| Collection |
MHS (unaccessioned) General |
| Description |
Blickensderfer Number 5. A very early model of a portable typewriter, in a black case with a purple interior. This typewriter does not sit on a board as the Number 7s do. Made by the New Zealand Typewriter Company. Inside the case is a spare typing wheel, forerunner of a typing golfball, in a small round wooden box with "The Blick Typewriter Co., Stamford, Conn." on it. Handwritten on it is C-R 357 and on the bottom is hand written "M.H.S." No information on the case. This typewriter does not have a QUERTY keyboard and maybe the one which came from The Marlborough Express office in Blenheim (see 0000.800.1511). Serial number right back: 60671 and patents are from July 15, 1890 to April 12, 1892.
The purple lining of the case seems to be a point of difference, all similar models seen on the internet have a wooden case with no lining.
Found in bay 64 in the museum storeroom in November 2012.
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Blickensderfer 5
First year of production:
1893
Company:
Blickensderfer Typewriter Company , Stamford, Conn , USA
In 1891, George C. Blickensderfer (1850-1917) invented a small portable writing machine that featured the ability to change type styles at will. This unique design formed the basis of a typewriter manufacturing business that lasted almost thirty years.
Models 1, 2, & 3 apparently were made in very limited numbers because none have been found to date. The Model No. 5, introduced in 1893 at the Columbian Exposition, was manufactured for many years and sold primarily to price conscious buyers.
US collector Rob Blickensderfer (yes, a relative) has done extensive research into the history of the Blickensderfer for the Typex Newsletter. His conclusion is that production of the Blickensderfer 5 did not get seriously underway until 1895/96. In 1896 the machine apparently broke through and production increased sharply.
The Blick was in fact one of the first truly portable typewriters with a full keyboard. (This was the DHIATENSOR keyboard. The machine was available with a QWERTY keyboard also, but only on request.)
The Blick 5 appeared in a number of disguises. In 1906 Blickensderfer introduced the Blickensderfer 6, which was in fact a Blick 5 with an aluminium frame. The aluminium version also appeared as the Blick featherweight and as a regular Blickensderfer 5.
Also, from the moment the machine was introduced, the Blick 5 went through a series of minor changes. A sample of the earliest Blick 5s appeared on the market in France as the Dactyle.
Courtesy of: Robert collection [Source: typewritermuseum.org].
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NEW ZEALAND TYPEWRITER COMPANY EXHIBIT.
This company has an interesting display of their famous little Blick typewriters, and the click, click of the machines attracts great attention. The work is generally admired, and the many superior points of the Blick are appreciated. A novice can work the machine, as the construction is simple and the placing of the letters advantageous. Anyone thinking of purchasing a typewriter would do well to inspect the Blick. [Source: Paperspast: Southland Times, issue 15116, 11 December 1901, page 4]. In other adverts the Blickensderfer typewriter sells for 10 pound, 10 shillings, whereas some other typewriters were selling for 30 pound.
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|
| Year Range from |
1890 |
| Year range to |
1892 |
| Object ID |
0000.800.1497 |
| Object Name |
Typewriter |
| Other # |
G1990/2824 |
|
