Charles Spiro: Reaching Back in Time - An illustrated articleThe Columbia 1 typewriter is a beautiful little machine and the first manufactured typewriter by the legendary pioneer Charles Spiro, a New…

This is an early Chicago typewriter, showing the patent dates on the front shield. Collectors refer to this model as the “decorated model.”The Chicago typewriter does not use typebars. Instead,…

A short video of the Caligraph 2 working. The Caligraph 2 was the first typewriter produced with a double keyboard. Without a shift key, it featured separate black keys for…

The Blickensderfer 6 typewriter is an early example of lightweight aluminum used in manufacturing. It was truly a portable typewriter and enjoyed great success in its time. It  was affectionately…

Compact, effective, light weight (6 pounds), and affordable at $40, the Blickensderfer 5 became the first portable keyboard typewriter and went on to achieve great success.Unlike conventional typewriters, the Blickensderfer…

  The stunning Bar-Lock 4 is distinguished by its prominent Baroque-style pressed copper shield, positioned in front of the vertical typebars.Invented by typewriter pioneer Charles Spiro, who apprenticed in his father’s New…

  ‘The Amazing Automatic’ - An illustrated articleThe Automatic typewriter is an exquisitely crafted machine, made predominantly of brass, with the quality and appearance of a fine scientific instrument. It is…

To type on the unusual American Visible typewriter, one slides the nickel-plated selector back and forth over the keyboard, using any of the four pointers on the selector, to choose…

  The American 2 typewriter closely resembles the American 1, but it features a slightly larger top index plate with a distinct scalloped front edge.This example of the American 2 was…

Inventor Louis Philippe Valiquet’s compact American 1 typewriter consists of just 35 parts! Despite its simplicity, it is a well-built index typewriter. Its main selling points were ease of use,…