Summary

Typewriter of the type-bar class, manufactured by the Oliver Typewriter Company of Chicago, USA. Lateral downstroke design, patented in 1894 by Reverend Thomas Oliver, in which typebars of inverted U-shape are arranged on either side of the platen.

The Model No. 5 was introduced in 1906. This machine carries a label listing patents with the most recent dated 24 August 1909. Serial number of the machine is 387797 indicating date of manufacture between 1911 and 1914.

Physical Description

Green crackle finish metal frame. Inverted U-shaped typebars arranged in banks on either side of platen. Ribbon reels on vertical axes. Three-row QWERTY keyboard with 28 keys plus "CAP", "FIG", "TAB", "RIGHT" and "LEFT" keys.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Information & Communication

  • Acquisition Information

    Donation from J. H. Davies, 24 May 1940

  • Manufacturer

    Oliver Typewriter Co, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, circa 1894

  • Inscriptions

    On paper guide, in gold lettering: "The / OLIVER / Typewriter" Between keyboard and typebars: "No. 5 / THE OLIVER TYPEWRITER CO. LTD. / 75 QUEEN VICTORIA STREET / LONDON. E. C." On front of frame below keyboard: "MANUFACTURED BY / The Oliver Typewriter Co. CHICAGO, U.S.A. / Keep machine cleaned and oiled." Engraved on bar behind platen: "387797" On disc beneath keyboard: "PATENTED / OCT 30TH 1894 / [List of patent dates] / AUG 24TH 1909" Embossed underneath frame, beneath keyboard: "7.A.K.1" On decal underneath frame: " PATENTED / No. 3205 of 1896 / [List of patent numbers and dates] / No. 23826 of 1908"

  • Classification

    Communications, Typewriting, Mechanical

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Technology

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    389 mm (Width), 364 mm (Depth), 274 mm (Height), 13.17 kg (Weight)

  • Maximum dimensions

    360 mm (Length), 385 mm (Width), 260 mm (Height)
    Measurement From Conservation.

  • Keywords

    Typewriters, Office Equipment