TINY TYPEWRITER CAN FIT IN A VEST POCKET
Cambridge, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On December 28, 1922, a news item written for the New York Tribune reported that a one ounce typewriter* had been brought to the meetings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science** by Dr. H.E. Wetherell of Philadelphia.
The Tribune says the typewriter, which can fit in a vest pocket, operates by means of a wheel equipped with rubber letters which come in contact with the paper.
Dr. Wetherell, who devised the machine for "his own use," says an experienced typist can peck out up to 17 words per minutes on the "almost noiseless" little device.
JFK+50 NOTE
A standard Underwood typewriter of the 1920s weighed in at 30 pounds, too heavy to be moved very often. While portable typewriters were manufactured and much easier to move, they were relatively large & heavy. We assume the one ounce typewriter proved to be impractical.
I could type 70 wpm with no errors in my high school typing class. My teacher suggested I take shorthand to train for court-reporting. I was the only boy in the class and although I learned to write shorthand I couldn't read much of what I wrote. Maybe my attention was diverted.
*The 1st commercial typewriter was invented in 1867 by Christopher Sholes & became a standard fixture in business offices until replaced by computer keyboards in the 1980s.
**AAAS, founded in 1848 & headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit organization promoting co-operation among scientists & defending scientific freedom.
SOURCE
"Typewriter Weighs Ounce," The New York Tribune, December 29, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
