Petersburg Pilot -

Visible Print Typewriter

Despite having no formal training in design, Thomas Oliver was awarded a patent for his "visible print" typewriter in 1891. This "batwing" style model once used at the Trading Union weighed about 30 pounds and allowed typists to finally see what they were typing. Oliver Typewriter Company produced over a million units between 1895 and 1928, remarkable in that the company produced only 375 machines a day. The No. 9 was one of the most popular. Its $100 price tag would equate to $1400 today. Within its first few years, the Woodstock, Illinois factory formed a company...