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Portable Typewriter

April 12, 2013

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Profile America -- Friday, April 12th. On this date in 1892, the first U.S. patent for a truly portable typewriter was issued to George C. Blickensderfer of Stamford, Connecticut for a "type writing machine." The machine worked on the principle of a revolving type wheel, a precursor to the type ball of 1970s typewriters. The wheel reduced the number of moving parts from 2,500 to 250, improving reliability and reducing the weight by one-fourth. The Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company eventually became one of the world's largest typewriter manufacturers in a crowded field. In 1900, U.S. manufacturers shipped 145,000 typewriters. 1967 was the peak year with nearly 2 million shipped. You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: ConnecticutHistory.org
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 694, 695