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**The Typewriter (1868)**
I nvented by Christopher Latham Scholes in 1868, the Remington typewriter was the first efficient and practical typewriter invented.

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This invention, which was a highly modified model of the previous typewriter, was first invented in 1868; however, Scholes continued to modify his typewriter until he came up with a final version, and, when it was released in 1873 as the Remington typerwriter after the manufacturer, it emerged as a popular, critical piece of technology. The typewriter works in a fairly simple method. When a key is struck, a lever is pushed and the corresponding letter block strikes onto the carbon ribbon for the print "ink", which is actually very similar to graphite, and then it hits the paper, leaving a carbon impression on the paper. The machine then automatically shifts the paper roll over after each letter. Although the mechanics of this invention seem fairly simple, it took about a century after the original Mills model of the typewriter to reach this efficient, logical model, which emerged as a crucial element of business offices and records. =====

Scholes' typewriter is an innovation because he began with the Mills model of the typewriter, and, although he modified it severely, he did begin with another mechanism of the same type and all he did was make it more efficient. Another change in Scholes' model is that he introduced the QWERTY keyboard, which is still in use for keyboards today. Though his typewriter was a significant milestone in technology, it was not a completely original invention, but, rather, Scholes' typewriter was a highly modified innovation.

Despite how insignificant this innovation seems in relation to the building and expanding of nation-states, Scholes' typewriter did play an important role in the developing of nation-states in the late 19th century. This is because the typewriter made business more efficient and allowed better, clearer records to be kept for local businesses and for the nations themselves. Records, both of finances and of communications, became typed and clearer, as well as more efficient. Because of Scholes' typewriter, the nation-states had unambiguous records and means of communication. And, because of the improved communication abilities of the nation-states, it led to more unification and print of the national language and, most critically, more propaganda, both from the state and from it's opposition.

This model of the typewriter made the lives of businessmen simpler, but more importantly, it made the lives of their secretaries simpler. Similarly, this innovation made way for more women in the workplace because, as long as they could type efficiently, they were qualified to type up records or letters to customers and clients. The typewriter became a popular standard of business, and, over time, typed letters from large companies became the expected form of communication instead of written letters. This innovation saved time in businesses, and it made records much clearer than the handwritten records, which were inconsistent and sometimes messy. This innovation also contributed to a rise in advertisements because it allowed smaller businesses to easily type their own pamphlets at a significantly cheaper rate, which was crucial during this era because the small businesses were struggling during this period of monopolies and big business economy. The average person did not own a personal typewriter for quite some time afterwards around the early to mid-1900's, and, even then, many people never owned one. For those who did own one, though, the typewriter was a means for easier communication and writing letters. Some authors, like Mark Twain, owned a typewriter, but, for most people, the typewriter had a much more significant effect on their work than within their home. This mechanism became popular around business offices during the 1880's, and from then on, different models of typewriters continued to emerge, but the first and most significant model was that of Christopher Scholes. And, according to Jeananda Col on her website, "Scholes' typewriter was the beginning of a revolution in communication."1

media type="youtube" key="IS0PYl3TIEo" height="390" width="480"

Morton, Jett. "Remington Standard Typewriter No. 7." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS0PYl3TIEo
This video gives a good general feel for the mechanics of the machine despite the narrator's annoying, automated voice. This particular model is about 6 years after the original, but it is the same general idea of the innovative typewriter.

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/scitech/carbons/typewriters.html  http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/typrwriter.htm#The%20Story:  http://www.lycos.com/info/typewriter--christopher-sholes.html  http://www.explainthatstuff.com/typewriter.html  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/1800b.shtml 1. Jeananda, Col. Enchanted Learning. http://www.EnchantedLearning.com 2010