A short video of the Lambert working.
The Lambert typewriter is a beautiful machine with a truly unique design. Frank Lambert, a French immigrant, spent seventeen years developing his typewriter. The first patent was granted in 1884, and it finally came to market in 1896. It sold well in both America and Europe for a number of years.
Typing is done by pressing down on one of the character buttons, which causes the entire spring-loaded disk to tilt downward. Just above the typing point sits a convex vulcanite disc (shown below in detail), with all the characters molded onto its surface, this is what strikes the paper. The large central knob is used for spacing.
The lever protruding from the 9:00 position can be shifted to three settings, allowing three characters per key, for example: U, u, and 2.
The Lambert is often cited as a favourite among collectors, and it’s easy to see why.
This typewriter originally sold for $15.75 to $25.00.
“The least machinery yet for a typewriter. Better than any $100.00 machine for usual work.”
“To Editors, Clergymen, Lawyers, Physicians, Students, Commercial Travelers, Everybody, A joy Forever.”
“Ignore the price in passing judgement. The Lambert is superior to $100 typewriters in all essential points — beauty of writing, speed, uniformity of alignment, ease in operating (learned in a day), portability, constant readiness for work. THE LAMBERT TYPEWRITER For Almost Everybody.”
