Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the typewriter market was saturated with blind writers—typewriters with typebars that strike the underside of the platen. The blind-writing mechanism forced the current line of text to remain hidden unless the platen was lifted by the typist—an unfortunate disadvantage.
In addition to blind writers, some typewriters implemented typing mechanisms that allowed the text to be partially visible. Other machines featured typebars striking down from the front, rear, or front and rear of the platen. While these arrangements achieved visible writing, only a few lines of text could be seen at a time. Additionally, paper feeding was often elaborate and inconvienent, frequently incorporating the use of complex paper baskets to help manage the paper during typing.
While a small number of these visible typewriters found their way onto the market around this time, they did not achieve any long-term commercial success. This remained true until Reverend Thomas Oliver's eponymous invention was introduced. His machine became the world's first commercially successful visible typewriter with its unique typing mechanism, consisting of two towers of arching typebars which strike down onto the platen. By positioning each tower on either side of the printing point, Oliver's innovation allowed the printing point to remain visible during typing. Because the Oliver typewriter utilized a traditional platen without the need for complicated paper baskets, previously typed lines of text were always in sight. With its iconic appearance and revolutionary typing mechanism, the Oliver typewriter became known as The Standard Visible Writer.
In addition to blind writers, some typewriters implemented typing mechanisms that allowed the text to be partially visible. Other machines featured typebars striking down from the front, rear, or front and rear of the platen. While these arrangements achieved visible writing, only a few lines of text could be seen at a time. Additionally, paper feeding was often elaborate and inconvienent, frequently incorporating the use of complex paper baskets to help manage the paper during typing.
While a small number of these visible typewriters found their way onto the market around this time, they did not achieve any long-term commercial success. This remained true until Reverend Thomas Oliver's eponymous invention was introduced. His machine became the world's first commercially successful visible typewriter with its unique typing mechanism, consisting of two towers of arching typebars which strike down onto the platen. By positioning each tower on either side of the printing point, Oliver's innovation allowed the printing point to remain visible during typing. Because the Oliver typewriter utilized a traditional platen without the need for complicated paper baskets, previously typed lines of text were always in sight. With its iconic appearance and revolutionary typing mechanism, the Oliver typewriter became known as The Standard Visible Writer.
