Portable typewriter of the type-wheel class, manufactured by the Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company, of Stamford, Massachusetts, U.S.A. This machine is the Blickensderfer Model 7 and is a development of the earlier Model 5. The designer of the typewriter was George C. Blickensderfer.

The mechanism of the Model 7 used a rotating typewheel with three rows of characters around its periphery. The typewheel was mounted in front of and above the platen. Pressing a key first rotated and shifted the type-wheel to bring the selected character in front of the printing point and then pressed the wheel down and forward against the paper and platen. Ink was applied via a roller against which the type-wheel brushed during its downstroke. The typewheel could be easily changed to accomodate different character sets.

The Model 7 was supplied with either a QWERTY 'Universal' keyboard or Blickensderfer's 'Scientific' keyboard. On the latter, the front row of keys comprised the letters DHIATENSOR which Blickensderfer claimed made up 70% of the letters used in English. This machine has a 'Scientific ' keyboard.

Physical Description

Metal frame mounted on wooden baseboard. Cylindrical black rubber-covered platen. Type-wheel mounted above and in front of centre of platen. Type-wheel carries three rows of characters around its periphery. Inking roller mounted on horseshoe shaped metal frame and positioned beneath and behind type-wheel. Keyboard has the DHAITENSOR 'Scientific ' layout with 28 keys for letters and other characters, and additional 'FIG' and 'CAP' keys on left-hand side. All keys are circular with white lettering on a black background. Metal spacebar extends along front and around both sides of keyboard. Wooden cover with leather handle on front, attached by hook catches to sides of baseboard.

Overall Dimensions without Case Cover :

345 mm (width), 285 mm (Depth), 155 mm (height)

The Model 7, offered in 1897, became the deluxe version of the basic design. A wonderful item to add to your collection.

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