Today in Science History - Quickie Quiz

Christopher Latham Sholes

(14 Feb 1819 - 17 Feb 1890)

American inventor who developed the first practical typewriter, but being unable to create a market for it, sold the rights to the Remington Arms Company for $12,000.

Short biography of Christopher Latham Sholes >>

Christopher Latham Sholes

Typewritten Letters to Charles Edward Weller,

First User of Sholes' First Typewriter

Charles Edward Weller wrote the book The Early History of the Typewriter as the first user of the machine first made by Christopher Latham Sholes. The earliest letters Weller received from Mr. Sholes, those written between 1868 and 1870 were lost or destroyed, as the author at the time could not realize their value in after years in exhibiting the work of the first machine.

However, various changes as Sholes developed his machines are mentioned in the letters from Mr. Sholes sent to Weller between 1870 and 1873. Those fortunately were preserved and are shown below.

Weller describes these letters as “written in Mr. Sholes' free and easy style, as an older man would naturally write to a young friend.”

Much of the text in the following images is included on the web page The Early History of the Typewriter.

Image of a letter sent by Sholes to Charles Edward Weller 21 Apr 1870

Typewritten letters from Charles Latham Sholes

to Charles Edward Weller, the first user of Sholes' first typewriter,

describing improvements he was developing.

From Charles Edward Weller, The Early History of the Typewriter (1918), pages 40, 43, 44, 50, 51. (source)

See also:

Science Quotes by Christopher Latham Sholes.
14 Feb - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Sholes's birth.
Christopher Latham Sholes - First Typewriter Patent Model - Side View
Christopher Latham Sholes - First Typewriter Patent Model - Top View
Grave of Christopher Latham Sholes - Early Photo Showing Only Cemetery Lot
Christopher Latham Sholes - Home of the First Typewriter
Christopher Latham Sholes - Colorized photograph.
Christopher Latham Sholes - Photograph in sepia tone
The Early History of the Typewriter - The first user of the first Sholes typewriter describes the inventor, and his own experience of Sholes’ new invention and its development.
Sholes Grave Memorial - The copper plaque reads: Christopher Latham Sholes 1819 – 1890 “The Father of the Typewriter” Dedicated by The Young Men and Women of America In Grateful Memory of One Who Materially Aided in the World’s Progress.
The Typewriter: An Illustrated History, by Typewriter Topics. - book suggestion.
Booklist for Typewriter History.

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