United States Stenograph Co., St. Louis, Missouri, 1884 – serial no.1515

Photograph of the Stenograph 1, 2nd form, large file.

The second Bartholomew Stenograph was presented on a beautiful curved cast brass base, with a shinny black enamel finish, accented with floral motifs.

This machine is very small and can easily fit on the palm of ones hand. With this small size, where the frame does not extend beyond the round keys, the keys were at risk of being broken. The solution to this problem can be seen on its successor, the model 1c (seen in the collection).

There is a little leather tab right on the front of the frame that was used for pulling the Stenograph out of its case.

Seen below is the only known photograph showing a Bartholomew Stenograph in a period image. This photo has these words written down in pencil on the back. “Taken (after much perseverance) May 17, 1886 in memory of our “Stenographic Days”. Louise Lawrence (Hanna Cummings standing)