Newspaper and magazine ads, advertising mirrors, blotters, erasers, posters, diplays and brochures. They all deserve their place in the story of the typewriter.

Especially dated materials, like newspaper ads, are of great importance to researchers in the early history of the industry. They are as important contemporary articles and reports that appeared in the press and specialized journals. Some of these articles are listed in the Library section.

Picture 1 shows one of the earliest known advertisements for a "Letter writing machine", described here as the "eighth wonder of the world".
It is a detail from an undated (probably mid-19th C.) leaflet for Dillingham & C0., of 95 King St (no town is given). The Letter Writing Machine is top of the bill and is on display with "another fine lot of new goods from Boston, New York, San Francisco and England".
Other items on the list are lamps, chandeliers, scissors, razors and small ice cream freezers.

Picture 2 shows a 55x70 cm map of the world that was produced by the Hammond Typewriter Company in 1890. It stresses the possibility to change type fonts easily, making the machine an asset for all nations and all tongues. The illustration at the top shows a young woman working on a Hammond typewriter, while people of all races look on.

Picture 3 is a full-page French newspaper ad from 1911 for the Lambert typewriter. The machine was offered for a mere 10 franks per month.

Picture 4 shows a small advertising poster for Blickensderfer's '5-pound secretary'.

Picture 5 is a 1911 full page ad showing 'the evolution of writing' from clay tablets to the latest Yost model, the Yost 15 visible writer.

Picture 6 shows an 1890s medal commemmorating four generations of the British Royal family, published by the Remington typewriter company. Click the thumbnail and wait to see both sides of the medal.