Anderson's Shorthand Typewriter

The Anderson Shorthand Typewriter marked the beginning of mechanical shorthand writing.  The typewriter industry was still in its infancy when it was first patented by G.K. Anderson of Tennessee in 1885.  It consisted of only fourteen keys and wrote phonetically, using what was known as the chording method of typing.  This method involved depressing several keys simultaneously, resulting in the desired word being printed. 

The Anderson used a ribbon for inking and printed on a roll of paper two inches wide.  It is considered a forerunner to the stenographic machines that became so popular a few decades later.  Several variations of the Anderson's frame castings are known to exist.  The earliest model is mounted on a wood base while subsequent models were issued with cast iron bases. They also vary in size and the number of characters they print including one model with a shift key and another equiped with a folding keyboard.

Although the inventor persisted at perfecting his invention for several decades, the Anderson was not commercial success.  What is delightful today are the assortment of models that were designed, each a different take on the mechanical theme.

The Anderson Shorthand typewriter is a simple yet charming example of an early writing machine.  If you have an Anderson Shorthand typewriter, I would like to hear from you.