Thomas Oliver was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, in 1852. As a young man, he moved to Iowa to become a Methodist minister. In 1888, he began developing his first typewriter as a way to produce more legible weekly sermons. He received his first patent in 1891 and with the 1894 patent, the fully realized design was ready for market. The 1895 patent shows the Oliver 1 with the manufactured base seen on all model 1 machines.
Oliver left the ministry and secured investors, each contributing $15,000 to support his venture. He built his first factory in Iowa and began marketing the Oliver typewriter extensively for home use, with great success. The factory was later relocated to Chicago, where over a million Olivers were produced.
The Oliver was one of the earliest typewriters to offer visible writing, achieved by having the typebars swing down onto the top of the platen from two distinct typebar towers. Oliver typewriters were known for their solid construction and smooth typing action.
The Oliver 1 is entirely nickel-plated and features side lifting handles that lie flat or flush with the table. The Oliver 2 shown here is an early example, mechanically similar to the Model 1 and retaining the nickel-plated frame.
This typewriter originally sold for $95.00.
“It took 25 years to find that typewriters have been built up-side-down. The Oliver is built right-side-up, where the work is in sight.”
“In use by 157 railroads and largest business houses all over the world. Years of success – ample capital – highest awards at three International Expositions.”
