Typewriter

A typewriter is a device that translates keyboard-presses into letters printed on a sheet of paper. It is used for typing, dictation, and writing notes.

Despite the advances of computers, typewriters remain popular for typing messages and other documents. They are faster, more reliable, and less expensive than computers.

They also make it possible to see what you're typing more clearly and get different overviews of a page, which is not possible with computer screens. Some typewriters also have a display window that shows the words you're typing, and some of them are capable of keeping a dictionary in memory so that it can correct mistakes as you type.

The first mechanical typewriters were created in the 19th century. They were large and cumbersome, resembling pianos in appearance.

Early typewriters didn't have shift-key mechanisms, which allowed them to write only capital letters. They also didn't have separate keys for the numeral 1. Consequently, some typists used the lowercase letter l instead of the numeral 1 to indicate the digit.

Several improvements were made to the first typewriters in the 1870s, including a more standardized design. The typebars were attached to a central cylinder that rotated into position for every line of text. A "carriage return" lever (at the far left) rolled the cylinder back into position for each new line.

Until the 1940s, mechanical desktop typewriters were standard equipment in government agencies, newsrooms, and sales offices. During that time, typewriter manufacturers worked hard to give them a more refined look and feel that suggested a higher status than manual workers. The electric typewriter, in particular, helped advance this image.