Typewriter or Typographer?

Will FosterCollege History

John NoelNovember 25, 2013

William Austin Burt

“An innovator in every sense of the word,” Born: June 17,1792 At a young age, Burt had an interest in

“mathematics, navigation, astronomy, and natural philosophy.”

As a result of his interests, “it was only natural that he would have a career in land survey, which was becoming a popular and necessary trade in those early days of the United States.”

Burt (cont’d))

In 1822, Burt moved to Michigan and he became the United States Deputy Surveyor.

He then created a solar compass; “It was a precise instrument that helped to

solve many issues that surveyors encountered while using magnetic compasses.”…

But it did not make its debut until much later. The solar compass brought Burt great

admiration and fame nationwide as a surveyor.

Solar Compass

Burt (cont’d)

The compass was used in the Michigan Survey, “to resurvey the boundary between Wisconsin and Michigan after a dispute arose regarding their border.”

Later, Burt invented the typographer, “the first known typewriter.”

William Austin Burt

The Typographer

Known as the “forerunner” to the typewriter. Or, “the predecessor to the modern-day

typewriter.” Invented in 1829 Sometimes listed as the first typewriter, but it

was only “the first writing mechanism whose invention was documented.”

Construction of the Typographer

The typographer only printed one solitary letter after another.

Even in the hands of the inventor, the typographer was slower than handwriting.

The mechanism was a heavy, rectangular wooden box that stood twelve-inches high and wide, and stretched eighteen-inches in length.

Construction (cont’d)

The typographer had printed words mounted on a metal wheel, with a turning, falcate frame.

By turning the crank, Burt was able to shift the wheel until it came to the character he wanted. Instead of using keys to select a character, the typographer used a dial.

Then, he would yank a lever, which drove the character against the paper making an inked imprint; the characters could have been upper or lower case.

On the typographer was a gauge that favored a clock on the front of it.

Construction (cont’d)

The gauge indicated if the page was more or less filled.

The paper was on a belt and the belt rotated when the impression lever was pushed down.

Burt Demonstrating the Typographer

The Patent

On July 23, 1829, Burt’s typographer was patented as U.S. patent No. 5581X.

The patent was signed by President Andrew Jackson. Burt and his promoter Sheldon never found a buyer for the patent, and it was never marketable.

It was never commercially produced because it used a dial rather than keys to select a character.

The Patent

“Image of the first patent issued for a

typewriter, July 23, 1829, to

William Austin Burt, a Michigan

surveyor and inventor. It was

signed personally by President

Andrew Jackson.”

Patent Drawing of the Typographer

First Letter Ever Written on Typographer

Works Cited (Information)

Brennecke, Caitlin "William Austin Burt" Detroit Historical. http://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/burt-william-austin (accessed November 23, 2013).

"Typewriter of the moment: July 23, 1829 William A. Burt’s typographer patented" Millard Fillmore's Bathtub. http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/typewriter-of-the-moment-july-23-1829-william-a-burts-typographer-patented/ (accessed November 23, 2013).

Works Cited (Pictures)

"Burt Typographer, 1829. | Stock Photo #1895-4903." Burt Typographer, 1829. Super Stock, 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2013

"Detroit Retro." : It Came from Detroit. Detroit Retro, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

"Typewriter of the moment: July 23, 1829 William A. Burt’s typographer patented" Millard Fillmore's Bathtub. http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/typewriter-of-the-moment-july-23-1829-william-a-burts-typographer-patented/ (accessed November 23, 2013).