Item ST 31422 Typewriter - Hammond Typewriter Co., Model 12 , circa 1910

Summary

Typewriter of the typewheel class manufactured by the Hammond Typewriter Company of New York, USA. The design was invented by Jame Bartlett Hammond and was first patented in 1880. The Model No. 1 came on the market in 1884. This machine is a Model No.12 which was introduced in 1905.

In this typewriter the characters are carried on a curved strip or shuttle which is attached to a swinging wheel. Pressing a key rotates the wheel and shuttle to bring the selected character into position opposite a hammer. The spring-driven hammer then strikes the paper against the character and ribbon. Because the printed impression of each character was controlled by the hammer spring and not by the force with which the operator struck the key the Hammond typewriters had the reputation of producing very even looking print.

Different shuttles were available, allowing changes in fonts and languages. In the Model 12 two shuttles could be attached to the typewheel at the same time so that fonts could be changed simply by rotating the typewheel through 180 degrees on its spindle. Hammond typewriters were available with either a curved keyboard (known as the 'Ideal') or a straight keyboard (known as the 'Universal'), as with this machine.

Physical Description

Plated metal frame attached by screws to wooden baseboard. Rubber paper feed roller on carriage. Mesh wire cylindrical paper holder on carriage below feed roller. Folding wire paper support above roller. Ink ribbon carried between two spools on vertical axes. Swinging wheel fitted with type shuttles rotates on vertical axis in front of paper feed roller. Three-row QWERTY keyboard with 30 character keys. 'FIG' and 'CAP' keys to left of keyboard. Backspace key to right of and behind keyboard. All keys circular, black with white lettering. Lettering on several keys is partially worn away. Spacebar in front of keyboard. Wooden cover fitted over machine, held to baseboard by a catch on each side.