
- Description
- The Electromatic brand typewriter was manufactured by the North East Electric Company of Rochester, New York, beginning in 1924. The North East Electric Company produced the motor and base for the Electromatic, and used a Remington model 12 as the typewriter. When Remington did not supply the North East Electric Co. with more typewriters, the company became Electromatic Typewriters Incorporated in 1929 to produce its own Electromatics, before being purchased by IBM in 1933. This typewriter was likely produced between 1929 and 1933.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1929 - 1933
- maker
- Electromatic Typewriters, Inc.
- ID Number
- ME.312857
- catalog number
- 312857
- accession number
- 169125
- serial number
- P-144
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Samuel W. Francis Writing Machine
- Description
- This is a typewriter patented by Dr. Samuel Ward Francis of Newport, Rhode Island in 1857. The patent received number 18,504 and claimed the principal improvements of arranging the hammers in a circle, a common printing center, with a key operation similar in manner to that of a piano. The typewriter consists of a wooden box with attached mechanism for typing. The ivory keyboard is similar to a piano's and extends the length of the front, earning the writing machine the “Literary Piano” nickname.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1857
- maker
- Francis, Dr. Samuel Ward
- ID Number
- ME.180060
- catalog number
- 180060
- accession number
- 21102
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Keaton Music Typewriter
- Description
- As typewriters developed during the 20th century, a class of music typewriters began to emerge. This is a Keaton Music Typewriter that was invented by Robert H. Keaton of San Francisco, California. Keaton had two patents that covered his music typewriter, the first was given patent number 2,047,690 on July 14, 1936 and related to a 14 key music typewriter, and the second was given number 2,631,712 on March 17, 1953 and covered a 33 key music typewriter. The typewriter’s board held sheet music in place while a semicircle ring of keys containing notes and musical notation typebars could be maneuvered above the sheet music to create musical compositions.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Keaton Music Typewriter Company
- ID Number
- ME.330212
- catalog number
- 330212
- accession number
- 287938
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Experimental Graphophone and Recording
- Description
- This is an experimental machine for recording sound with a vertically cut wax record on its cylinder. It was made as a demonstration piece at the Volta Laboratory, Washington, DC, in September 1881. The machine is a modified Edison phonograph. The grooves of the machine’s cylinder have been widened and coated with wax. A hand-written card attached to the machine with sealing wax reads: “The following words and sounds are recorded upon the cylinder of this Graphophone: ‘T-r-r—T-r-r—There are more things in heaven and earth Horatio, than are dreamed of in our philosophy—T-r-r—I am a Graphophone and my mother was a Phonograph.’”
- This machine and recording were part of the proof of invention that the Volta Associates—Alexander Graham Bell, his cousin Chichester Bell, and Charles Sumner Tainter—deposited in a sealed tin box at the Smithsonian on October 30, 1881, in case of a patent fight. The box was opened in the presence of Bell relatives in 1937.
- Sound was recovered from this recording in 2013.
- Speaker: Alexander Melville Bell
- Content (20 seconds): “[trilled r sounds] There are more things in heaven and
- Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in our philosophy [trilled r sound].
- I am a graphophone, and my mother was a phonograph.”
- References:
- Leslie J. Newville, “Development of the Phonograph at Alexander Graham Bell's Volta Laboratory,” in Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, United States National Museum Bulletin 218, Paper 5 (1959): 69-79.
- Patrick Feaster, “A Discography of Volta Laboratory Recordings at the National Museum of American History”
- date made
- 1881-09
- ID Number
- ME.312123
- catalog number
- 312123
- accession number
- 162298
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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