Christopher Latham Sholes "Father of the Typewriter-- Part 4: QWERTY

At this point, Soule and Glidden turned their shares to Sholes and Densmore.

Experimental versions of the typewriter were sent to a few stenographers for their criticisms and this helped improve it.  The first 50 machines produced had an average cost of $250.

They took the machine to E. Remington and Sons, a manufacturer of firearms, sewing machines and farm implements.  They offered to buy the patent from them.  Sholes sold his half of the patent for $12,000.  Densmore insisted on a royalty for his share, which eventually earned him $1.5 million.  Eventually, the machine became known as the famous Remington typewriter.

Sholes continued working to improve the typewriter in Milwaukee.  In 1873 he developed a new arrangement for the keys which became known, and still is, as the QWERTY keyboard.  (Hey, I just typed it.)  It was so made so that commonly used letter combinations were split up to prevent keys from jamming when typists pressed them too quickly.

The QWERTY keyboard was an instant success and has since made the transition from typewriters to computers.

Christopher Latham Sholes died on February 17, 1890, after a long battle with tuberculosis.

--CootType

Christopher Latham Sholes "Father of the Typewriter"-- Part 3: Four Partners

Working again with Samuel W. Soule, and adding Carlos Glidden as a third partner who provided the funds, they began to develop their first version of the typewriter.  The keyboard resembled that of a piano with two rows of keys, the first made of ebony and the second of ivory with a wooden framework.

Sholes, Glidden and Soule received a patent for it in 1868.  It was one of many similar typewriter versions coming out at the time.  They sent out many letters typed on it in an attempt to encourage interest.

James Densmore of Pennsylvania thought it could be highly profitable and offered to buy a share without ever seeing it.  He was sold a one-fourth interest, but when he finally did see it, he believed it was worthless in its current state and needed to be improved.

--DaTypeCoot